Divine Service for Empress Maria Fedorovna
Introitus
Niels W. Gade (1817-90): “Morning Song” from Elverskud, Roskilde Cathedral Boys Choir
Congregational hymn
The blessed new day with joy we see
from out of the deep ascended.
Now brightens the sky by slow degree:
our hearts with its cheer are mended.
It shows in us all, each child of light,
that now the dark night is ended.
That sacred sweet hour, that midnight dear,
our Lord in the flesh took dwelling,
away in the east the sky shone clear,
the rosiest dawn excelling:
thus broke forth the light which earth’s dim sphere
shall shine with, all gloom dispelling.
If life were but giv’n each greenwood tree,
each leaf as a tongue resounded,
yet could they not voice half worthily
the praise of God’s grace unbounded:
for old and for young the Light of Life
shall shine, in all ages founded.
To God our good Father thanks shall wing
as lark in the rosy dawning –
for day, that from night he deigned to bring,
for life, when the grave stood yawning.
May all of our lives, in Jesus’ name,
be sweeter for this blest morning.
Go stately along, our festal day,
your brow with a glory glowing:
so time rolls, at God’s behest, away
as brook through the meadow flowing,
until at the end it grateful winds
where green linden-trees are growing.
When day from the dead returns anew,
like gold is the sun’s ascending,
but gold is its kiss at even too,
with beautiful crimson blending,
rekindling a spark in eye grown dim,
a blush to the pale cheek lending.
So journey we on to our Father’s land
where day never sleeps benighted,
to dwell in his city proud and grand,
in mansions of gold delighted,
and blissful remain for ever more
with friends in the light united.
Medieval Nordic song.
N.F.S. Grundtvig 1826 and 1846.
Melody: C.E.F. Weyse 1826.
Translation: S.A.J. Bradley 2004.
Salutation
Priest: The Lord be with you.
Congregation: And with your spirit.
Collect
Holy Father in heaven!
We thank you for all the departed
who have lived as your people on earth,
those who are remembered on earth
and those whose names are forgotten by all except you.
You remember them all!
Today we commemorate the Empress Dagmar
who willingly left the land of her birth
and faithfully served the country
to which her earthly remains are returned today.
Holy and merciful Lord; all souls are in your hand,
our own souls and theirs who shall live after us
and whose names we do not know.
Therefore we pray:
Keep us with you
while darkness is mounting on earth.
Give us the light of the Word, and its salt,
give us courage and joy
to live in the world as your witnesses,
until the great day
when we shall see your face shining over the new earth, where you with Christ live and reign
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one true God forever and ever.
The Congregation: Amen.
Lesson from the Book of Genesis
Now the LORD had said unto Abraham, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curseth thee; and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed (Gen. 12:1-3).
Address by Paul Kulikovsky
Copenhagen University Choir
I Danmark er jeg født / In Denmark I was born
In Denmark I was born, ‘tis where my home is,
From there my roots, and there my world extend.
You Danish tongue, as soft as Mother’s voice is,
With you my heart beats Oh so sweatly blend.
You windswept Danish strand,
Where ancient chieftain’s barrow
Stands close to apple orchard, hop and mallow
“Tis you I love” - Denmark, my native land!
O where does summer strew her bed all over
With lovelier flowers than here, by open strand?
Where shines the silver moon on field of clover
So bright as in the beech’s native land?
You windswept Danish strand,
Where Dannebrog is waving,
You came – O flag – from God, our foes outbraving!
“Tis you I love” - Denmark, my native land!
You land where I was born, and where my home is,
From where my roots derive, my world extends,
Where language is as soft as Mother’s voice is,
And with my heartbeats like sweet music blends.
You windswept Danish strand,
For swans to build their nest in,
Green island home on earth, for heart to rest in,
“Tis you I love” - Denmark, my native land!
H. C. Andersen 1850.
Melody: Henrik Rung 1850.
Translation: Paula Hostrup-Jessen
N.W. Gade: Tone-poem in C major for organ
Two organ chorales on
“Hvo ikkun lader Herren raade”
Lesson from the Book of Psalms
LORD, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men. For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night. Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up. In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth. For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled. Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance. For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told. The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath. So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Return, O LORD, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants. O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil. Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children. And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it (Ps. 90).
N.W. Gade: Church aria for mezzo-soprano and organ
Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD. Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? (Ps. 130: 1-3).
Lesson from the Book of Ecclesiastes
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth? I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it. He hath made everything beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end (Eccl. 3:1-11).
I.P.E. Hartmann (1805-1900) Quando corpus morietur
for three soloists, choir, and strings
Quando corpus moriétur
Fac ut ánimae donétur
Paradisi glória. Amen.
When this body of mine shall die,
then let my soul partake
in the glory of paradise. Amen.
(The last verse of Stabat Mater).
Congregational hymn
Under the shadow of thy wings
1. Under dine vingers skygge,
Herre, lad mig bo og bygge,
til du vil hjemkalde mig,
til mit øje træt sig lukker,
til i dødens stund jeg sukker:
Herre, tag min ånd til dig!
2. Under dine vingers skygge,
dér, kun dér er livets lykke,
åndens barnehjem på jord,
hvor, hvad vi af Paradiset
har ved Adams fald forliset,
atter spirer frem og gror.
3. Under dine vingers skygge
som i barndomshjemmet trygge,
vandrer vi trods storm og slud;
fries vi end ej for fare,
dog for mørkets magt og snare
du bevarer os, vor Gud.
4. Under dine vingers skygge
lad kun korsets byrde trykke,
klage lyde på vor gang!
Fader! dine visdoms hænder
kors til sejrens palme vender,
klageråb til jubelsang.
5. Under dine vingers skygge
lad mig hjertets tempel smykke
med din tro, din kærlighed,
lys og renhed, kraft og varme,
at til sidst i dine arme
jeg må slumre ind i fred!
H.A. Timm, 1842.
Melody: I.P.E. Hartmann.
This hymn was sung at the funeral service for The Empress in 1928.
Lesson from the First Epistle of Peter
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time (1.Peter 1:3-5).
Memorial blessing
With that faith and in that hope do we bless the memory of the Empress Dagmar!
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory for ever and ever.
The Congregation: Amen.
Blessing
The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious
unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
The Congregation: Amen.
During the carrying out of the bier:
I.P.E. Hartmann’s Fantasy in F minor for organ.
The service is conducted by the Chaplain Royal, Professor Christian Thodberg together with Bishop Jan Lindhardt and Jens Arendt, Dean of the Cathedral.
Music performed by:
Roskilde Cathedral Boys Choir conducted by Finn Evald.
Copenhagen University Choir conducted by Jørgen Fuglebæk.
Cathedral organist Kristian Olesen at the main organ also conducts the Cathedral Choir and members of The Royal Danish Orchestra.
Soloists:
Else Torp (soprano)
Ulla Munch (mezzo-soprano)
Tomas Medici (tenor)
Jakob Block (bass)