04/07/2026
𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐲 𝐓𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲 - Μεγάλη Τρίτη
𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟕𝐭𝐡, 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 & 𝐇𝐲𝐦𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐊𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐢 - 𝟕:𝟎𝟎𝐏𝐌
Saint Kassiani (Kassia): Kassiani is one of the first composers whose works are both extant and able to be interpreted by modern scholars and musicians. Approximately fifty of her hymns are extant and twenty-three are included in the Orthodox Church liturgical books. In addition, some 789 of her non-liturgical verses survive.
Enjoy this short clip of our very own St. Demetrios Choir singing the “Troparion of Kassiani” from 2025.
Kassiani was born between 805 and 810 AD in Constantinople into a wealthy family and grew to be exceptionally beautiful and intelligent. Three Byzantine chroniclers, claim that she was a participant in a group of women to be chosen as the wife of Byzantine Emperor Theophilus. He said to her “through a woman [came forth] the baser things” (referring to the sin and suffering that came from Eve’s transgression). She tersely responded by saying “and through a woman [came forth] the better [things]” (referring to the hope of salvation from the incarnation of Christ through the Virgin Mary). With his pride wounded, the Emperor rejected Kassiani, and chose Theodora to be his bride.
Legend has it that in his later years, still in love with her – he wished to see her once more before he died, so he rode to the monastery where she resided. Kassiani was alone in her cell, writing her Hymn when she realized that the commotion was because the imperial entourage had arrived. She was still in love with him but was now devoted to God and hid away because she did not want to let her old passion overcome her monastic vow. She left the unfinished hymn on the table. Theophilus found her cell and entered it alone. He looked for her but she was not there. Theophilus, overcome with sadness, cried and regretted that moment of pride when he rejected such a remarkable woman. He then noticed the papers on the table and read them. When he had finished reading, he sat and added one line to the hymn; then he left. The line attributed to the Emperor is the line "those feet whose sound Eve heard at dusk in Paradise and hid herself for fear". Legend says that as he was leaving he noticed Kassiani in the closet but did not speak to her, out of respect for her wished privacy. Kassiani emerged when the emperor was gone, read what he had written and finished the hymn - keeping the line intact.
The Hymn of Kassiani, also known as the Hymn of the Fallen Woman, is based on the Gospel reading for Holy Wednesday morning (Matthew 26:6-16), which speaks of a sinful woman who anoints Jesus' feet with costly ointment. This hymn is chanted only once a year and considered a musical high-point of Holy Week. The music for the hymn is slow, sorrowful and plaintive. It requires a very wide vocal range, and is considered one of the most demanding, if not the most demanding, pieces of solo Byzantine chant.
