The focus of this website is on the paraliturgical hymns of those Eastern Christians residing in and around the Carpathian mountains, namely the Carpatho-Rusyns, the Galicians/Ukrainians, and the Romanians. To a lesser degree, this website will include paraliturgical music from other Eastern Christian traditions.

At the moment, my main goal is to provide PDF versions of primary sources in the original languages (particularly if they are out of print or hard to find in the US), links to materials already online, and bibliographic listings. In time, I hope to expand the offerings on this site beyond printed resources, but as this project is a hobby, it may take a while to get there.

I welcome questions, feedback and contributions of materials. Please e-mail me. David M. Mastroberte

  • General Information

      Under Construction!

  • Bibliography

  • Links

  • Carpatho-Rusyn Materials

      Pisennik, ili Sobranije Pisnej, Ungvar (Užhorod), 1913. 367 pages. (34.2 MB)
      A comprehensive hymnal including hymns for all the major feasts and saints throughout the year, for the period of the Triodion and Pentecostarion, as well as a large selection of Marian and funeral hymns. Many of these hymns are unknown in current Carpatho-Rusyn practice. Includes a lengthy preface. Slavonic text, in Cyrillic.

      Kol'ady, Prešov, 1932. 32 pages. (6.19 MB)
      A small pocket-sized book of Christmas carols. Slavonic text, in Latin characters.

      Hymns from the "Chl'ib Duši" Prayerbook, Prešov, 1996. 30 pages. (1.37 MB)
      The appendix of hymns from the "Chl'ib Duši" prayerbook printed by the Orthodox Church in Slovakia in 1996. Slavonic text, in Latin characters.

      Let Us Sing Praise to God, Johnstown, 1959. 17 pages. (5.28 MB)
      A booklet prepared for Sunday School students with music and lyrics for several most common Rusyn hymns; a small introduction to musical theory; and English translations of the hymns contained in the booklet. Music with Slavonic text, in Latin characters.

      Christmas Carols by M. P. Hilko, Passaic, 1953 (and later). 7 pages. (996 KB)
      Several of "Prof" Hilko's well-known settings of traditional kol'ady. Also included is his lesser-known 1955 choral setting of "O Who Loves Nicholas the Saintly." English, with some transliterated Slavonic.

      Various Hymns by M. P. Hilko, Passaic, 1970. 10 pages. (1.45 MB)
      Choral settings, in English and Slavonic, of several Rusyn paraliturgical hymns: Christijane proslavljajme #1; Prizri o Marije; O Marie, Mati Bozja; Prijdite voschvalim; Jehda na strast hotovilsja; O Boze moj, milostivyj; Vsi Tja Chory; Radujsja Carice; Christijane proslavljajme #2; Siju Zapovid. English and Slavonic texts.

      Cerkovny Pisni vo Cest Spasitel'a Našeho Isusa Christa i Jeho Materi Prec. Divy Marii. , McKeesport, PA. No date. 32 pages. (2.83 MB)
      A pocket-sized booklet of lyrics for hymns in honor of Christ and the Mother of God. Slavonic text, in Latin characters. Pages 1 and 2 are missing.

      Voskres Christos. , Unknown Source and Author. No date. 1 page. (3.39 MB)
      A Carpatho-Rusyn Paschal hymn found in the choir books of the ACROD parishes in Lansford and Nesquehoning, PA.

      Hymns from "Malyj Izbornik Cerkovnyj", Užhorod, 1924. 18 pages. (599 KB)
      Slavonic text, in Latin characters. Scan provided by Michael Decerbo.

      Lenten Hymns by Fr. John Duranko, Bridgeport, CT, 1983. 4 pages. (211 KB)
      Music and text, in English and Slavonic, for three Lenten hymns: Stradal'na Mati, O Iisuse Poranenyj, and Jehda Na Strast' Hotovilsja. Translations are the work of Fr. John Duranko, longtime pastor of St. John's (ACROD) in Bridgeport, CT. Scan provided by Michael Decerbo.

  • Galician & Ukrainian Materials

      Koljady, i Druhij Najbol'še Upotrebljajemyi Cerkovnyi Pisni, New York, 1926. (2.53 MB)
      A small hymnal containing Christmas carols and selected hymns for the rest of the liturgical year. These pieces are mostly Galician in origin, with some Carpatho-Rusyn pieces as well. Slavonic text, in Cyrillic.

      Hymns of the Eastern Orthodox Church by Fr. Stephen Hallick, 1966. 46 pages. (3.45 MB)
      English settings of popular Galician hymns and carols, along with a few liturgical hymns. The lyrics are often loose paraphrases or completely new compositions. Published by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA. English text, with music.

      Music and Lyrics for Hymns in Ukrainian, Unknown Source and Date. 59 pages. (3.8 MB)
      A collection of well-known Galician-Ukrainian hymns scanned from a Ukrainian Greek Catholic Divine Liturgy book. This collection includes hymns for the Great Fast, Pascha, the Holy Spirit, the Eucharist, the Mother of God, St. Nicholas, St. Joseph, Before Liturgy and Christmas, as well as several hymns for specifically Catholic devotions (the Sacred Heart and St. Josaphat) and two hymns for Ukraine. (No publisher, author or date of printing is given in this book--if you know the source, please e-mail me!)

  • Romanian Materials

      Lyrics to Various Hymns, 2 pages, 2007. (81.7 KB)
      A 2-sided sheet with the words to several hymns, mostly in honor of the Mother of God (except for "Cât de Marit" and "Asa graieste" which are hymns to Our Lord). Romanian text.

      Colinde Lyrics in Romanian and English, Various Sources. 10 pages. (1.25 MB)
      A collection of Romanian Christmas Carols with English translations, from various publications (mainly Solia and Unirea).

  • Books of Related Chants NEW!

      Cantarile Bisericesti dupa Melodiile Celor Opt Glasuri by Fr. Dimitrie Cuntan, Sibiu, 1932 (3rd ed). 101 pages. (10.9 MB)
      A collection of chants as sung in Sibiu, Romania. Includes the Eight Tones (with special melodies), the Divine Liturgies, and some music from the Great Feasts, the Triodion and the Pentecostarion. Widely used by the Orthodox Christians in Transylvania. In Romanian.

      Manecatul (Utrenia) si Inseratul (Vecernia) by Fr. Celestin Cherebetiu, Blaj, 1930. 181 pages. (21.8 MB)
      Music for Matins and Vespers as sung at the Greek Catholic Cathedral in Blaj, Romania. Includes the Eight Tones, and some music from the Great Feasts, the Triodion and the Pentecostarion. In Romanian.

      Djakivskij Kurs: Zbirnik Cerkovnich Pisen, Winnipeg, 1954. 61 pages. (11.6 MB)
      A "cantor's course" in Galician chant from the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church in Canada. Includes the Eight Tones (with "Bulgarian" melodies), music from the Triodion, the Pentecostarion, the ordinary of Matins, Divine Liturgy, Weddings, Funerals, and a few paraliturgical hymns. In Ukrainian.

      Cerkovnoje Prostopinije by Fr. John Boksaj, Uzhorod, 1906. Off-Site Link
      The most well-known collection of Carpatho-Rusyn chants. Site also includes PDF versions of the Sokol book and the Papp Irmologion. In Slavonic.

    Page Created December 20. 2007.
    Last Update: June 17, 2008.