Work in progress - this article is incomplete and may change significantly.
This article is dedicated to the memory of the Very Rev. Malpan Koonammakkal Thoma Kathanar, without whose work in preserving them, many of these melodies of the Malabar tradition would have been lost forever.
Introduction
The Onyatha d'Sahde are a series of antiphons sung in honour of the martyrs, found in the Hudra, the breviary of the Church of the East. They are sung during Ramsha (vespers) and Sapra (matins) on ordinary weekdays, each antiphon preceded by a psalm verse. They are not sung on Sundays, on feast days, or during Lent.
The Hudra attributes these antiphons to Mar Marutha, bishop of Martyropolis (Syriac: Maipharqat, modern-day Silvan in Turkey), who died around 420. Marutha travelled through the Persian territories after the great persecutions of the fourth century, collecting the relics of the martyrs and recording their stories. The antiphons are said to have been composed in the course of this work. Though they appear to honour the martyrs, they are understood as hymns directed ultimately to God.1
The Assyrian Church of the East, the Chaldean Catholic Church, and the Syro-Malabar Church all share this tradition, though each has passed it down in its own way. This article looks at how the onyatha d'sahde are preserved and used across these three communities.
The Malabar pronunciation of East Syriac will be used throughout this article.
The tunes of the Malabar tradition presented here were learned from the recordings left behind by Fr. Emmanuel Thelly CMI, Fr. Alexander Kattakayam CMI, and Fr. Abel Periyappuram CMI. The sources for the other traditions are given in the links below each hymn.
Qale d'Onyatha d'Sahde
ܫܲܒܲܚܘ ܙܲܕ̇ܝܼܩܹ̈ܐ ܠܡܵܪܝܵܐ. ܣܵܗܕܹ̈ܐ ܩܲܕܝܼܫܹ̈ܐ ܨܲܠܵܘ ܥܲܠ ܫܲܝܢܵܐ: ܕܲܒ݂ܚܲܕ݂ܘܵܬ݂ܵܐ ܢܸܥܒܸ݁ܕ݂ ܥܹܐܕܲܝ̈ܟ̇ܘܿܢ.
ܘܠܲܬ݂ܪ̈ܝܼܨܹ̈ܐ ܝܵܐܝܵܐ ܬܸܫܒ݁ܘܿܚܬܵܐ. ܣܵܗܕܹ̈ܐ ܕܐܸܬ݂ܪܲܓ݂ܪܲܓ݂ܘ ܕܢܸܚܙܘܿܢ ܠܲܡܫܝܼܚܵܐ: ܒܣܲܝܦܵܐ ܩܢܵܘ ܓܸܦܹ̈ܐ ܘܲܦܪܲܚܘ ܠܲܫܡܲܝܵܐ.
O you righteous, Praise MarYah! Holy Sahde, pray for a lasting peace That we may with joy celebrate your feast
And to the upright, praise is fitting! Sahde who desired to see Mshiha the Lord By the sword gained wings and to heaven soared
Syro-Malabar
Syriac
English
Chaldean
Recording coming soon.
Assyrian
Tune 1 - Recording coming soon.
Tune 2 - Recording coming soon.
The martyrs are asked to pray for peace so that their feast may be celebrated with joy. The second verse recalls their longing for Christ: by the sword they gained wings and flew to heaven.
For more recordings, see the hymn page on Hudra.
ܡܵܪܝܵܐ ܒܨܲܦܪܵܐ ܬܸܫܡܲܥ ܩܵܠܝ. ܒܥܸܕܵܢ ܨܲܦܪܵܐ ܕܡܸܬ݂ܦܲܬ݂ܚܝܼܢ: ܬܲܪ̈ܥܲܝ ܪܵܘܡܵܐ ܠܲܨܠܘܿܬܼܵܐ: ܩܲܒܸ̇ܠ ܡܵܪܲܢ ܒܵܥܘܼܬܲܢ. ܘܦܲܢܵܐ ܒܪ̈ܲܚܡܲܝܟ ܫܹ̈ܐܠܵܬܲܢ: ܘܲܥܒܸܕ݂ ܣܲܒ݂ܪܵܐ ܘܦܘܼܪܩܵܢܵܐ: ܠܢܲܦ̮ܫܵܬ݂ܵܐ ܕܲܡܣܲܟ̇ܝ̈ܵܢ ܠܵܟ݂.
MarYah, in the morning You hear my voice. When the doors of heaven part In the morning for our prayer, O Maran, receive our plea. In Your mercy answer us; Grant salvation and new hope To the souls that wait for You.
Syro-Malabar
Syriac
English
Chaldean
Recording coming soon.
Assyrian
Recording coming soon.
At the morning hour when the gates of heaven open for prayer, the faithful ask the Lord to receive their petitions, grant hope and salvation to the souls that await him.
For more recordings, see the hymn page on Hudra.
ܕܘܼܟ݂ܪܵܢܵܐ ܠܥܵܠܲܡ ܢܸܗܘܹܐ ܠܙܲܕܝܼܩܵܐ. ܐܸܣܛܲܦܵܢܘܿܣ ܐܘܼܪܚܵܐ ܕܪܲܫ: ܘܲܒ݂ܥܸܩܒ݂ܵܬܹ̈ܗ ܪܕ݂ܵܘ ܣܵܗܕܹ̈ܐ. ܘܥܲܡܹܗ ܕܚܲܬ݂ܢܵܐ ܡܸܬ݂ܒܲܣܡܝܼܢ: ܒܲܓ݂ܢܘܿܢ ܢܘܼܗܪܵܐ ܕܠܵܐ ܡܸܫܬ݁ܪܸܐ.
ܘܡ̣ܢ ܛܸܒܵܐ ܒܝܼܫܵܐ ܠܵܐ ܢܸܕ݂ܚܲܠ. ܐܸܣܛܲܦܵܢܘܿܣ ܟܲܕ݂ ܐܸܬ݂ܪܓܸܡ: ܙܝܼܘܵܐ ܕܡܵܪܹܗ ܒܪܵܘܡܵܐ ܚܙܵܐ. ܘܲܠܪܘܼܚܩܘܼܕ݂ܫܵܐ ܟܲܕ݂ ܓܵܕ݂ܠܵܐ: ܟܠܝܼܠܵܐ ܠܪܹܫܵܐ ܕܲܡܗܲܝܡܢܹ̈ܐ.
The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance. Estappanos paved the way, Sahde followed in his steps; With the Bridegroom they rejoice In the endless realm of light.
He shall not be afraid of evil tidings. As Estappanos was stoned, He beheld his Lord on high; And Ruha d'Qudsha wove Crowns to grace the faithful head.
Syro-Malabar
Syriac
English
Chaldean
Melody same as one of the Assyrian tunes
Recording coming soon.
Assyrian
Tune 1 - Recording coming soon.
Tune 2 - Recording coming soon.
Stephen blazed the trail and the martyrs ran in his footsteps. Stoned for his faith, he saw the glory of his Lord on high; now the Holy Spirit weaves a crown for the head of the faithful.
For more recordings, see the hymn page on Hudra.
ܫܲܒܲܚܘ ܙܲܕ̇ܝܼܩܹ̈ܐ ܠܡܵܪܝܵܐ. ܣܵܗܕܹ̈ܐ ܗ̤ܘܲܝܬ̇ܘܿܢ ܬܲܓܵܪܹ̈ܐ: ܘܗܵܐ ܣܝܼ̈ܡܵܬ݂ܟ݂ܘܿܢ ܒܲܫܡܲܝܵܐ. ܙܒܲܢܬ̇ܘܿܢܵܗ̇ ܠܡܲܪܓܵܢܝܼܬ݂ܵܐ: ܒܲܕ݂ܡܵܐ ܕܐܲܪܕܝܼܘ ܨܵܘܪ̈ܲܝܟ̇ܘܿܢ.
ܘܠܲܬ݂ܪ̈ܝܼܨܹܐ ܝܵܐܝܵܐ ܬܸܫܒ݁ܘܿܚܬܵܐ. ܣܵܗܕܹ̈ܐ ܕܐܸܬ݂ܥܲܠܝܼܘ ܘܲܡܛܵܘ: ܠܐܘܿܪܸܫܠܸܡ ܗܵܝ ܕܒܲܫܡܲܝܵܐ. ܘܙܲܒ݂ܢܘܼܗܝ ܒܲܕ݂ܡܵܐ ܕܨܵܘܪ̈ܲܝܗܘܿܢ: ܠܐܲܬ݂ܪܵܐ ܕܠܹܗ̤ܘ ܡܣܲܟܹ݁ܝܢ ܗ݇ܘ̣ܵܘ.
O you righteous, praise MarYah! O you Sahde, merchants wise, With your treasures stored on high, You have bought the precious pearl With the blood poured from your necks.
And to the upright, praise is fitting! Sahde who arose and reached The heavenly Ore'shlem, By the blood poured from their necks, Bought the home they waited for.
Syro-Malabar
Syriac
English
Chaldean
Tune has differences from Assyrian
Recording coming soon.
Assyrian
Tune 1 - Recording coming soon.
Tune 2 - Recording coming soon.
The martyrs are compared to merchants who laid up their treasure in heaven, purchasing the pearl of great price with their own blood, and now dwell in the heavenly Jerusalem.
For more recordings, see the hymn page on Hudra.
ܡܸܛܠܵܬܼܵܟܼ ܐܸܬ݂ܩܲܛܲܠܢ ܟܠܝܘܿܡ. ܣܵܗܕܹ̈ܐ ܩܲܕܝܼܫܹ̈ܐ ܕܐܸܬ݂ܩܲܛܲܠܘ: ܡܸܛܠ ܚܘܼܒܹ̇ܗ ܕܲܡܫܝܼܚܵܐ. ܡܦܝܼܣܝܼܢܲܢ ܥܲܠ ܟܠܲܢ: ܒܥܵܘ ܪ̈ܲܚܡܹܐ ܡ̣ܢ ܐܲܠܵܗܵܐ.
ܒܲܫܡܲܝܵܐ ܘܒܲܪܥܵܐ. ܢܵܨܚܝܼܢ ܥܲܡܠܲܝ̈ܟ݁ܘܿܢ ܘܲܡܚܲܕܸܐ ܠܲܢ: ܥܘܼܗܕܵܢܵܐ ܕܬܲܟ݂ܬ݁ܘܼܫܲܝ̈ܟ݁ܘܿܢ. ܕܲܚܠܵܦ ܡܫܝܼܚܵܐ ܐܸܬ݂ܩܲܛܲܠܬ݁ܘܿܢ: ܘܥܲܡܹܗ ܒܪܵܘܡܵܐ ܬܲܡܠ̱ܟ݂ܘܿܢ.
For Your sake we are killed all day long. Holy Sahde who were slain, For the love of the M'shiha, Pray for all of us, we beg, Ask for mercy from Alaha.
In heaven and on earth. Your triumphant labours shine, And your struggles bring us joy; For M'shiha you were slain, You shall reign with Him on high.
Syro-Malabar
Syriac
English
Chaldean
Recording coming soon.
Assyrian
Recording coming soon.
The holy martyrs slain for the love of Christ are asked to intercede for all. The memory of their struggles is recalled as a source of joy, for they were slain for Christ and shall reign with him on high.
For more recordings, see the hymn page on Hudra.
ܢܵܘܕ̇ܘܿܢ ܠܵܟܼ ܡܵܪܝܵܐ ܥܲܒܼܕܲܝ̈ܟ. ܣܵܗܕܹ̈ܐ ܩܲܕܝܼܫܹ̈ܐ ܡܲܠܦܵܢܹ̈ܐ ܕܗܲܝܡܵܢܘܼܬ݂ܵܐ: ܨܲܠܵܘ ܕܢܸܗܘܹܐ ܫܲܝܢܵܐ ܒܲܒܼܪܝܼܬ݂ܵܐ. ܩܪܵܒܹܐ ܢܸܬ݂ܒܲܛܠܘܿܢ ܘܚܸܪ̈ܝܵܢܹܐ ܢܸܫܠܘܿܢ ܡܸܢܲܢ: ܘܥܹܕܬܵܐ ܬܸܙܡܲܪ ܫܘܼܒ݂ܚܵܐ ܒܦܘܼܡ ܝܲܠܕܹܝ̈ـܗ̇.
Your servants give thanks to You, MarYah Holy Sahde all, Teachers of the holy faith, pray that there will be peace in all the world, may all battles cease. And let all the strife cease from us, so the Church may sing Praises through her sons.
Syro-Malabar
Syriac
English
Chaldean
Same tune as Assyrian (tune of B'madnahay Sapra)
Recording coming soon.
Assyrian
Tune of B'madnahay Sapra
Recording coming soon.
The holy martyr-teachers of the faith are implored to pray that peace may come to creation, that wars and disputes may cease, and that the Church may be free to sing glory through the mouths of her children.
For more recordings, see the hymn page on Hudra.
ܒܪܝܼܟܼܝܼܬ̇ܘܿܢ ܠܡܵܪܝܵܐ. ܣܵܗܕܹ̈ܐ ܒܪ̈ܝܼܟܹܐ ܝܘܼܬ݂ܪܵܢܵܐ: ܣܲܓܝܼܐܵܐ ܚܲܫܒ̇ܘܼܗܝ ܠܡܵܘܬܵܐ. ܘܐܲܝܟ݂ ܐܝܼܩܵܪܹ̈ܐ ܘܡܵܘܗܲܒ݂ܬ݂ܵܐ: ܩܲܒܸ̇ܠܘ ܢܸܓ݂ܕܹ̈ܐ ܘܲܣܪ̈ܵܩܹܐ. ܘܗܵܫܵܐ ܒܵܬܲܪ ܡܵܘܬܲܝ̈ـܗܘܿܢ: ܠܥܵܠܡܵܐ ܡܦܲܠܓ݂ܝܼܢ ܛܵܒ݂̈ܵܬ݂ܵܐ: ܘܣܝܼܡܵܬ݂ܵܐ ܕܡܲܠ̈ܝܵܢ ܥܘܼܕ݂ܪ̈ܵܢܹܐ.
Blessed are you of MarYah Blessed Sahde, As a mighty profit, They considered death, And like honours and a gift, They received the stripes and pain, And now even after death, To the world they share good things, And great treasures abounding with help.
Syro-Malabar
Syriac
English
Chaldean
Uses the Dayra Ellayta tune
Recording coming soon.
Assyrian
Tune 1 - Recording coming soon.
Tune 2 - Recording coming soon.
The blessed martyrs reckoned death as great gain and received stripes and wounds as if they were honours and gifts. Now after their deaths they distribute to the world good things and treasures full of help.
For more recordings, see the hymn page on Hudra.
ܕܡܡܲܠܸܠ ܫܠܵܡܵܐ ܥܲܠ ܥܲܡܹܗ ܘܥܲܡ ܙܲܕܝܼܩܵܘ̈ܗܝ. ܫܠܵܡܵܐ ܠܣܵܗܕܹ̈ܐ ܘܲܠܓܲܪ̈ܡܲܝܗܘܿܢ ܐܝܼܩܵܪܵܐ: ܘܲܠܡܵܪܗܘܿܢ ܫܘܼܒܼܚܵܐ: ܘܠܲܢ ܒܲܨܠܘܿܬ݂ܗܘܿܢ ܥܘܼܕ݂ܪ̈ܵܢܹܐ.
ܘܲܒ݂ܢܘܼܗܪܵܟ݂ ܗ݇ܘ̣ ܚܵܙܹܝܢܲܢ ܢܘܼܗܪܵܐ. ܣܵܗܕܹ̈ܐ ܒܢܘܼܗܪܵܐ ܘܲܫܠܝܼܚܹ̈ܐ ܒܲܓ݂ܢܘܿܢ ܢܘܼܗܪܵܐ: ܘܗܵܐ ܙܵܡܪܝܼܢ ܫܘܼܒ݂ܚܵܐ: ܠܐܝܼܬ݂ܝܵܐ ܫܪܸܐ ܒܢܘܼܗܪܵܐ ܓܲܐܝܵܐ.
He who speaks peace to His people and to His righteous ones. Peace to Sahde, And unto their bones honour, Glory to their Lord, And to us help through their prayers.
And in Your light we see light. Sahde in light, And Shlihe in light's chamber, And they sing His praise, To the One in splendid light.
Syro-Malabar
Syriac
English
Chaldean
Recording coming soon.
Assyrian
Recording coming soon.
Peace is offered to the martyrs and honour to their bones, glory to their Lord, and help to us through their prayer. Together with the apostles they shine in light, singing glory to the eternal God.
For more recordings, see the hymn page on Hudra.
ܗܵܠܹܝܢ ܟܠܗܹܝܢ ܓܕܲܫ̈ ܠܲܢ ܘܠܵܐ ܛܥܲܝܢܵܟܼ. ܡܫܝܼܚܵܐ ܦܵܪܘܿܩܹܗ ܕܥܵܠܡܵܐ: ܡܲܠܟܵܐ ܪܲܒܵܐ ܕܬܸܫܒ̇ܘܿܚܬܵܐ: ܣܵܗܕܹ̈ܐ ܕܪܲܚܡܘܼܗܝ ܘܗܲܝܡܸܢܘ ܒܹܗ: ܠܐܵܟܹܠܩܲܪܨܵܐ ܐܲܒ݂ܗܸܬ݂ܘ ܗ݇ܘ̣ܵܘ. ܘܥܲܡ ܡܲܠܲܐܟܹ̈ܐ ܚܵܕܹܝܢ ܒܲܡܪ̈ܵܘܡܹܐ: ܘܲܩܕ݂ܵܡ ܐܲܠܵܗܵܐ ܩܵܝܡܝܼܢ: ܘܠܲܒ݂ܥܸܠܕܲܪܵܐ ܘܲܠܚܲܝܠܹܗ: ܬܚܘܿܬ݂ ܪܸ̈ܓ݂ܠܲܝܗܘܿܢ ܫܲܥܒܸܕ݂ܘ ܗ݇ܘ̣ܵܘ.
All these things have come upon us, yet we have not forgotten You. Mshiha, Savior of the world, Great and glorified High King, Sahde loved Him and believed, They put Satan unto shame. With the angels they rejoice, Standing before Alaha; They subdued the enemy And his power 'neath their feet.
Syro-Malabar
Syriac
English
Chaldean
Recording coming soon.
Assyrian
Recording coming soon.
Christ the great king of glory and Saviour of the world is praised. The martyrs who loved and believed in him put the adversary to shame; they now stand before God with the angels, the enemy subdued beneath their feet.
For more recordings, see the hymn page on Hudra.
ܐܹܒܲܪܸܟܼ ܠܡܵܪܝܵܐ ܒܟܼܠܙܒܲܢ. ܒܪܝܼܟܼ ܚܲܝܠܵܐ ܟܲܣܝܵܐ ܕܲܫܪܸܐ ܒܓܲܪ̈ܡܲܝܗܘܿܢ ܕܣܵܗܕܹ̈ܐ: ܣܝܼܡܝܼܢ ܓܹܝܪ ܒܩܲܒ݂ܪ̈ܲܝܗܘܿܢ: ܘܪܵܕ݂ܦܝܼܢ ܫܹܐܕܹ̈ܐ ܡ̣ܢ ܥܵܠܡܵܐ. ܒܝܘܼܠܦܵܢܗܘܿܢ ܒܲܛܸܠܘ ܛܘܼܥܝܲܝ ܟܠܵܗ̇ ܕܲܓ݂ܠܝܼܦܹ̈ܐ: ܘܣܵܥܪܝܼܢ ܟܲܣܝܵܐܝܼܬ݂ ܠܲܒ݂ܪܝܼܬ݂ܵܐ ܘܡܲܠܦܝܼܢ ܠܡܸܣܓܲܕ݂ ܠܵܟܼ: ܡܵܪܝܵܐ ܕܐܲܢ݇ܬ̇ܘܼ ܒܲܠܚܘܿܕܲܝܟ.
I will bless MarYah at all times. Blest, hidden power, Dwelling in the Sahdes' bones, laid to rest within their graves, driving demons from the world. Through their teaching they stopped all the error carved in stone; unseen, they visit all the earth, teaching all to worship You: For You Alone are MarYah.
Syro-Malabar
Syriac
English
Chaldean
Recording coming soon.
Assyrian
Recording coming soon.
The hidden power dwelling in the bones of the martyrs is blessed; lying in their tombs they still drive out demons. Through their teaching they abolished the error of idolatry and secretly work through creation to teach worship of God alone.
For more recordings, see the hymn page on Hudra.
ܒܟܼܠܵܗ̇ ܐܲܪܥܵܐ ܢܸܦܩܲܬ̤ ܣܒܲܪܬ̇ܗܘܿܢ. ܣܵܗܕܹ̈ܐ ܩܲܕܝܼܫܹ̈ܐ ܠܒܼܝܼܫܲܝ̈ ܢܘܼܗܪܵܐ: ܠܐܲܪܒܲܥܦܸܢܝܵܬܹ̈ܗ ܕܥܵܠܡܵܐ ܢܦܲܩܘ ܗ݇ܘ̣ܵܘ ܠܲܡܣܲܒܵܪܘܼ. ܬܠܝܼܬܼܵܝܘܼܬ݂ܵܐ ܡܫܲܒܲܚܬܵܐ: ܐܲܒ݂ܵܐ ܘܲܒ݂ܪܵܐ ܘܪܘܼܚܩܘܼܕ݂ܫܵܐ.
Through all the earth their message went forth. Sahde, holy ones, clothed in bright light: To the corners of the earth they went out to proclaim. The glorious Trinity: Father, Son, and Ruhqudsha.
Syro-Malabar
Syriac
English
Chaldean
Recording coming soon.
Assyrian
Recording coming soon.
The holy martyrs clothed in light went out to the four corners of the world to proclaim the glorified Trinity - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
For more recordings, see the hymn page on Hudra.
ܡܵܪܝܵܐ ܒܨܲܦܪܵܐ ܬܸܫܡܲܥ ܩܵܠܝ. ܒܨܲܦܪܵܐ ܣܵܗܕܹ̈ܐ ܠܩܸܛܠܵܐ ܐܸܙܕܲܡܲܢܘ: ܘܝܲܡܝܼܢ ܡܵܪܲܢ ܓܵܕܼܠܵܐ ܟܠܝܼܠܲܝ̈ܗܘܿܢ.
ܘܲܒ݂ܨܲܦܪܵܐ ܐܸܬ݁ܛܲܝܲܒ݂ ܘܐܸܬ݂ܚܙܸܐ ܠܵܟ݂. ܒܨܲܦܪܵܐ ܣܵܗ̈ܕܹܐ ܪܵܗܛܝܼܢ ܠܐܵܓ݂ܘܿܢܵܐ: ܠܡܸܣܲܒ݂ ܐܲܓ݂ܪܵܐ ܥܦܝܼܦܵܐ ܕܥܲܡܠܲܝ̈ܗܘܿܢ.
MarYah, in the morning You hear my voice. At dawn Sahde, are called to their death; Maran's right hand, Weaves their holy crowns.
And in the morning I prepare to meet You. At dawn Sahde, Hasten to the race; To claim reward, Double for their toil.
Syro-Malabar
Syriac
English
Chaldean
Recording coming soon.
Assyrian
Recording coming soon.
At the morning hour the martyrs were summoned to their deaths and the right hand of the Lord wove their crowns. They ran eagerly to the contest to receive the abundant reward of all their labours.
For more recordings, see the hymn page on Hudra.
Onyatha d'Sahde on Sundays
The Onyatha d'Sahde for the Sapra of the Sundays of the Qadmaya (First) and Ahraya (Last) weeks stand apart from the weekday series. They are absent from Qdam w'Dwathar (“Before and After”), printed at Mosul in 1903 at the press of the Dominican Fathers; from Paul Bedjan's Breviarium Chaldaicum (1886); and from the Kthawa Daslotha Qanonayta (Book of Canonical Prayers) printed at Mannanam at the end of the 19th century. They do appear, however, in the Hudra printed at the press of Mar Narsai Malpana in Thrissur, South India, in 1961. On page 452 of each of its three volumes the following notice is given:
As is clear to the discerning, the Onyatha of the Sahde are introduced and customary only in the Ramsha and Sapra of ordinary weekdays; for on feasts, commemorations, and during Great Lent there are no anthems of the martyrs, nor even on Sunday evenings. These particular anthems of the martyrs, however—selected and arranged for the morning prayer of the Qadmaya and Ahraya weeks—are in some places performed after the Holy Qurbana and communion in the Body of our Lord.
Both hymns are also very commonly used as Resh Qale - head melodies to which other hymns may be sung. The West Syriac tradition, too, preserves a melody, and a hymn entitled La Mettalmin, whose text differs slightly from the version given in the East Syriac Hudra.
ܘܲܒܼܢܵܘ̈ܗܝ ܕܲܡܪܲܝܡܵܐ ܟܠܟܼܘܿܢ. ܕܨܘܼܪܬܵܐ. ܐܲܢ݇ܬ݁ܘܿܢ ܐܸܢܘܿܢ ܣܵܗܕܵܘ̈ܗܝ ܕܲܒܼܪܵܐ ܘܲܓܼܒܲـ̈ـܝܵܐ ܕܝܼܠܹܗ. ܣܵܗܕܵܘ̈ܗܝ ܕܲܒ݂ܪܵܐ ܩܲܕ̇ܝܼܫܵܐ: ܒܪܲܗܛܵܐ ܛܵܒ݂ܵܐ ܐܸܬ݂ܟܲܠܲܠܘ: ܒܟ݂ܵܪܘܿܙܘܼܬ݂ܵܐ ܕܲܫܪܵܪܵܐ: ܘܥܲܡ ܡܲܠܲܐܟܹ̈ܐ ܕܒܲܫܡܲܝܵܐ: ܚܵܕܹܝܢ ܘܲܡܫܲܒ̇ܚܝܼܢ ܠܐܲܠܵܗܵܐ: ܥܒ݂ܝܼܕ݂ܝܼܢ ܚܠܵܦܲܝܢ ܒܲܥܵܝܹ̈ܐ.
And all of you are sons of the Most High. You are the Sahde of the Son and His chosen ones. Sahde of the Holy Son, Crowned by running the good race, In the preaching of the truth, And with angels in heaven, Joyfully praise Alaha, Made intercessors for us.
Syro-Malabar
Syriac
English
Chaldean
Recording coming soon.
Assyrian
Recording coming soon.
The witnesses of the Son are crowned through their good race in the proclamation of truth. Now rejoicing with the angels of heaven, praising God, they intercede on behalf of the faithful.
For more recordings, see the hymn page on Hudra.
ܥܵܒܹܕ݂ ܕܝܼܢܵܐ ܠܲܛܠܝܼܡܹ̈ܐ. ܕܨܘܼܪܬܵܐ. ܐܵܡܹܝܢ ܐܵܡܹܝܢ ܐܵܡܲܪ ܐ݇ܢܵܐ ܠܟܼܘܿܢ: ܕܡ̇ܢ ܕܲܠܟܼܘܿܢ ܫܵܡܲܥ ܠܝܼ ܫܵܡܲܥ: ܘܡ̇ܢ ܕܲܠܟܼܘܿܢ ܛܵܠܹܡ ܠܝܼ ܛܵܠܹܡ: ܘܡ̇ܢ ܕܠܝܼ ܛܵܠܹܡ: ܛܵܠܹܡ ܠܡ̇ܢ ܕܫܲܠܚܲܢܝ. ܠܵܐ ܡܸܬ̇ܛܲܠܡܝܼܢ ܥܲܡܠܲܝ̈ܟ̇ܘܿܢ ܐܘܿ ܣܵܗܕܹ̈ܐ: ܘܠܵܐ ܥܵܒܲܪ ܡܲܠܟܵܐ ܡܫܝܼܚܵܐ ܕܲܪܚܸܡܬ̇ܘܿܢܵܝܗܝ. ܕܒܲܐܪܥܵܐ ܣܝܼܡܝܼܢ ܓܲܪ̈ܡܲܝܟ̇ܘܿܢ ܕܐܸܬ݂ܢܲܨܲܚܘ: ܘܒܲܣܦܲܪ ܚܲܝܹ̈ܐ ܫܡܵܗܲܝ̈ܟ̇ܘܿܢ ܪ̈ܵܚܡܵܘܗܝ ܕܲܒܼܪܵܐ.
He executes justice for the oppressed. Amen, amen, I say to you: He who hears you hears me; and he who rejects you rejects me; and he who rejects me rejects Him who sent me. Your holy labours are not lost, O Sahde, Mshiha the King you loved will not pass by; For in the earth your triumphant bones rest, And in life's book your names, friends of the Son.
Syro-Malabar
Syriac
English
Chaldean
Recording coming soon.
Assyrian
Recording coming soon.
The labours of the martyrs are not in vain, nor does Christ whom they loved pass them by. Their triumphant bones lie in the earth, and their names - as beloved ones of the Son - are written in the Book of Life.
For more recordings, see the hymn page on Hudra.
Conclusion
- Mar Awa Royel, “Singing Hymns to the Martyrs: the ‘Antiphons of the Sāhdē’ in the Assyrian Church of the East,” Journal of the Canadian Society for Syriac Studies 12 (2012), 3–11. ↩