Paschal Mattins

Above is two minutes from the Paschal Mattins attended by yours' truly at the Melkite community in Houston, TX. Right now they are using the Ruthenian church (and clergy) until they have their premises. The liturgy was a bit more "ethnic" than I have previously experienced in the Byzantine rite. Everything was in Arabic with a few bits of Greek for the sake of tradition. The priest, an American Ruthenian cleric, did his parts in English and once had to consult the choir for a page number. It was wonderful to be back at a Melkite liturgy again though.

Above they are singing "Christ is risen from the dead and by His death He has trampled upon death and has given life to those who were in the tombs" in Greek then in Arabic followed by "Having risen from the grave as He foretold, Jesus has granted us eternal life and great mercy." The deacon then chants a "little litany."