The Basil Anaphora A

The Divine Liturgies book contains two music settings for the responses and hymns of the Anaphora (the central Eucharistic prayer) of the Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great. This page presents the melodies for the A version, which uses traditional melodies from the Eparchy of Mukačevo and is more ornate than the Prešov (B) version. For more about this setting, see the background article.

The beginning of the Anaphora is the same as for the Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom, until the celebrant sings:

Let us give thanks to the Lord.

The people respond:

When singing this response, PAY ATTENTION to the transition from the end of the first line of music to the start of the second; "it is proper" does not begin on the same pitch as "just", but a whole step higher.

The celebrant prays, concluding:

...Singing, shouting, crying aloud and saying the triumphal hymn:

and the people respond:

The celebrant prays, concluding:

Take, eat; this is my body which is broken for you for remission of sins.

and the people respond:

The celebrant prays, concluding:

Drink of this all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant which is shed for you and for many for the remission of sins.

and the people respond, as before:

The celebrant prays, concluding:

Offering you your own, from your own. Always and everywhere.

and the people bow reverently and sing:

When singing this hymn, PAY ATTENTION to the transition from the end of the first line of music to the start of the second; "and we pray" does not begin on the same pitch as "Lord", but a whole step higher.

The priest prays the Epiclesis and the beginning of the commemorations, concluding:

... especially for our holy, most pure, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary.

and the people sing:

This melody is quite old, and comes from the Znammeny chant tradition.

The rest of the Anaphora (the commemorations and final "Amen") are the same as for the Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom.