I just came across this Youtube user from Uzhorod. There are a number of prostopenije renderings, including excerpts from a Paraklis Service at a pilgrimage. This service was indeed beloved by our people, both Greek Catholic and Orthodox and, sadly, has fallen into relative disuse. It was a long standing staple during Lent prior to the restoration of the Pre-Sanctified Liturgy. http://www.youtube.com/user/logostvuzhgorod#p/f/5/r2XVVBCfzS8 Take notice of the troparion, Tone 4 at 3:33, the so-called 'Johnstown' variation is chanted. This was always a sore subject with my late father who trained us in the Presov version. Anyway, thanks to the youtube host.
The Melkites still celebrate Paraclesis at Lent and during the Nativity Fast. Interesting how many different variations of Prostopinje exist--all the more reason for not codifying on a single one. This is a living oral Tradition, and should remain one even in the "diaspora".
Indeed, I couldn't help but find myself singing along with the pilgrims as I teared up more than a bit. I know that Metropolitan Nicholas and my father are joining in as well, they so loved the Marian devotions of our people. When I see things like this, I find myself mixed with the memories of joy and the sorrow about the vanity and stupidity of humanity which divided our people. Indeed, O Maria, Mati Boze, Molisja za Nas.
The Paraklis to the Mother of God has been restored at the Uniontown Otpust on Saturday afternoon.
There is a variation of the Slovak coat-of-arms on one of the banners, so I think the group in this video was from Slovakia. I can't read Cyrillic, but I think the title indicates the group is from Travna. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.
I think that they are from Muchachevo in Transcarpathia, as there would be no reason for Slovaks to be singing a Ukrainian hymn at the end. There could be people from both sides of the border though at the pilgrimage. The woman's conference videos show the Cathedral church in Muchachevo, the vigil videos are from the Cathedral in Uzhorod.
A problem with restoring Paraklis at this point in time, is that few of us can remember exactly how to sing it, particularly in English - again regardless of which side of the unfortunate 'divide' we fall on!
We did Paraclesis one year at Orientale Lumen. Never have heard it during its heyday, I have no idea if we did it correctly. This is why someone's suggestion to have all the cantors write down all their arrangements of everything and compile them in a large volume was a very good idea--even if a certain episcopal person shot it down as Not Invented Here and went out of his way to hound the person who proposed it.
An excellent way of encouraging initiative among the laity, if I do say so myself. Taken right out of that old Carpathian classic, Management Secrets of Vlad the Impaler.
My father was among the more knowledgeable priests within ACROD of his generation regarding prostopenije, along with his Bishop, the late Metropolitan Nicholas. He learned the chant from his mentor, Father Orestes Koman of Elizabeth, NJ and his cantor at SS. Peter and Paul Greek Catholic Church, John Molnar. After the schism, as a seminarian, he studied under Bishop Orestes Chornock who also had a mastery of prostopenije.
While he had an obligatory copy of Bokshay, he always stressed that it was through the oral propagation of the chant, led by a well trained cantor, that the chant would be preserved. Unfortunately, the schism within the Rusyn Greek Catholic church in America led to two similar, but distinct schools of chant in the states as we used differing English translations.
The decision to 'codify' and standardize the chant has not always been successful as it takes away the lead role of the cantor and tries to erase regional variations.
Our brethern in Uzhorod have continued the tradition in the spirit of Bokshay and others and they are to be commended. Many Years! Mnohaja Lit!
Oh, as to Vlad Dracu....he is from the south of us Rusnaks, so we won't take credit for him. Maybe we could claim Vigo the Carpathian from Ghostbusters 2, but not old Vlad! lol
Possibly also the Schmenge Brothers, Stosh and Stan, though they claimed to be from Leutonia (on the dark side of the Carpathians). Cabbage rolls and coffee, mmm-mmm good!
Oh, as to Vlad Dracu....he is from the south of us Rusnaks, so we won't take credit for him. Maybe we could claim Vigo the Carpathian from Ghostbusters 2, but not old Vlad! lol
Fr. John Duranko made two notated editions of Paraklis: Slavonic and English. The Slavonic one is a gem, since it accurately reproduces the melodies that have been forgotten in many sectors. The English version utilized (for the most part) the small Paraclis booklet published by ACROD in the 1950s.
In the Pocono Deanery of ACROD, they still get together during Lent and sing Paraclis mostly in Slavonic; videos are on YouTube courtesy of St. George's in Taylor.
Yes. Though Vlad predates the Union of Alba Julia by some 225 years or so. Living in the immediate aftermath of the Union of Brest and the fall of Constantinople, on the borderlands between Latin and Eastern Christianity, as well as the frontier with the Turks, Vlad went back and forth between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches several times during his life as was politically expedient. During his time in the court of Matthias Corvinas, he was Catholic, but back home in Transylvania he was Orthodox.
Yes. Though Vlad predates the Union of Alba Julia by some 225 years or so. Living in the immediate aftermath of the Union of Brest and the fall of Constantinople, on the borderlands between Latin and Eastern Christianity, as well as the frontier with the Turks, Vlad went back and forth between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches several times during his life as was politically expedient. During his time in the court of Matthias Corvinas, he was Catholic, but back home in Transylvania he was Orthodox.
Liturgy from Muchachevo Cathedral, from the Otce Nas. It is wonderful to see how our people have continued. The Liturgy reminds me so of the days when Bishop Orestes, and I am sure his counterparts in the BCC, were alive and our churches were full and the mix of choir and plain chant resonated throughout the congregations. Christos Posredi Nas, for sure!
Very nice. It looks like they have the entire liturgy there, though I was unable to locate the first video in the sequence of seven. I take it, based on the iconography, that the cathedral in Muchachevo remained in use during the Soviet period, under Orthodox management?
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