Memory Eternal
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Memory eternal[a]is an exclamation, anencomiumlike thepolychronion,used at the end of aByzantine Ritefuneralormemorial service,as followed by theEastern OrthodoxandEastern Catholic Churches.It is the liturgical counterpart to theWestern Riteprayer "Eternal Rest."
Memorial service
[edit]The "memory eternal" mentioned in the prayer mainly refers to remembrance by God, rather than by the living, and is another way of praying that the soul has entered heaven and enjoys eternal life. It has been connected to the thief on the cross who asks Jesus to remember him when the kingdom is established, where Jesus responds that the thief would be in paradise (Luke 23:42–43). Hence to be remembered by God, in eternal memory, is to be in eternal existence in paradise.[1]
This chant is parallel to "Many years"which is chanted for living members of the Church (and occasionally for national or local authorities, even though they may not be Orthodox).[citation needed]"Memory eternal" is not chanted for those who have been officiallyglorified(canonized) as saints. As part of the glorification process for new saints, on the eve of the day before their glorification, "memory eternal" will be chanted for them at the end of a solemn service known as the "LastRequiem."[citation needed]
The chanting of "memory eternal" is introduced by adeacon,as follows:
- Deacon:In a blessed falling asleep, grant, O Lord, eternal rest unto Thy departed servant (Name) and make his/her memory to be eternal!
- Choir:Memory eternal! Memory eternal! Memory eternal!
It concludes with the line "with the saints, grant her/him rest o Lord, memory eternal!"[2]
Other occasions
[edit]"Memory Eternal" is chanted at the end of services onSaturdays of the Dead,though not for an individual, but for all of the faithful departed.
"Memory Eternal" is intoned by the deacon and then chanted by all in response three times during theliturgyon theSunday of Orthodoxyto commemorate church hierarchs, Orthodox monarchs, Orthodox patriarchs and clergy, and all deceased Orthodox Christians.[3]
In theRussian Orthodox Church,"memory Eternal" is chanted on theSunday of Orthodoxyfor all of the departedrulers of Russia.[citation needed]
Notes
[edit]- ^Greek:Αἰωνία ἡ μνήμη,Aionía i mními;Arabic:ذِكرُهُ مؤَبَّداً,"Thikruhu muabbadan";Georgian:საუკუნო ხსენება,"Sauk'uno Khseneba";Church Slavonic:Вѣчьнаꙗ памѧть,Věčĭnaja pamętĭ,Ukrainian:Вічная пам'ять (vichnaya pamyat'),Russian:Вечная память (vechnaya pamyat'),Belarusian:Вечная памяць (viečnaja pamiać),Bulgarian:Вечна памет (vechna pamet),Romanian:Veșnica pomenire
References
[edit]- ^Florensky, Pavel (2018).The Pillar and Ground of the Truth: An Essay in Orthodox Theodicy in Twelve Letters.Princeton University Press. p. 144.ISBN978-0-691-18799-0.
- ^"Memorial Service - Liturgical Texts of the Orthodox Church - Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America".www.goarch.org.Retrieved2019-06-08.
- ^"Service of the Triumph of Orthodoxy".monachos.net.Retrieved6 March2015.
External links
[edit]- "Eternal Memory" from Pavel Chesnokov's Requiem No. 2, Op.39(inChurch Slavonic)
- Vechnaya Pamyat (Eternal Memory)intoned by a deacon and then chanted by the Choir (YouTube)
- Vichnaya Pamyat' (Eternal Memory)recorded by the UkrainianBanduristChorus (SoundCloud)
- Vjecnaja Pamjat (Memory Eternal)recorded by the Serbian Orthodox Choral Association in Toronto, Canada (MP3)