Chant of Grottaferrata - Αλληλουάριον, Ήχος α'

Medieval Byzantine Chant from the Basilian Monastery of Grottaferrata.
Title: "Αλληλουάριον, Ήχος α' " (Alleluarion in 1st Mode)
Performers: Cappella Romana
Album: "Byzantium in Rome - Medieval Byzantine Chant from Grottaferrata"

The Basilian Monastery of the Mother of God (Theotokos) was founded by St Nilus the Younger in the town of Grottaferrata, 20 km south of Rome, in 1004. It was a Byzantine Rite abbey following the Rule of St Basil and was (uncommonly) under the See of Rome and remained so after the Great Schism. Two of its abbots, St Nilus the Younger and St Bartholomew the Younger, are saints of both the Latin and the Greek Church as they both died before the schism. In later years one of its most illustrious abbots in commendam was Cardinal Bessarion, himself a Basilian monk.

From the day of its foundation to modern times the Monastery has remained in Byzantine rite, despite being so near to Rome and despite the uniformity of rite imposed by several councils - most notably the Council of Trent. Moreover, due to the loss of contact with the rest of the East and the Basilian Order (which in its vast majority remained Orthodox), the Abbey uses the Byzantine chant as delivered at the date of its foundation, unaffected by later changes that occurred in the east.

The lyrics of this piece are comprised by 3 "Alleluia"s and in between the chanter sings verses 6 and 13 from Psalm 32 in Greek:


Αλληλούια
- Τῷ λόγῳ Κυρίου οἱ οὐρανοὶ ἐστερεώθησαν καὶ τῷ πνεύματι τοῦ στόματος αὐτοῦ πᾶσα ἡ δύναμις αὐτού.
Αλληλούια
- Εξ οὐρανοῦ ἐπέβλεψεν ὁ Κύριος, εἶδε πάντας τοὺς υἱοὺς τῶν ανθρώπων.
Αλληλούια

Latin:

Alleluia
- Verbo Domini caeli firmati sunt; et spiritu oris eius omnis virtus eorum.
Alleluia
- De caelo respexit Dominus; vidit omnes filios hominum.
Alleluia

English:

Alleluia
- By the word of the Lord the heavens were established; and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.
Alleluia
- The Lord looks out of heaven; he beholds all the sons of men.
Alleluia