4th Stichiron of the Aposticha of the Holy Friday Matins ('12 Gospels')

Chanted by Konstantine Fekos

St. Romanos the Melodist is celebrated for offering human history his lyrical, and deeply-theologic Kontakia; poems that inspired hymnographers and theologian Fathers of the Church many centuries after his passing, and treasures that still inspire scholars and theologians today. Outside of the “Akathyst Hymn”, most of the Kontakia have not been published in their entirety, and few unspecialized scholars are aware of the treasures left to humankind by St. Romanos. One of these treasures is the Holy Friday Kontakion, a passionate dialogue between the Theotokos and the Crucified Christ.

For the fist time in America, this Kontakion, in its full 24 strophes, and in its English translation by the late Marjorie Carpenter, was presented in the form of a Byzantine Oratorio. The event took place on the the 5th Sunday of Lent (Sunday April 14th, 2019), an ideal time to introduce the faithful to the Passion of Holy Week, and to the victory of Life over Death, through Christ’s crucifixion and salvation of the Fallen Adam. This presentation offered an opportunity to enter the Holy Week walking alongside the Theotokos, seeking to know why Christ chose Death to Resurrect humankind, to weep – but to also rejoice – with her.

We are thankful to St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral for accommodating the event.

The choristers that participated:

Narrators: Karen Kietzke, Amy Hogg, Thyra Altunin, Mike Rodites and Konstantine Fekos

Soloists: Karen Kietzke, Amy Hogg and Konstantine Fekos

Choir members: Karen Kietzke, Amy Hogg, Thyra Altunin, Mike Rodites, Konstantine Fekos, Bill Economou, Eleni Theophilactidou, Bill Papazekos, John Fekos, Steve Andrews, and Alexander Azar

Directed by: Nick Giannoukakis