Verses drawn from the Theotokarion (Book of hymns to the Mother of God) of Saint Nektarios (d.1920). While he was the director of the Rizarios Theological school of Athens, Saint Nektarios liked to compose hymns in honour of the Mother of God to nourish his personal prayer and that of his disciples, for whom he had found tthe Monastery of the Holy Trinity of Aegina.
Inspired by liturgical hymnography, these works borrow their meter and versification from secular poetry. This is what has led the composer to set a melody which, while failthfully adhering to the rules of Byzantine chant, uses certain elements of popular musical tradition in both a creative and origional manner.
Setting to music by Hiermonk Gregorios of Simonopetra
Chanted by the monks of Simonopetra and recorded in November, 1990, by P. Kalambakas.