Ensemble `Voca Me`: Kathrin Feldmann (alto, mezzo-coprano), Sigrid Hausen (mezzo-soprano), Sarah M. Newman (soprano), Petra Noskaiova (mezzo-soprano), Gerlinde Samann (soprano), Michael Popp (music directon & instruments).
The Stichcron Edessa was written for the Vespers service of November 15th that memorializes Saints Curias, Samonas, and Abibus. The lenghty text has mostly a syllabic musical setting. As a defender of Christian women's rights, Kassia's motive in writing a hymn for these male saints is self-evident. The hymn relates the miracle that the saints performed for the young maiden from Edessa. As the story goes, a barbarian Goth kidnapped, under the pretense of marriage, a young girl from Edessa, who was praying. The Goth then murdered his first wife by burying her alive in a tomb. In vengence the friends of the wife tried to murder the young girl from Edessa in the same manner but she was saved by the saints as a miracle and the Goth was punished for his crime.
Translation: Edessa rejoices that she has been enriched by the tomb of the saints; Gurias, Samonas and Abibus; and summoning together the Christ-loving flock, she calls out. Come, you that love holy days, be enlightened; behold heavenly luminaries walking upon the earth. Come and hear what kind ol bitter death these unconquerable brave men underwent for everlasting life. Whereby, being sureties for the truth they save the maiden who had been thrown alive in the tomb. And the all-abominable one who behaved despicably they committed to destruction as murderer and unmerciful. And zealously they implore the All-Holy Trinity to save from ruin and temptation and all manner of danger those who in faith keep their memorial rite.