Mihail Berezovschi (1868-1940): "Unule Născut (O Only-Begotten Son)", Mode VIII (1922) with score

"Ὁ μονογενὴς Υἱὸς (O Only-Begotten Son)" is a hymn sung between the second Antiphon and the Little Entrance at each Divine Liturgy in the Orthodox Church. It was Emperor Justinian who, in 535 or 536, commanded it to be sung in all the churches. Therefore is also called the Hymn of Justinian. Its text is (with the doxology in brackets): "(Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever and unto the ages of ages, amen.) O Only Begotten Son and Immortal Word of God, who for our salvation didst will to be incarnate of the holy God-Bearer and ever Virgin Mary, who without change didst become man and wast crucified, o Christ our God, trampling down death by death, who art one of the Holy Trinity, glorified with the Father and the Holy Spirit, save us" – in Romanian: "(Mărire Tatălui şi Fiului şi Sfântului Duh, şi acum şi pururea şi în vecii vecilor, amin.) Unule Născut, Fiule şi Cuvântul lui Dumnezeu, Cel ce eşti fără de moarte şi ai primit, pentru mântuirea noastră, a Te întrupa din Sfânta Născătoare de Dumnezeu şi pururea Fecioara Maria; Care neschimbat Te-ai întrupat şi răstignindu-Te, Hristoase Dumnezeule, cu moartea pe moarte ai călcat. Unul fiind din Sfânta Treime, împreună mărit cu Tatăl şi cu Duhul Sfânt, mântuieşte-ne pe noi!" Mihail Berezovschi (Berezovsky) was an Orthodox priest, composer, conductor, academic teacher, and painter. After studying at the theological seminary in Chişinău and at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory, he made his whole ecclesiastic, academic and artistic career in Chişinău. Since 1904, he was principal conductor of the choir of the Orthodox Cathedral. In 1918, he became a tenured professor at the Schola Cantorum. Berezovschi's book " Imnele Sfintei Liturghii pentru cor mixt, bărbătesc şi pentru 3 voci egale (Hymns of the Holy Liturgy for mixed choir, men's choir and for 3 equal voices)" was published in Chişinău in 1922. The entire volume can be found online here: http://www.moldavica.bnrm.md/biblielm.... It contains settings of "Ὁ μονογενὴς Υἱὸς (Unule Născut)" in all of the eight modes of the "oktoechos" used in Byzantine music. This is the version in the eighth mode, to be found on pp. 9sqq. Capela Corală "Moldova" a Companiei Publice Teleradio-Moldova ("Moldova" Choir of Public Company Teleradio-Moldova), conducted by Valentin Budilevschi thumbnail image: Alexandru Bernardazzi (architect), Biserica Sfântul Pantelimon din Chişinău (Saint Pantaleon Church in Chişinău, 1891)