Hail Gladdening Light, Φώς Ιλαρόν (Phos Hilaron )

[DeutschNinjaTanuki]

Wow. Beautiful!

[gratefulsoldier]

Amen.



[DanVilAl]

οι was pronounced like υ also (French u or [y]) but both started to be pronounced like i in the X century, except in some dialects (like Athenian dialect now extinct). The orthodox tradition is to pronounce koine greek hymns exactly like modern greek pronunciation (and I mean specifically by "modern greek" the standard pronunctiation based on Peloponesian dialects, and not Cretan or Cypriot or Pontic.

[DanVilAl]

Well, if we are discussing pronuctiation, this hymn from the III or IV century can't have been pronounced like Ancient Attic Greek certainly as it is in Koiné Greek. η should have been pronounced like i already at this time, except in some dialects (Pontic Greek mantained the e sound for η in many words). Aspirated were already fricatives, and diphthongs were being monophthong about this time; υ was still pronounced as french u though (according to many authors)

[ForgeTrackAudio1024]

One dislike? Probably a Crowder nut.

[TheonHafet300]

@ForgeTrackAudio1024 HEY!! David Crowder made it BETTER!! lol jk

[vaggelisinnova]

ΚΥΡΙΕ ΙΗΣΟΥ ΧΡΙΣΤΕ ΕΛΕΗΣΟΝ ΜΕ

ΥΠΕΡΑΓΙΑ ΘΕΟΤΟΚΕ ΣΩΣΟΝ ΜΕ

ΔΟΞΑ ΤΟ ΠΑΤΡΙ ΤΟ ΥΙΟ ΚΑΙ ΤΟ ΑΓΙΟ ΠΝΕΥΜΑ.

[youwannadie]

the pronunciation heard here though... Isn't it a bit too modern? Or was koine so similar to modern greek in how it sounded? I'd prefer to hear it with an old Attic pronunciation :).

Still very great, though.

[roubagios]

@youwannadie  my friend the hall hymn that you're listening to is 100% ancient greek.

[youwannadie]

@roubagios

From what I've learnt, ancient greek doesn't pronounce η like i but like e; another example was I think the word καιροίς, which, according to my teacher, would be read kairois, while in the hymn it was "keris" - if I remember correctly.

[genius11433]

@youwannadie, @roubagios

I think that what you two are talking about are different pronunciation systems. I also took Ancient Greek, so youwannadie, unless I am mistaken, you are talking about the Erasmian pronunciation that you learned (or are learning) in class. However, Orthodox Greeks use modern Greek pronunciation to read the NT and hymns, and since the singers are Orthodox, that's what you're hearing. As for what koine really sounded like, no one knows. Erasmian is simply used in schools.

[youwannadie]

@genius11433

you're correct - what I've learnt is the erasmian pronunciation; it's of course no surprise to hear modern greek pronunciation from Greeks, however, I'd be glad to hear this the way I've learnt ancient Greek was supposed to sound :).

[stavroula04]

@youwannadie Ancient Greek is not Koine Greek which was spoken at the time of the New Testament and evolved from the Greek spread around the known whole by the soldiers of Alexander the Great. Language evolves constantly, and certainly over the hundreds of years between ancient Greek and the early Christian era, the words are not even exactly the same. Besides, would you let Greeks tell you how to pronounce English? Such arrogance.

[Lysandros]

@stavroula04 Amen to that!

[vaeates]

@stavroula04 If you want some of the best Greek language scholarship in regards to the first few centuries A.D., you should check out Randall Buth's books. He reconstructs the pronunciation from the best scholarship and documents existing. Some ancient Greek is Koine, some is Attic. You have to define what part of "Ancient" you are talking about.

[graceinmay]

this is beautiful! what a treasure that it has been preserved, and is still sung!

[Joachimlefranc]

Une musique tout à fait inspirante. les chants de l'Eglise orthodoxe sont magnifiques et me rappellent l'introduction de Boris Godounov.

[youssefnajjar]

oh luz radiante de la santa gloria del padre, inmortal, celestial bendito y santo bendito seas oh Jesucristo habiendo llegado a la puesta del sol y viendo la luz vespertina te cantamos oh Dios, padre hijo y espiritu santo con voces justas oh hijo de dios dador de vida por eso l mundo entero te glorifica.

[Acazziah]

Es maravilloso encontrar nuestras raíces.

[cheescake77]

Phos hilaron aghias dóxis, athanátou Patrós, ouraníou aghiou mákaros, Iisoú Hristé, elthontes epí tin ilíou dysin, idóntes phos esperinón, hymnoumen Patéra, Yión, kai ághion Pnevma, Theón, Axion se en pási kairoís hymneisthai, phonés aisíais, Yié Theoú, zoín o didoús, dió o kósmos se doxázei

[shaivista]

This could be an invocation of the light of apollo turned christian when the greeks adopted christianity...a possibility at least since it sounds really ancient in form and structure

[orthodox111]

Are you kidding me?

[kapoorite]

unfortunately he probably isn't! another 'da vinci code' /richard dawkins victim.

[tjttzcspplt]

There's always one.

[septam]

It's a BYZANTINE hymn. The style is of the time period and geography - think part Jewish cantor, muslim cleric and gregorian chant. Has NOTHING to do with Apollo...Puhleeze.

[gwdexter]

The music is Byzantine, but the text dates to that late 3rd century AD, before there was Gregorian chant, and before there were Muslims!

[Acazziah]

Perhaps it can be, but wether the music were a christian version from ancient greek music, that does not detract from originality.

[Parkour1002]

Glory to Christ The Word of God

[aigokairos]

Φως ιλαρον αγιας δοξης

αθανατου πατρος, ουρανιου, αγιου, μακαρος

Ιησου Χριστε.

Ελθοντες επι την ηλιου δυσιν,

ιδοντες φως εσπερινον

υμνουμεν Πατερα Υιον και Αγιον Πνευμα Θεον.

Αξιον Σε εν πασι καιροις υμνειν Σε

φωναις αισιες Υιε Θεου

ζωην ο διδους. Διο ο κοσμος σε δοξαζει.

[mtaanios]

This hymn is one of the first Christian hymns,even mantioned by saint Basil the Great. It is hymned in so many other churches,even the protestants hymn it.

[phati129]

it was even ancient in St. Basels time. even he didnt know where the hymn originated from.

in XC

[byzantinechants]

O Joyous Light of the holy glory of the Immortal Heavenly, Holy Blessed Father, O Jesus Christ: We that come to the setting of the sun, when we behold the evening light praise Father, Son and Holy Spirit, God. Meet it is for Thee at all times to be praised with gladsome voices o Son of God Giver of Life, wherefore the world doth glorify Thee.

Vespers Prokeimenon

[zitohellas]

This previous translation by byzantinechants is correct 100%

[bandelaymon]

thank u alepporthodox for all what you post to the people away from home...

[michiganois]

Wow! Can the cd/DVD of this be purchased? Under what title? Also, because this dates from about 290-310 A.D., it would be great to known by heart and to sign every day. Are there phonetic words, etc. for those who are English-speaking? Christ is Risen!

[phati129]

just learn greek, its not hard..learnt it on my own :)

[gajda1984]

LONG LIVE ORTHODOXY!!

[thenextkingofparody]

nice what language s this

[tattosh]

it is in Greek language

[mikiroony]

DEO GRATIAS :D We shall pray for you, here in Spain

[kalamation]

This is beautiful. Thank you. In Christ, Azar