Composed for the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir – Score will be available during the summer of 2026
for mixed chorus – Duration ca. 11′
I. Lenten Prayer
Κύριε αὶ Δέσποτα ου μου ، πνεῦμα ἀργίας ، περιεργίας ، φιλαρχίας ، καὶ ἀργολογίας μή μοι δῷς.
Πνεῦμα δὲ σωφροσύνης ، ταπεινοφροσύνης ، ὑπομονῆς ، καὶ ἀγάπης χάρισαί μοι τῷ σῷ δούλῳ.
Ναί ، Κύριε Βασιλεῦ ، δώρησαι μοι τοῦ ὁρᾶν τὰ ἐμ πταίσματα ، καὶ μὴ ατακρίνειν τὸν ἀδελφόν μου ، ὅτι εὐλογητὸς εἶ ، εἰς τοὺς αας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν.
Oh Monarch and Ruler of my life, the spirits of indolence, arrogance, desire and idle talk: do not give them to me, take them away.
But the spirits of virtue, patience, and love, give them to me, thy servant.
Yes, O Sovereign, grant me the vision to see my defects, and not find it in others;
For You are blessed throughout the ages. Amen.
(St. Ephrem the Syrian. Translation from Greek adapted by Kareem Roustom)
II. Ṣūm ṣaumo
ܨܘܡ ܨܰܘܡܳܐ ܕܐܰܪܒܥܺܝܢ ܝܰܘܡ̈ܺܝܢ܆ ܘܗܰܒ ܠܰܚܡܳܟ݂ ܠܐܰܝܢܳܐ ܕܟܰܦܺܝܢ.
ܘܨܰܠܳܐ ܒܝܰܘܡܳܐ ܫܒܰܥ ܙܰܒܢ̈ܺܝܢ܆ ܐܰܝܟ݂ ܕܺܝܠܶܦܬ ܡܶܢ ܒܰܪ ܐܺܝܫܰܝ ܀
ܫܳܡܽܘܥܳܐ ܕܰܨܠܰܘ̈ܳܬ̣ܳܐ܆ ܘܰܡܦܰܢܝܳܢܳܐ ܕܫܶܐܠ̈ܳܬ̣ܳܐ.
ܫܡܰܥ ܨܠܽܘܬ̣ܰܢ ܘܐܶܬܪܰܥܳܐ ܠܰܢ܆ ܘܦܰܢܳܐ ܒܪ̈ܰܚܡܰܝܟ ܫܶܐܠ̈ܳܬ̣ܰܢ ܀
Observe the fast of forty days
Give your bread to the hungry
Pray seven times a day as
I learned from David, son of Yishai ܀
O You who hears all prayers
And answer entreaties
Hear our prayers and be pleased with us
And answer our requests in Your mercy ܀
(Translation from Syriac adapted by Kareem Roustom)
III. Majdan laka yā rabbī
(Glory to You, my Lord)
مجداً لك يا ربي، مجداً لك
ألوف ألوفٍ مجداً لك
وربوات ربوات المجد لك
لك المجد وعلينا مراحمك ܀
سبحانك يا ربي، سبحانك
ألوف ألوفٍ المجد لك تبارك
جلالك من مكانك، ولك
الشكر من رعتك ܀
Glory to You, my Lord, glory to You
A thousand thousand times glory to You
And myriads upon myriads of glory to You
To You be the glory, and upon us Your mercies ܀
Praise be to You, my Lord, praise be to You
A thousand thousand times glory to You, blessed be
Your majesty from Your place, and to You Your flock gives thanks
(Translation from Arabic adapted by Kareem Roustom)