Excerpt from Holy Cross Hoosoyo

While this blog is specifically for the Ordinary, my curiosity leads me to the Fenqitho. This season is that of the Holy Cross, and the Fenqitho contains propers for this feast which was celebrated on the 14th, and will continue to be commemorated in this season until the new Church year begins in November. I translated a little excerpt from the Holy Cross Safro, which I've added below with a little more commentary.

Verse from the Opening Qolo of Tuesday's Ramsho

I've been very busy as of late and unable to work on translations, other than the last little project below in August. This is the first time in a few weeks I've gotten the chance to pick on Tuesday's Ramsho other than to pray it. As the seasons are changing right now, I find the excerpt from this qolo very appropriate.

Expansion of Qolo

Different versions of the Shhimtho add and subtract to various parts. The 1890 Shhimtho had an extended part of the very well known L'Maryam Yoldat Aloho, whose fourth verse is used in Maronite liturgy 'til today.

Safro of the Assumption

In the Syriac tradition, we lack the systematic treatises of the Latin Church. What we have, instead, are beautiful poetic liturgical texts which are catechismal in two ways: (1) they're instructive as to how we should raise glory to God and (2) they're instructive as to why we should raise glory to God (lex orandi, lex credendi). This office of the Assumption is illustrative to Mary's voluntary role in the Incarnation of God and salvation of mankind, her power was an intercessor and God's magnification of her.

Sedro of the Assumption

The Hoosoye found in the Fenqitho are relatively longer than those found in the Shhimtho, understandably so since they're for major feasts. The Sedro for the Assumption's Safro is no different. It is also a special type of Sedro set to a bo'oto melody (I have posted one other office like this thus far - the Sootoro of Sunday). Within this Hoosoyo, the mystery of the Incarnation is briefly alluded to, Mary's voluntary role and then a good portion is taken up by the angelic salutations to Mary upon her death and petitions to God.

Sooghito from the Safro of the Assumption

I've been making good headway with the Safro of the Assumption and I'm more than halfway complete. Although the sooghito of an office are generally 22 short lines they are the perfect introduction to the hoosoyo because they provide an apt summary for the theological context and importance of what is being celebrate, which is then fully explained in the hoosoyo.

Qolo from the Safro of the Assumption

As explained in this previous post I will be deviating slightly from the objective of this blog (i.e. translating the Ordinary) in honor of the Virgin Mary by translating the Safro of her Assumption (which is found in the book of festal offices called the Fenqitho). The qole and prayers are very beautiful and reflect many of the Church's longstanding Tradition of the Virgin and her death.