Everyone has favorite hymns! I thought it would be fun to share a few of my favorites and see if we have any in common. Feel free to list some of your favorites in the comments (or on FB).
In honor of the Dormition of the Theotokos (for which we’re fasting right now), O Virgin Pure (Agni Parthene):
O Victorious Leader, also in honor of the Theotokos. This is a video slideshow I put together five years ago with photos I took at Holy Protection Monastery in White Haven, PA, together with music by the choir of St. Symeon the New Theologian Orthodox Church in Birmingham, AL.
I really love several versions of the Cherubic Hymn. This video is of our own choir singing the first part of the setting by A. Katorsky.
I look forward to singing Let My Prayer Arise (the Bortniansky setting) every Kent:
My hands-down favorite: Psalm 135 (the Polyeleios) as chanted by the monks of Simonopetra Monastery on Mr. Athos
There are really too many to list! But I’ve spent the last 2 hours crocheting censers and listening to some of my favorite music so I’m glad I did this post. What are some of your favorites?
Praying With My Feet 
Hands down, the ode of pascha that our choir sings. I’m not sure of the exact name, the one that says “grieve no more, virgin, but look with joy, on thy risen son”. Do you know which on that is?
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The Angel Cried!
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That’s it!
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We sing the Kastorsky setting of the Cherubim Hymn as well. A favourite hymn is so hard to choose. I love the hymns of Holy Saturday Liturgy – the Song of the 3 Children, Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence. The Burial Canon (Kievan chant) is great too. If I have to pick one thing, it’s the Aposticha of Holy Friday Vespers (Joseph of Arimathea took Thee down from the tree…) in Optino Monastery chant. It’s probably my favourite part of Holy Week to sing.
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So many good ones! As you say, it’s hard to choose. We as Orthodoxy Christians have inherited great wealth in music.
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Psalm 135 by the monks at Simonopetra is one of my favourites!
I’ve spent some time thinking about the hymns closest to my heart and it seems that most of them are related to Pascha. My absolute favourite is the Pascha Matins service sang by the nuns at Cheile Cibului. It can be listened here fully, but with some ads http://m.trilulilu.ro/manastirea-cheile-cibului-utrenia-invierii
Also love hymns on the 3rd and 7th tone – such as those sang during Saturday night Vigils (here the influence is predominantly Greek https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Po8_Fx17Jbw) And these hymns sang by a Romanian byzantine choir with their very young pupils are just lovely https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfbDjcm6M_4&index=39&list=PL3CB1E39F0495257A. It’s such a wealthy heritage that it’s impossible to choose just a few.
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I was unable to view the first link, but yes, the others are lovely.
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Not being Orthodox, none of the hymns are familiar, but I love the tones of each and appreciate their beauty. A beautiful way to worship, indeed
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The cherubic hymn in A. Katorsky setting is probably my favorite but I also love the Trisagion hymn and in different settings. But the former Baptist in me leapt when I read the title of your post. Brought back memories of Baptist hymns dear to my grandmothers like Farther Along and In The Garden.
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There are so many Anglican hymns I remember fondly. “Sleepers wake!” is one.
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