The Most High planted in the middle of ParadiseThe thrice blessed wood, the gift of life for us,In order that, in approaching it,Adam might find eternal and immortal life,But he did not strive earnestly to know this life,And he failed to attain it, and revealed death.However, the robber, seeing how the plant in EdenHad beenContinue reading “The plant in Eden beautifully transplanted in Golgotha”
Tag Archives: St. Romanos the Melodist
Release me from this life
Since Thou hast become life and resurrection for all men through Thy goodness,Release me from this life.Thou Who art immortal, and send me away from this life, which is mortal:Give my body over to mortal death, as with all Thy friends,But grant me, Merciful One, life spiritual and eternal.Since I have seen Thee in theContinue reading “Release me from this life”
Overcome by love
Overcome by love, He came into the world to seekHis creature who had wandered.Without beginning, and Ineffable,Son of God and our God,Wisely and with divine providence, as a God,He makes the search.He is made flesh from His mother whom He cleansed(as though swept clean) and sanctified;And He offers His body as a lamp to theContinue reading “Overcome by love”
St. Romanos on St. Thomas
O the marvel! the forbearance! the immeasurable meekness!The Untouched is felt; the Master is held by a servant,And He reveals His wounds to one of His inner circle.Seeing these wounds, the whole Creation was shaken at the time.Thomas, when he was considered worthy of such gifts,Lifted up a prayer to the One Who deemed himContinue reading “St. Romanos on St. Thomas”
St. Romanos on the Ten Virgins
O brothers, let us love the Bridegroom,Let us make ready our lamps,Shining out with brightness and true faith,So that, like the wise virgins at the Lord’s coming,We may arrive with Him at the marriage,For He, the Merciful, since He is God,Offers to all as a giftThe incorruptible crown!Thou, O God, the Bridegroom of salvation,the hopeContinue reading “St. Romanos on the Ten Virgins”
St. Romanos on the Flight to Egypt
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”
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”
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”
Locus Communis 