Joyful Inspiration
Mary, The Untier of Knots by Russ Rentler
Listen to Russ Rentler, an evangelical convert to Catholicism, as he sings his appreciation for Mary. The music is inspired by the baroque painting titled Mary Undoer of Knots by Johann Georg Melchior Schmidtner. “The knot of Eve’s disobedience was untied by Mary’s obedience; for what Eve bound by her unbelief, Mary loosed by her faith.” St. Ireneaus 2nd Century
Agni Parthene by Valaam Bredhren Choir
In the spirit of strengthening the Universal Church, enjoy the Valaam Bredhren Choir chant Agni Parthene, “O Pure Virgin,” a non-liturgical hymn drawn from the Orthodox Book of Hymns to the Mother of God. The brothers of the Valaam Monastery in Russia have a unique tradition of singing, which combines features of Byzantine and Znamenny chants of select hymns in Church Slavonic, the conservative Slavic liturgical language used by the Orthodox Church in Bulgaria, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Montenegro, and Ukraine. Valaam Monastery is run by the Finnish Orthodox Church, a member of the Russian Orthodox Church.
OUR MOTHER OF PERPETUAL HELp Icon
Icons are special because they are meant to be read like holy scripture. When we look closely at the icon's signs and symbols, we can be led into a deeper experience of God. The icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help invites us to encounter Mary, Mother of God, as one who points the way to Jesus. The icon is about the story of Jesus Christ and Mary's role as mother of the Redeemer. Learn how to read the icon, as you would the Gospel, with a video by Br. Dan Korn of the Redemptorists of Edmonton-Toronto.