Sun of Justice: Byzantine Chant for Christmas
$9.98 – $24.98
Featuring classical chants in Greek primarily by Petros Peloponnesios (1730–1778). Adaptations into Arabic primarily by Mitri El Murr (1880–1969) and those into English by John Michael Boyer (b. 1978) closely echo the originals in form, style, and grace.
This debut release by PRÓTO presents traditional chants for the Byzantine celebration of Christmas, including selections from The Royal Hours, Vespers, Matins, and the Divine Liturgy. A deluxe 32-page booklet is included with full texts in Greek, Arabic, and English.
PRÓTO is a collaboration of two protopsaltes (“first cantors”): John Michael Boyer, Protopsaltis of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco; and the Reverend Deacon John Rassem El Massih, Protopsaltis of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. Their shared vision is excellence in traditional Byzantine Music as well as the advancement, development, and composition of traditional Byzantine Music in the English language.
- Βηθλεὲμ ἐτοιμάζου / Bethlehem make ready. (2:19)
Idiomelon of the First Hour, in Greek. Plagal 4th Mode, sticheraric.
Text by Patriarch Sophronios of Jerusalem (560–638); melody by Petros Peloponnesios (1730–1778). - Joseph spoke thus to the Virgin. (3:18)
Doxastikon of the First Hour, in Arabic. Plagal 4th Mode, sticheraric.
Text by Sophronios of Jerusalem; translation and melody by Mitri El Murr (1880–1969). - Today born of a Virgin. (6:40)
Doxastikon of the Ninth Hour, in Arabic. Traditional cantillation in the Reader’s Mode.
Text by Sophronios of Jerusalem; translation by Mitri El Murr. - Σήμερον γεννᾶται ἐκ Παρθένου / Today born of a Virgin. (6:58)
Antiphonal Doxastikon of the Ninth Hour, in Greek and Arabic.
Plagal 2nd Mode, sticheraric. Melody by Petros Peloponnesios and Mitri El Murr. - Δόξα… Καὶ νῦν… Αὐγούστου μοναρχίσαντος / Glory… Both now… When Augustus reigned. (4:55)
Doxastikon at “Lord, I have cried,” in Greek. 2nd Mode, sticheraric.
Text by Kassia (Kassiani) the Nun (9th c.); melody by Petros Peloponnesios. - Λαθὼν ἐτέχθης / Secretly you were born. (2:23)
First Troparion at the Prophecies, in Greek and Arabic. Plagal 2nd Mode, eirmologic.
Melody by Stephanos Lambadarios (+ 1864) and Dn. John Rassem El Massih (b. 1981). - / Ἀνέτειλας Χριστὲ ἐκ Παρθένου / You have dawned from a Virgin, O Christ. (2:34)
2nd Troparion at the Prophecies, in Arabic and Greek. Plagal 2nd Mode, eirmologic.
Melody by Dn. John Rassem El Massih and Stephanos Lambadarios. - Ἡ Γέννησίς Σου Χριστέ/ Your Nativity, O Christ. (3:51)
Apolytikion of Christmas, in Greek and Arabic. 4th Mode soft-chromatic, eirmologic and slow
eirmologic. Melody by Petros Peloponnesios, Mitri El Murr, and Monk Chrysostom Agiographos (19th–20th c.). - Χριστὸς Γεννᾶται /Christ is born. (6:27)
Ode I of the First Canon of Christmas, with Katavasia, in Greek and Arabic.
1st Mode, eirmologic and slow eirmologic. Text by St. Kosmas of Maïuma (7th-8th c.); melody by Petros Peloponnesios, Ioannis Vyzantios (1800–1866), Mitri El Murr, and Dn. John Rassem El Massih. - Ἡ Παρθένος Σήμερον / Today the Virgin. (3:46)
Kontakion for Christmas Day, in Greek and Arabic. 3rd Mode (with Plagal 1st), eirmologic.
Text by St. Romanos the Melodist (490–556); melody by Petros Peloponnesios and V. Rev. Romanos Joubran (b. 1966). - / Μεγάλυνον, ψυχή μου / Magnify, O my soul. (10:08)
Ode IX of the First Canon of Christmas, with Katavasia, in Arabic and Greek.
1st Mode, eirmologic and slow eirmologic. Text by St. Kosmas of Maïuma; Arabic translation
by Mitri El Murr; melody by Petros Peloponnesios, Ioannis Vyzantios, and Mitri El Murr. - Δόξα Πατρί… Ὅτε καιρός / Glory to the Father… When the moment came. (4:31)
Doxastikon of the Praises for Christmas Day, in Greek. Plagal 2nd Mode, sticheraric.
Text by St. Germanos of Constantinople (640–733); melody by Petros Peloponnesios. - / Both now and for ever… Today Christ is born. (3:08)
“Both now” of the Praises for Christmas day, in Arabic. 2nd Mode, sticheraric.
Text by St. John the Monk (of Damascus) (675–749); Arabic translation and melody by Mitri El Murr. - Πᾶσα ἡ γῆ / Let all the earth. Psalm 65(66): 4, 1. (2:49)
Prokeimenon of the Apostle from the Divine Liturgy for Christmas Day, in Greek and Arabic.
Plagal 4th Mode. Arabic translation from the liturgical Menaion; melody by Ioannis Arvanitis (b. 1961) and adapted by Dn. John Rassem El Massih. - Bethlehem make ready. (2:00)
Idiomelon of the First Hour. Plagal 4th Mode, sticheraric.
Text by Patriarch Sophronios of Jerusalem (560–638). - Joseph spoke thus to the Virgin. (2:39)
Doxastikon of the First Hour. Plagal 4th Mode, sticheraric. Text by Sophronios of Jerusalem. - Today born of a Virgin. (5:34)
Doxastikon of the Ninth Hour. Traditional cantillation in the Reader’s Mode.
Text by Sophronios of Jerusalem. - Today born of a Virgin. (7:10)
Antiphonal Doxastikon of the Ninth Hour. Plagal 2nd Mode, slow sticheraric. - Come let us rejoice in the Lord. (2:55)
1st Sticheron of Great Vespers for Christmas Day. 2nd Mode, sticheraric.
Text by St. Germanos of Constantinople (640–733). - Glory… Both now… When Augustus reigned. (4:15)
Doxastikon at “Lord, I have cried.” 2nd Mode, sticheraric. Text by Kassia (Kassiani) the Nun. - Secretly you were born. (1:59)
1st Troparion at the Prophecies. Plagal 2nd Mode, eirmologic. - You have dawned from a Virgin, O Christ. (2:19)
2nd Troparion at the Prophecies. Plagal 2nd Mode, eirmologic. - Your Nativity, O Christ. (0:46)
Apolytikion of Christmas. 4th Mode, soft-chromatic. - Now Christ is born. (5:56)
Ode I of the 1st Canon of Christmas, with Katavasia. 1st Mode, eirmologic and slow eirmologic.
Melody by Petros Peloponnesios (1730–1778); metered translation adapted from Archimandrite Ephrem by John Michael Boyer. - Magnify, O my soul. (8:28)
Ode IX of the 1st Canon of Christmas, with Katavasia. 1st Mode, eirmologic and slow eirmologic.
Melody by Petros Peloponnesios; metered translation adapted from Archimandrite Ephrem by John Michael Boyer. - Glory to the Father… When the moment came. (3:56)
Doxastikon of the Praises for Christmas Day. Plagal 2nd Mode, sticheraric. - Both now and for ever… Today Christ is born. (2:54)
“Both now” of the Praises for Christmas Day. 2nd Mode, sticheraric. - Let all the earth. Psalm 65(66): 4, 1 (2:20)
Prokeimenon of the Apostle from the Divine Liturgy for Christmas Day.
Plagal 4th Mode. Melody adapted from Ioannis Arvanitis (b. 1961). - Χριστὸς Γεννᾶται / Christ is born. (7:37)
Kalophonic Eirmos in Greek. 1st Mode, kalophonic.
Original melody by Ioannis Arvanitis.
From Great Vespers for Christmas Day
From Matins of Christmas Day
From the Divine Liturgy of Christmas Day
CD 2 – Chants for Christmas in English
From the Royal Hours of Christmas Eve
From Great Vespers for Christmas Day
From Matins of Christmas Day
From the Divine Liturgy of Christmas Day
Paraliturgical Chant for Christmas Day
