Journey to Pascha Series - Lesson #21: The Theological Significance of the Hymn of Kassiani

 

The Hymn of Kassiani, chanted during the Matins of Holy Wednesday (sung on Holy Tuesday evening), is one of the most moving and profound hymns of Holy Week. Composed by St. Kassiani (Kassia), a 9th-century Byzantine nun and hymnographer, this piece offers a theological meditation on sin, repentance, and divine mercy, focusing on the encounter of the sinful woman with Christ in Luke 7:36-50.

Hymn of Kassiani text

O Lord God, the woman who had fallen into many sins, having perceived Thy divinity received the rank of ointment-bearer, offering Thee spices before Thy burial wailing and crying: "Woe is me, for the love of adultery and sin hath given me a dark and lightless night; accept the fountains of my tears O Thou Who drawest the waters of the sea by the clouds incline Thou to the sigh of my heart O Thou Who didst bend the heavens by Thine inapprehensible condescension; I will kiss Thy pure feet and I will wipe them with my tresses. I will kiss Thy feet Whose tread when it fell on the ears of Eve in Paradise dismayed her so that she did hide herself because of fear. Who then shall examine the multitude of my sin and the depth of Thy judgment? Wherefore, O my Saviour and the Deliverer of my soul turn not away from Thy handmaiden O Thou of boundless mercy".

I. Biblical Foundation: The Sinful Woman and Christ's Mercy

The Gospel reading associated with the hymn is Luke 7:36-50, where a sinful woman anoints Christ's feet with precious myrrh, washes them with her tears, and wipes them with her hair. This act of deep repentance and love leads Christ to forgive her sins, despite the objections of the self-righteous Pharisee Simon.

Key verses:

• "And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil" (Luke 7:37).

• "Her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much" (Luke 7:47).

• "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace" (Luke 7:50).

This account has strong parallels with other anointings in the Gospels (e.g., Matthew 26:6-13, Mark 14:3-9, John 12:1-8), though some Church Fathers distinguish between different women performing similar acts.

II. The Theology of the Hymn: Sin, Repentance, and Mercy

The hymn is a personal cry of the sinful woman, representing all of humanity before God. It unfolds in three key theological themes:

1. The Fall of Man and the Weight of Sin

The opening lines of the hymn allude to Eve’s transgression, drawing a parallel between the first sin and the speaker’s own fall:

"O Lord, the woman who had fallen into many sins, perceiving Your divinity, took upon herself the duty of a myrrh-bearer, and with lamentation brings You myrrh before Your burial."

• The sinful woman is portrayed as a new Eve, whose transgression and pain mirror that of humanity after the fall.

• This echoes Genesis 3, where Eve’s sin introduced suffering and separation from God.

• St. John Chrysostom explains:
  "Where sin abounded, grace abounded much more" (Romans 5:20). The fallen woman is not cast away but is received with love because of her great repentance."

2. Repentance as the Path to Restoration

The hymn vividly describes the depth of her repentance, expressed through tears, anointing, and humility:

"Alas, the gloom of night, the madness of lust, the dark and moonless love of sin!"

• The image of “gloom” and “darkness” represents the spiritual blindness caused by sin (cf. John 3:19-20).

• Her weeping recalls Psalm 51:17:
  "A broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise."

• Her hair becomes a symbol of humility, reversing the pride of Eve.

As St. Basil the Great says:
"Tears of repentance wash away the stains of the soul, as water cleanses the body."

3. Christ as the Bridegroom and the Physician of Souls

At the climax of the hymn, the woman turns to Christ with a direct plea for mercy:

"Do not disregard me, Your servant, O You Who are boundless in mercy!"

• Here, Christ is the Bridegroom, and the woman, like the Church (the Bride of Christ, cf. Ephesians 5:25-27), is seeking union with Him.

• The phrase “boundless in mercy” (ἄβυσσος τῶν ἑλεῶν) emphasizes that God's forgiveness is infinite, surpassing all human sin.

• St. Ephrem the Syrian teaches:
  "There is no sin that can overcome the ocean of God’s mercy, only that which is unrepented."

The story of St. Mary of Egypt stands as a profound testament to the transformative power of repentance, ascetic struggle, and divine grace. Her journey from a life of sin to one of extreme holiness mirrors the path that all Christians are called to walk—turning away from worldly passions and seeking union with God. Through her life, the Church teaches that no sin is too great to be forgiven, and that through sincere repentance, humility, and perseverance, even the most broken soul can attain spiritual restoration and deification. As we commemorate her memory in the fifth week of Lent, we are reminded that Great Lent is a time for renewal, an opportunity to leave behind our past failings and journey toward Christ with contrite hearts. Inspired by St. Mary’s unwavering faith and total reliance on God's mercy, may we too seek the grace to overcome our struggles and grow in holiness, so that we may enter into the joy of Pascha—the ultimate victory over sin and death.