www.byzcath.org Forums Mysteries: The Life of Worship Old-Ritualists Forum Old Rite "Stikhi" on Youtube

G I KH S B P N A.

Greetings everyone,

I don't know if perhaps a link to this clip has been posted before, but I came across it today. As soon as I heard it memories came flooding back. I know that on the church's Feast Day every year, someone hands out the words printed on paper (though many know them by heart) and everyone sings along to the old tunes - and this is one I have heard a few times over the years.

Old Rite Stikhi [youtube.com]

Thought you may enjoy.

Misha

PS: I have posted a pic of the Old Rite Church in Sydney in the photo gallery forum for those that wish to take a peek!

beautiful!

are you sure that (yes I know that is what the youtube description says in Russian) that these are stihki (chant verses).

Sounds like a hymn (didn't know that the Old believers had hymns) - it rhymes, it has a refrain, etc.

but what do I know

Happy Thanksgiving (though not a church feast)

Herbigny,

I am no authority so my answers are at best, uneducated guesses based on what I remember, but here goes

These songs are referred to as "Dukhovni Stikhi" (Spiritual Hymns??) and are sung as coloquial folk songs. Of course, they are never sung at church within a service. Perhaps at a lunch, or gathering, hence the inclusion of rhyme and refrains.

This tradition is quite strong. Most Old Ritualists identify themselves as a 'musical' people. The 'Old Believers' (how I refer to bezpopovtsi, to differentiate them from Old Ritualists) are well known for their musical heritage and often peform at folk festivals, etc.

I am sure that this type of song isn't solely 'Old Ritualist' though I haven't heard other communities sing them. I guess as they are quite old fashioned and not very 'theatrical' they fell out of common use. Perhaps some of the Carpatho-Rusyns on the board could advise as to whether this tradiion has survived in their culture?

Cheers,

PS: I guess it is Thanksgiving now? Greetings to all our North American friends for this holiday!

dear Michael:

thanks for the explanation. Fascinating! and wonderful! Did not know there were Spiritual Hymns in the Old Rite tradition. That's lovely.

What do the words mean? (you don't have to translate the whole thing, maybe just some of it to give us an idea) (something about the miraculous lake Gennesareth?) (I'm going to listen to it again!)

Are there many bezpopovtsi in Australia?

It's only Thanksgiving in Canada today. Our Yankee bredren don't have it for another month and a half. Does the land of Auz have a thanksgiving holiday?

Herbigny,

I am afraid that I don't really speak Russian so it may be worthwhile one of our bilingual friends translating it for us

There are some bezpopovtsi in Australia - though only very few communities. Most of them have been merged with the Priested communities. I would be surprised if there were even 50 of them all up (though I may be wrong).

We have no equivalent of Thanksgiving in Australia. . . it's a foriegn concept to us. We just know that American film& TV folk like to play football and eat Turkey at that time!

Духовний стихи: (Dukhovnij stikhij) Holy Verses.

The term "stikh" can be used for verses of a hymn, or for texts to be sung, or to poetry.

Sydney Old Believers are popvtsy. There are some bezpopvtsy in Queensland, now greatly diminished in numbers - perhaps half a dozen members of one family attend on a regular basis.

No Thanks giving 'Down Under'. It is Spring here. I have the hay fever to prove it.