"''Boh predvichnyi narodyvsia''" () is a
Ukrainian Christmas carol
A Christmas carol is a Carol (music), carol on the theme of Christmas, traditionally sung at Christmas itself or during the surrounding Christmas and holiday season. The term noel has sometimes been used, especially for carols of French or ...
, which is translated into English as "Eternal God Was Born" or sometimes "Pre-eternal God Was Born." It focuses on the
incarnation
Incarnation literally means ''embodied in flesh'' or ''taking on flesh''. It is the Conception (biology), conception and the embodiment of a deity or spirit in some earthly form or an Anthropomorphism, anthropomorphic form of a god. It is used t ...
in the story of the
nativity.
Background
One of the most famous carols in
Western Ukraine
Western Ukraine or West Ukraine (, ) refers to the western territories of Ukraine. There is no universally accepted definition of the territory's boundaries, but the contemporary Ukrainian administrative regions ( oblasts) of Chernivtsi, I ...
and the amongst the
Ukrainian diaspora
The Ukrainian diaspora comprises Ukrainians and their descendants who live outside Ukraine around the world, especially those who maintain some kind of connection to the land of their ancestors and maintain their feeling of Ukrainian national ide ...
, it is customary to sing this carol before the traditional
Twelve-dish Christmas Eve supper
A twelve-dish Christmas Eve supper is traditionally prepared to commemorate Jesus' twelve disciples in Central, Northern and Eastern European cultures, especially those that were formerly part of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and neighbo ...
is served in many parts of the historic region of
Galicia. It also sung in churches at the end of the
Divine Liturgy
Divine Liturgy () or Holy Liturgy is the usual name used in most Eastern Christian rites for the Eucharistic service.
The Eastern Catholic Churches, Eastern Lutheranism, Eastern Lutheran Churches and the Eastern Orthodox Church believe the Divi ...
from
Christmas Day
Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world. A liturgical feast central to Christianity, Chri ...
until
Candlemas
Candlemas, also known as the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus Christ, the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, or the Feast of the Holy Encounter, is a Christian holiday, Christian feast day commemorating the presentation of ...
.
"''Boh predvichnyi narodyvsia''" is in the "''
Bohohlasnyk''" - a Ukrainian anthology of pious songs, which was published in
Pochayiv Monastery during the late eighteenth century. The poet
Ivan Franko
Ivan Yakovych Franko (, ; 27 August 1856 – 28 May 1916) was a Ukrainian poet, writer, social and literary critic, journalist, translator, economist, political activist, doctor of philosophy, ethnographer, and the author of the first d ...
considered this the best of all Ukrainian church songs, calling it "a pearl among carols."
Lyrics
There are multiple versions of this carol, ranging in length from 2 to 10 verses. This version includes 7 verses, and reflects the most common form used in the United States liturgically.
Analyzing the text of carol,
Mikhailo Voznyak points out that line about the
wise men returning by a different route is probably a later insertion; it is not in the original text, which has been preserved from the eighteenth century. He also attributes its popularity with the peasant culture of eighteenth and nineteenth century Ukraine to its
egalitarian
Egalitarianism (; also equalitarianism) is a school of thought within political philosophy that builds on the concept of social equality, prioritizing it for all people. Egalitarian doctrines are generally characterized by the idea that all h ...
message conveyed by the placing of shepherds before the kings and conveying the message that the even the poorest and most wretched, like Jesus himself, find equality or even glory in the Christmas story.
See also
*
List of Christmas carols
This list of Christmas carols is organized by language of origin. Originally, a "Christmas carol" referred to a piece of vocal music in carol form whose lyrics centre on the theme of Christmas or the Christmas season. The difference between a ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Boh predvicnyj narodilsja
Koliadka
Christmas carols
Ukrainian folk songs
Year of song unknown
Songs with unknown songwriters