Sub tuum praesidium
Encyclopedia
Beneath thy protection (Greek
: ; ) is the oldest extant hymn
to the Theotokos
(Blessed Virgin Mary).
liturgy of the third century. It is written in Greek
and dates to approximately 250
. It is used in the Coptic liturgy to this day, as well as in the Byzantine
, Ambrosian
, and Roman
liturgies. It is especially sung by young Christian men and women who are being educated by the Marist Brothers
.
, the Slavonic and the Latin.
In the Byzantine Rite
used by the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches, the hymn occurs as the last dismissal hymn
of daily Vespers
in Great Lent
. In Greek practice it is usually sung in Neo-Byzantine chant
.
The Slavonic version of the hymn is also often used outside of Great Lent
, with the triple invocation «Пресвѧтаѧ Богородице спаси насъ» ("Most Holy Theotokos, save us") appended. Other than the traditional and modern chant settings, which are the most commonly used, the most well-known musical setting is perhaps that of Dmytro Bortniansky
.
In the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church it is used as the antiphon for the Nunc Dimittis
at Compline
in the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and in the Liturgy of the Hours
may be used as the Marian antiphon after Compline outside of Eastertide.
The Latin version has also been set to music in the West many times, notably by Antonio Salieri
and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
.
The Sub Tuum is often heard in Marist
schools and groups around the world. It is often sung in Latin, although some Marist schools sing an English translation "We fly to your Patronage Oh Heavenly Mother of God"....
This version continues to be used by the Old Believers
today. In 1586, under the liturgical reforms of Patriarch Nikon
of Moscow, the Russian Orthodox Church
adopted a new translation (but parishes continue to use the form given above):
This second version continues in use today.
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
: ; ) is the oldest extant hymn
Hymn
A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification...
to the Theotokos
Theotokos
Theotokos is the Greek title of Mary, the mother of Jesus used especially in the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Eastern Catholic Churches. Its literal English translations include God-bearer and the one who gives birth to God. Less literal translations include Mother of God...
(Blessed Virgin Mary).
History
The earliest text of this hymn was found in a Coptic Orthodox ChristmasChristmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
liturgy of the third century. It is written in Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
and dates to approximately 250
250
Year 250 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Traianus and Gratus...
. It is used in the Coptic liturgy to this day, as well as in the Byzantine
Byzantine Rite
The Byzantine Rite, sometimes called the Rite of Constantinople or Constantinopolitan Rite is the liturgical rite used currently by all the Eastern Orthodox Churches, by the Greek Catholic Churches , and by the Protestant Ukrainian Lutheran Church...
, Ambrosian
Ambrosian Rite
Ambrosian Rite, also called the Milanese Rite, is a Catholic liturgical Western Rite. The rite is named after Saint Ambrose, a bishop of Milan in the fourth century...
, and Roman
Roman Rite
The Roman Rite is the liturgical rite used in the Diocese of Rome in the Catholic Church. It is by far the most widespread of the Latin liturgical rites used within the Western or Latin autonomous particular Church, the particular Church that itself is also called the Latin Rite, and that is one of...
liturgies. It is especially sung by young Christian men and women who are being educated by the Marist Brothers
Marist Brothers
The Marist Brothers, or Little Brothers of Mary, are a Catholic religious order of brothers and affiliated lay people. The order was founded in France, at La Valla-en-Gier near Lyon in 1817 by Saint Marcellin Champagnat, a young French priest of the Society of Mary...
.
Contemporary use
Although the hymn has been translated into many modern languages, the three major textual recensions are still the GreekGreek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
, the Slavonic and the Latin.
In the Byzantine Rite
Byzantine Rite
The Byzantine Rite, sometimes called the Rite of Constantinople or Constantinopolitan Rite is the liturgical rite used currently by all the Eastern Orthodox Churches, by the Greek Catholic Churches , and by the Protestant Ukrainian Lutheran Church...
used by the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches, the hymn occurs as the last dismissal hymn
Troparion
A troparion in Byzantine music and in the religious music of Eastern Orthodox Christianity is a short hymn of one stanza, or one of a series of stanzas. The word probably derives from a diminutive of the Greek tropos...
of daily Vespers
Vespers
Vespers is the evening prayer service in the Western Catholic, Eastern Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and Lutheran liturgies of the canonical hours...
in Great Lent
Great Lent
Great Lent, or the Great Fast, is the most important fasting season in the church year in Eastern Christianity, which prepares Christians for the greatest feast of the church year, Pascha . In many ways Great Lent is similar to Lent in Western Christianity...
. In Greek practice it is usually sung in Neo-Byzantine chant
Byzantine music
Byzantine music is the music of the Byzantine Empire composed to Greek texts as ceremonial, festival, or church music. Greek and foreign historians agree that the ecclesiastical tones and in general the whole system of Byzantine music is closely related to the ancient Greek system...
.
The Slavonic version of the hymn is also often used outside of Great Lent
Great Lent
Great Lent, or the Great Fast, is the most important fasting season in the church year in Eastern Christianity, which prepares Christians for the greatest feast of the church year, Pascha . In many ways Great Lent is similar to Lent in Western Christianity...
, with the triple invocation «Пресвѧтаѧ Богородице спаси насъ» ("Most Holy Theotokos, save us") appended. Other than the traditional and modern chant settings, which are the most commonly used, the most well-known musical setting is perhaps that of Dmytro Bortniansky
Dmytro Bortniansky
Dmitry Stepanovich Bortniansky was a Russian composer of Ukrainian origin; his father however had been born in thePolish village of Bartne, and was of Lemkos stock.....
.
In the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church it is used as the antiphon for the Nunc Dimittis
Nunc dimittis
The Nunc dimittis is a canticle from a text in the second chapter of Luke named after its first words in Latin, meaning 'Now dismiss...'....
at Compline
Compline
Compline is the final church service of the day in the Christian tradition of canonical hours. The English word Compline is derived from the Latin completorium, as Compline is the completion of the working day. The word was first used in this sense about the beginning of the 6th century by St...
in the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and in the Liturgy of the Hours
Liturgy of the hours
The Liturgy of the Hours or Divine Office is the official set of daily prayers prescribed by the Catholic Church to be recited at the canonical hours by the clergy, religious orders, and laity. The Liturgy of the Hours consists primarily of psalms supplemented by hymns and readings...
may be used as the Marian antiphon after Compline outside of Eastertide.
The Latin version has also been set to music in the West many times, notably by Antonio Salieri
Antonio Salieri
Antonio Salieri was a Venetian classical composer, conductor and teacher born in Legnago, south of Verona, in the Republic of Venice, but who spent his adult life and career as a faithful subject of the Habsburg monarchy....
and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , baptismal name Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart , was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical era. He composed over 600 works, many acknowledged as pinnacles of symphonic, concertante, chamber, piano, operatic, and choral music...
.
The Sub Tuum is often heard in Marist
Marist Brothers
The Marist Brothers, or Little Brothers of Mary, are a Catholic religious order of brothers and affiliated lay people. The order was founded in France, at La Valla-en-Gier near Lyon in 1817 by Saint Marcellin Champagnat, a young French priest of the Society of Mary...
schools and groups around the world. It is often sung in Latin, although some Marist schools sing an English translation "We fly to your Patronage Oh Heavenly Mother of God"....
Greek
| Greek Text | English Translation |
|---|---|
|
|
|
Church Slavonic
The earliest Church Slavonic manuscripts have the prayer in the following form:| Church Slavonic | English Translation |
|---|---|
|
|
This version continues to be used by the Old Believers
Old Believers
In the context of Russian Orthodox church history, the Old Believers separated after 1666 from the official Russian Orthodox Church as a protest against church reforms introduced by Patriarch Nikon between 1652–66...
today. In 1586, under the liturgical reforms of Patriarch Nikon
Patriarch Nikon
Nikon , born Nikita Minin , was the seventh patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church...
of Moscow, the Russian Orthodox Church
Russian Orthodox Church
The Russian Orthodox Church or, alternatively, the Moscow Patriarchate The ROC is often said to be the largest of the Eastern Orthodox churches in the world; including all the autocephalous churches under its umbrella, its adherents number over 150 million worldwide—about half of the 300 million...
adopted a new translation (but parishes continue to use the form given above):
| Church Slavonic | English Translation |
|---|---|
|
|
This second version continues in use today.
Latin
The Latin translation, likely derived from the Greek, dates from the 11th century:| Latin Text | English Translation |
|---|---|
|
|
External links
- "Under thy compassion we take refuge..." Photograph of papyrus, dated to 250 AD, the earliest example of this hymn.
- "The Sub Tuum Praesidium" Another interesting article regarding the hymn