Expert: Maria - 1/11/2010

Question
The title of the orthodox hymn "Agni Parthene" is tranlated as "unwedded bride". Now parthenos means virgin, but what does "agni" mean and can "Unwedded bride" possibly be a suitable translation? Thank you!

Answer
Hello,

The title of the orthodox hymn "Agni Parthene”  [Αγνή Παρθένε, in Greek alphabet)] literally means :”O Virgin pure!”, not “O Bride Unwedded!” which is instead  the refrain of the same hymn  that reads exactly “Rejoice, O Bride Unwedded!“( Χαίρε,  Νύμφη Ανύμφευτε).

Note that:

-“parthéne”( Παρθένε) is the vocative case of the feminine noun “parthénos” (παρθένος ) meaning “virgin / maiden”, not “bride”.

-“Agní” is the modern Greek pronunciation of  “Agné”  (Αγνή) which is the feminine vocative of the adjective “agnòs”( αγνός)  meaning “chaste”/ “pure”, not “Unwedded”. This feminine vocative is agreed with “parthéne”( Παρθένε), of course.

Best regards,
Maria
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P.S. This liturgical hymn was composed by St. Nectarios of Aegina (1846-1920)