Glory to Jesus Christ!

Because another All Souls Saturday is nearly upon us, I have a question for you all.

As a convert cantor for the Byzantine Catholic Church (Ruthenian), I must confess my utter ineptitude on many levels. The current reflection du jour is singing "Vicnaja Pamjat". I looked into my old "red book" (as there is no slavonic in the green book) and found this translation of "Eternal Memory":

Vicnaja pamjat, Vicnaja pamjat. Blazennyj pokoj; vicnaja pamjat.

I sang this to the best of my ability this last All Souls Saturday and a seasoned cantor who is far more knowledgeable than me said that I forgot to say on the last phrase, "vicnaja - yay pamjat".

Does this pertain to a plural 3rd person pronunciation? Is this a matter of dialect (slovak vs. x ) ? How should I sing this song on an All Souls Saturday, if I am to go beyond my 2nd language of English? Don't get me started with spanish, ¡Señor ten piedad!

In XC,
J.A. Deane

Within the Ruthenian/Carpatho-Rusyn tradition you would sing:
vicnaja jemu pamjat for a man;
vicnaja jeh pamjat for a woman;
vicnaja jim pamjat for plural.

This reflects the Greek recession of mentioning a gender.

I want to clarify the answer which may have confused you>


Male:

Vicnaja pamjat, Vicnaja pamjat. Blazennyj pokoj; vicnaja jemu pamjat.

Female:

Vicnaja pamjat, Vicnaja pamjat. Blazennyj pokoj; vicnaja jej pamjat.

Multiple Intentions:

Vicnaja pamjat, Vicnaja pamjat. Blazennyj pokoj; vicnaja jim pamjat.

As sung for multiple intentions: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OydsFRt_I2s

Thank you David for clarifying this for the poster. :-)

Ukrainian Tradition:

Vichnaya Pomyat - Vichnaya Pomyat - U Shvyateme Upokoy Christe - Vichnaya Pomyat!

Everlasting Memory - Everlasting Memory - With the Holy Ones Grant Blessed Rest O Christ - Everlasting Memory!

Thanks, the info is clear.

In XC,
J.A. Deane

Just one morea clarification: I think that Pavloosh posted the Eternal Memory in the Ukrainian vernacular which is commonly used in the UGCC. I posted in Church Slavonic, which was the former tradition in the BCC, ACROD and the OCA with English being the modern norm. AS for ACROD and the OCA many priests and parishes will still sing a Vicnaja Pamjat for a deceased in addition to the English, don't know about the BCC. Hope this helps.

I have found it strange that I can't place a copy of Vjecnaja Pamjat harmonised in the Ruthenian (Rusyn) melody. I find many copies of the 'Russian' melody, but have yet to find a few copies in 4 parts for the Ruthenian. I know the harmony by heart having sung it so many times...