Nets and snares were fashioned, then,For the young fawn of the Virgin and Mother of God,But the trap was broken and the fawn escaped, tearing the snare.With His mother, like a blameless deer, He fledInto Egypt, as Micah once said.O Thou Who art everywhere and Who rulest over all, where dost Thou flee?Where dost ThouContinue reading “St. Romanos on the Flight to Egypt”
Author Archives: Stefan Gramenz
A time favorable for me
Lo, the day has dawned which I longed to see,A time favorable for me.My God is lodged in the house of Simon,I shall hasten to him and weep, just as Anna did about her sterility. Simon may consider me drunk,Just as Elias then considered Anna. I shall keep on prayingAnd saying, `Lord, I do notContinue reading “A time favorable for me”
The Word upon the dumb
Lo, our King, meek and gentle, seated upon an assWith haste hurries to suffer and to cut suffering —The Word upon the dumb, willing it that rational beings be redeemed.And it was possible to behold the One on the back of the assWho is on the shoulders of the Cherubim,The One Who once translated ElijahContinue reading “The Word upon the dumb”
St. Romanos on the Annunciation
Joseph was amazed as he saw what was supernatural.He understood, O Virgin, the rain upon the fleeceIn thy conception without seed.And he understood the bush that burned without fire and was unconsumed,And Aaron’s rod, which blossomed.Indeed, thy betrothed and guardian cried out to the priests:“A virgin gives birth, and after the birth remains a virgin.Continue reading “St. Romanos on the Annunciation”
In considering the tomb
In considering the tomb and those in the tomb, we weep, But we should not; for we do not know whence they have come,And where they are now, and who has them.They have come from temporal life, released from its sorrows;They are at peace, waiting for the receiving of divine light.The Lover of Man hasContinue reading “In considering the tomb”
St. Romanos on the Second Coming
How great and of what kindis the mourning of the condemned in the hour of judgment(And indeed I have been set down as chief of the condemned).When they see the Judge seated, fearful and exalted on His throne,And when they behold the lines of the righteous and the saints shining in joyAnd the sinners inContinue reading “St. Romanos on the Second Coming”
He has lifted me to the heavens
He has lifted me to the Heavens; you He has put to flight;For the rest of time I share the throne, I am no longer subject to you.He took my body that He might make it new;He will make it immortal and cause it to share His throne.I shall reign with Him, for I haveContinue reading “He has lifted me to the heavens”
St. Romanos on the Ascension
He Who descended to earth, as He alone knew how,Rising up from it (again as He knew how),He took the ones whom He loved, and gathering them together,He led them to a high mountainIn order that, when they had their minds and sensibilities on the height,They might forget all lowly things.And so, when they wereContinue reading “St. Romanos on the Ascension”
St. Romanos on the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Did not the faithful Sarah, long ago,before her son Isaac was born,desire to give birth, even though she was sterile?She received the Lord in human form, along with two archangels;And His word to her on this occasion was:“You, Sarah, will have a child,”Now, rejoicing, she cries to the world:The barren woman gives birth to theContinue reading “St. Romanos on the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary”
St. Romanos on St. Andrew
Be strong in Me;and you, too, Andrew;just as you were the first to find Me, you were found by me;so find the one who has wandered;Do not forget your first skill;from it I shall educate you for this new art.Formerly, naked into the deep sea, now naked into life;Formerly, hunting with a fishing-rod, now taughtContinue reading “St. Romanos on St. Andrew”
Locus Communis 