Agrarian Hymns

After the Divine Liturgy, one of the mothers at the church told us how her newborn has her days and nights mixed up.  This prompted one of the older women to declare good-naturedly a little later on, ‘If I were her, I would keep that little heifer up as much as I could during the day!’

But, fearing a PC-fueled misunderstanding, she quickly began to splutter and explain what she meant by using the word ‘heifer’.  Someone then offered that ‘heifer’ was a common Southern term of affection, and the whole thing simmered down, with everyone at the table agreeing.  The priest, smiling a bit, reminded us that hymns to the Mother of God even refer to Her as a ‘heifer’:

The heifer that mothered for the faithful * the unblemished Bullock, O rejoice. * Rejoice, the ewe that yeaned the Lamb * of God Who takes away the sins * of all the world. O mercy seat, * rejoice, who fervently expiate.

--Service of the Salutations to the Most Holy Theotokos, https://www.goarch.org/-/learn-to-chant-the-akathist

This incident is a good reminder of the very agrarian character of the hymns of the Orthodox Church.  No lyrics filled with existential angst, no guitar masses, no modernizing - only ancient, unchanging (but ever new and holy) hymns that express the deep understanding of the Orthodox Church that the creation plays a vital role in our salvation and that God cares greatly for all He has made.  Here are a few ensamples:

Rejoice, you the only one who budded forth the unfading rose. * Rejoice, who have given birth unto the sweet apple tree. * Of the King of all * the aromatic balsam, * rejoice, O unwedded Maid, * the world’s deliverance.

O treasure of chastity, rejoice; through you we have risen up * from out of our fall. Rejoice, sweet smelling lily that sends * forth its fragrant scent, * O Lady, to the faithful; * aromatic incense and * costly anointing oil.

The land that has tillered the divine stalk * while clearly continuing un­tilled, * rejoice, O table animate * that held the holy bread of life. * Rejoice, O never empty fount * of living water, O blessed one.

We sing hymns to you * and shout: Rejoice, O chariot * of the intelligible Sun. * Rejoice, O veritable vine * that cultured the ripened cluster dripping with wine, * making glad the hearts * and souls of all who faithfully * praise and glorify you daily.

You welcomed into your womb the Logos; * you held in your arms the One Who holds all things. * With your milk you nourished Him * Who by a nod gives nourishment, * O purest Maiden, unto the entire universe; * to Whom we sing: * O praise and supremely * exalt the Lord, O all you His works, unto the ages.

--From the same hymn and web page as above

Some of the most sublime Orthodox agrarian theological poetry, however, comes in the Service of Orthros (Morning Prayer) for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (14 Sept.).  Here are few lines from it:

Theotokos, you are mystical Paradise, *

for without husbandry you have blossomed

Christ, * by whom on earth the Cross, as a lifebearing

tree, has been planted and watered. *

As it is now exalted, * we adore Him and

worship Him and magnify you.

Let all the trees of the forest greatly

rejoice, * because their nature was sanctified

when Christ, * by whom they were originally

planted on earth, * was crucified upon one.

* As it is now exalted, * we adore Him and

worship Him and magnify Him.

Theotokos, you are mystical Paradise, *

for without husbandry you have blossomed

Christ, * by whom on earth the Cross, as a lifebearing

tree, has been planted and watered.

* As it is now exalted, * we adore Him and

worship Him and magnify you.

Exalted is Your Cross today, and all

the world is sanctified. * O Christ, who sit

together with the Father and the Spirit, * You

stretched Your hands upon this Cross, * and

thus You drew the whole wide world * to

knowledge of You, O Savior. * Count worthy

of divine glory * those who with faith obey

You.

What a paradoxal miracle! * The Cross

that held the Most High * like a grape cluster

full of life * is observed by all to be * exalted

from the earth today: * the Cross, through

which we have all been drawn to God, * and

by which death was completely swallowed

up. * O immaculate Tree, * whereby we again

enjoy the deathless food * that was in Eden of

old, * and Christ we glorify.

What a paradoxal miracle! * Behold the

breadth and the length * of the Cross are the

same as those * of the sky. For by divine *

grace it hallows the universe. * By it barbarian

nations are subdued, * by it the scepters of

kings have been secured. * O holy and divine *

ladder whereby to the heavens we return, * as

we offer songs of praise * exalting Christ the

Lord.

--http://www.agesinitiatives.com/dcs/public/dcs/p/s/2018/09/14/ma/en/index.html   by way of the St Gregory Palamas Monastery (http://sgpm.goarch.org/Monastery/)

Here Southrons, in the Orthodox Church, you will find the deepest satisfaction of your agrarian and Christian longings.  Be not afraid.  Only hasten yonder with faith and love.

--

Holy Ælfred the Great, King of England, South Patron, pray for us sinners at the Souð, unworthy though we are!

Anathema to the Union!