ΣΕ ΥΜΝΟΥΜΕΝ-TE LAUDAMUS
Submitted by Athos on February 9, 2024 - 4:11pm
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ΣΕ ΥΜΝΟΥΜΕΝ – Te Laudamus
ΣΕ ΥΜΝΟΥΜΕΝ – TE LAUDAMUS
One of the most sacred moments in Orthodox liturgy, and one of the most profound chants in the Christian musical tradition.
Σὲ ὑμνοῦμεν, σὲ εὐλογοῦμεν, σοὶ εὐχαριστοῦμεν, Κύριε, καὶ δεόμεθά σου, ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν.
We sing this hymn to You, we utter blessed words to You, we utter words of gratitude to You, O Lord; we humbly pray to You, to You our God.
Translation by poet Michael Nikoletseas
The Hymn
Σε υμνούμεν (Se ymnoumen, “We praise You”) is a hymn of the Divine Liturgy of the Eastern Christian Church, sung at the most sacred moment, the moment of the sacrifice. In the hands of gifted cantors, this hymn rises to extraordinary heights of spirituality and art.
Very few moments in Western sacred music can stand beside it. One may think of certain passages in Mozart’s Requiem or Bach’s St. Matthew Passion; yet even these comparisons only suggest, from afar, the gravity and splendor of Se ymnoumen. Te Laudamus can seem restrained beside the abysmal tempest of awe, love, and beauty contained in this Orthodox chant.
What follows is a presentation of selected renditions of Se ymnoumen, offered as examples of its spiritual intensity, musical majesty, and liturgical depth.
Se ymnoumen by Athonite Monks
Γέρων Γρηγόριος Δανιηλίδης – Σε υμνούμεν, ήχος πλ. α΄
Ιερά Αδελφότης Δανιηλαίων
- https://youtu.be/oWACeF_v_aY?si=xlwvidIuESvVk1cj – Σε υμνούμεν, ήχος πλ. α΄
Se ymnoumen by Lay Cantors
Selected rendition by a lay cantor.
Additional recorded performance.
Another notable interpretation of the chant.
- https://youtu.be/3TjCZessnts?si=OyEmufUJhHgNpFqi – Θρασύβουλος Στανίτσας, Σε υμνούμεν, Ήχος πλ. δ΄
- https://youtu.be/7a59MvQCeHw?si=bp1NlEkNOSIWcI_D – Σε υμνούμεν, ήχος γ΄ / Ταλιαδώρος
- https://youtu.be/tcDto8v4Kg4?si=Bvy3LIdo5dfm4J9P – Σε υμνούμεν και Άξιον Εστίν, Τιμωνίδου, Ήχος Δ. Ψάλλει ο Θεοδόσιος Ιερομ. Νεοσκητιώτης
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