LENTEN TUNES: the Wise Thief
Every Sunday, during the prayer at Holy Communion, we say: “but like the thief will I confess Thee: remember me, o Lord, in Thy Kingdom.” Not only have we repeated these exact words for one thousand, nine hundred and ninety (1,990) years on a weekly (at minimum) basis but we also cross ourselves - to physically bring our minds back to the present to truly internalize this seemingly simple phrase:
…Of Thy Mystical Supper, O Son of God, accept me today as a communicant; for I will not speak of Thy Mystery to Thine enemies, neither like Judas will I give Thee a kiss; but like the thief will I confess Thee: Remember me, O Lord in Thy Kingdom...
Who is the Wise Thief?
As we hear during the 12 Gospel readings on Holy Thursday evening (orthros/matins to Holy Friday), there were two other men crucified with Jesus Christ, the day He was nailed to the cross. The Gospel account tells us that they were indeed criminals and shares the exchange between the two thieves and our Lord. The one thief continues the same logic of the Jewish High priests, exclaiming - if You are truly God, take us down with You (or something along those lines) and the other thief retorts - fool! We deserve this punishment for we are truly criminals. This Man has done nothing; why should He, as innocent, be crucified? - and turns to our Lord, asking - remember me, o Lord, in Your Kingdom.
He is the thief we want to remember because he truly understood that this was the Son of God there, next to him, on the cross. And confesses this and asks for mercy: an act that we are hoped to show on an hourly basis.
When is it Sung?
And thus, during the candle-lit matins/orthros of Holy Friday, before the 9th Gospel reading, the song “the Wise Thief” (Розбійник) is sung three times. It is the exapostilarion (Greek for “sent out”), which is sung after the canon of matins/orthros. During Holy Week, the exapostilarion becomes even more important with the singers chanting the hymn 3 times in the middle of the temple (in some parishes, the singers start at the back, then sing in the middle of the temple, then in the altar) due to its theme.
So we invite you to join us this for this incredibly special and emotional service this year in the evening of Holy Thursday and to listen for the Wise Thief, as it rings out in the darkness - a reminder of who we are called to be as Christians.
The Lyrics
“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.”