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Prostopinije > Melodies >

Blessed is the man

These selected verses from the first kathisma of the Psalter (Psalms 1-8) are sung at Vespers for Sunday (on Saturday evening) and all feasts of polyeleos rank and above. It is NOT sung at Vespers for feasts of the Lord, unless the feast falls on Sunday or Monday; it is also omitted when Vespers is celebrated together with the Divine Liturgy.

This musical setting comes from the L'viv Irmologion, and has been regularly used in our church since the founding of the Byzantine Catholic Seminary in 1950. Music can be found on pages 10-11 of the MCI Sunday Vespers book.

The cantor sings the opening verse: (listen)

Then the congregation sings the refrain:

This refrain is repeated after the cantor sings each verse. If there are two cantors, the verses and refrains can be alternated between sides of the church.

Then the entire congregation sings a triple Alleluia, twice to this melody:

And once to this melody:

By custom, each time we sing the "Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Glory to you, O God!", we make a reverence (a bow from the waist with the sign of the cross).

Listen to a recording of Blessed is the man.