What are your favorite Orthodox hymns and poems? Also, feel free to add your own personal stories or experiences.
When I first attended a Byzantine liturgy (uniate), I was blown away at the power of Orthodox hymns. Here was a church where the most sophisticated metaphysics, philosophy, spirituality, and history of the entire world was condensed into a few short stanzas that even a common layperson could understand. The theology was not confined within the esoteric understanding of elite groups but was proudly shared with all people.
During Holy Week of 2022, I greatly moved by this hymn:
Another one of Holy Week (Wednesday IIRC):
My service book is different from yours (I like your posted translation better), but I find that hymn under the 4th Antiphon of Holy Friday (12 Passion Gospel Service).
I don't tend to have favourites, as different ones hit you at different times. But if they're simple enough, I try to learn the melody to memorize them, as I find it good to chant to pick up the mood sometimes.
While all of Holy Week is great, I really like all the Bridegroom services, the contrasts are quite beautiful (Righteous Joseph / Fig tree) (Parable of the 10 Virgins) (Woman who anointed Christ's feet/Judas)
This is from Wednesday Matins (generally chanted Tuesday night)
"
While the sinful woman was offering myrrh,
then was the disciple making terms with the lawless,
She rejoiced in emptying out that which was of great price,
and he made haste to sell Him that is beyond price.
She recognized the Master;
he severed himself from the Master.
She was set free,
and Judas became a slave of the enemy.
Fearful is heedlessness.
Great is repentance!
Which do Thou grant unto me, O Saviour Who didst suffer for us, and do Thou save us.
"
And these are from Compline during this period
Chastity is alien to the shameless, and iniquity is foreign to the righteous. And the great Joseph turned away from sin and became an image of chastity and a true figure of Christ.
Uprightness is alien to the lawless, and divine knowledge is foreign to the faithless; for the Jews in their lawlessness rejected both. Therefore, like the fig-tree, they alone have inherited the curse.
Thou hast cursed the unfruitfulness of the Law, since it flourished with the leaves of the shadowy understanding of the letter, but had no fruits in very deed because of it's lawlessness; but do Thou, O Saviour, bless us all, the sons of grace.
After our forefather tasted of the tree, when he learned that he was naked, he was ashamed; and taking fig-leaves, he girt himself about with them, prefiguring the synagogue, which was stripped bare of Christ
Be instructed by the fig tree, O soul, concerning the end; when the leaves are tender and it putteth forth branches, then the time of summer is at hand; and when thou beholdest these things, know that it is at the doors.
Let thy lamp shine brightly, let it, like the virgins' lamps, overflow with the oil of compassion, that then thou, O my soul, mayest find the bridechamber of Christ opened to thee.
It is the time for work; the object is salvation; taking up the talent, which is the primordial image, O my soul, trade and make gain of everlasting life.
The purpose of the God-slayers agreed with the deed of the lover of money; for the one armed them for murder, and the other drew him to the money, and then preferring the noose to repentance, he was evilly deprived of life.
