Friday, April 20, 2007

The Wise Thief



This video has a nicely done version of the "Wise Thief", which is the Exapostilarion of Holy Friday:

"The Wise Thief didst Thou make worthy of Paradise, in a single moment, O Lord. By the wood of thy Cross illumine me as well, and save me."

I have heard it said that the Greeks come to the Holy Friday service to hear the hymn "Today He Who hung the earth upon the waters is hung on the tree," but the Russians come to hear about the thief who stole paradise.