Cosmas of Jerusalem

ANNO DOMINI DCCXXV. COSMAS HIEROSOLYMITANUS. NOTITIA.

(GALLAND. Vet. Patrum Biblioth. t. XIII, p. VIII.)

Cosmas, called Hierosolymitanus (of Jerusalem) from his native land, and also called Hieropolites because that city was called Holy, was a fellow-student of Saint John of Damascus, having been educated under the same tutor, Cosmas the monk, as John of Jerusalem relates in the Life of Damascus. For when he was returning to Damascus from Italy, he was captured by the Saracens, and was ransomed by the father of John of Damascus; and he was given as a tutor to his son John and to our hymnographer Cosmas. He was made bishop of Majuma after Peter, around the year 743. Suidas passed this judgment upon him in (his entry on) John of Damascus: "Cosmas Hierosolymitanus was the contemporary of John of Damascus, a most ingenious man, breathing forth musical harmony in its entirety." Furthermore, the musical rules of John and Cosmas can in no way be compared with the poems of others, nor indeed shall they be, as long as the mortal race survives. John Zonaras, Theodore Prodromus, Marcus Eugenius, and Gregory Corinthiacus have provided commentaries on these hymns. There are some, however, who wrongly attribute them to Cosmas the monk, or the elder. All the odes are acrostics, not "most of them," as you have it in Fabricius, who certainly changed his opinion after the (work of) Prudentius edited by Aldus came into his hands, from which he also enumerates the hymns of Cosmas. We have transcribed the Greek from that Aldine book, which, however, because of the carelessness of the typesetters, are highly corrupt; nonetheless, they have been corrected by us, as we have indicated in the notes, from the *Biblion eniausion* (Yearly Book) published at Rome. We have also embellished it with a Latin version, for the Aldine is so servile that it can scarcely be understood by those familiar only with Latin, without the Greek. Furthermore, we have added to those ten hymns several others, which are appearing for the first time in our Greek and Latin version, which we found here and there in the same *eniasios* book. These, however—at least the longer ones—I would easily say pertain to the elder Cosmas, the tutor of the younger. It seems worthy of note that in the hymn for the Theophaniæ § 2, it is said concerning the dragons or demons inhabiting the pools of the Jordan: which is likewise reported by Saint John of Damascus. Whence it follows either that such a view generally prevailed during those times, or rather that both students learned it from a common teacher.

SECOND NOTICE.

Cosmas Hagiopolites (of the Holy City) or Hierosolymitanus, not to be confused with Cosmas the monk the elder, whom the Saracens captured coming from Italy to Damascus, and whose father—having liberated him from captivity—appointed as tutor to his son John and to that younger Cosmas, as John of Jerusalem explicitly narrates in the *Life of John of Damascus*, p. 7. This younger one was not an archbishop, as Corderius relates in his *Catena on Luke*, but became bishop of Majuma in Palestine after Peter, around the year 743, and with

his companion John of Damascus (10) he is by far the most celebrated among the hymn-writers of the Greek Church, which honors his memory on October 14. Suidas ^A writes regarding him: "John of Damascus flourished at the same time as Cosmas from Jerusalem, a man of great brilliance and breathing the entirely harmonic music." Indeed, the *asmatika* (chanted) canons of John and Cosmas have not received comparison, nor will they receive it, as long as our life continues. Cosmas the Hierosolymite flourished as an equal to John of Damascus, a man of the greatest ingenuity and altogether breathing musical harmony. However, those canons of odes of John and Cosmas have not admitted any comparison with the hymns of others, nor will they admit it as long as the life of men shall endure. Yet, the hymns of Cosmas which the Greek Church uses are for the most part attributed to Cosmas not as bishop, but as monk, so that it is credible that the elder Cosmas also labored in this genre, and with the passage of time it chanced that the lucubrations of both were confused or referred to one; or perhaps the Hierosolymite is also called by the name of monk because he had composed most of his hymns before his episcopate (11). In explaining these, Allatius in his *De Georgiis*, page 418, noted that John Zonaras, Theodore Prodromos, Mark Eugenicus, and George, Metropolitan of Corinth, were engaged. The hymns themselves are for the most part acrostic, or composed in such a way that the first letters of the *kontakia* form a sentence. In Greek they exist printed scarcely anywhere, as far as I know, except for some in the Triodion, regarding which see Allatius, p. 72 ff., *De libris ecclesiasticis Graecorum*. [That the hymns were nevertheless printed in Greek, Fabricius shows a little later in this volume § 18, p. 352 ff., of the old edition; that complete passage I shall rightly restore here as by right of postliminy. "Afterwards," he says, "I came upon a volume not so frequently met with, published by Aldus, Venice, the year 1501, 4to, in which some of these works of Cosmas are read in Greek (12)."]

1. On the Theophany or Nativity of the Lord.

2. On the Epiphany.

3. On the Great Second Day, that is, the first day of the Holy Week.

4. On the Great Third Day.

5. On the Great Fourth Day.

6. On the Great Fifth Day.

and the Red Sea. I entrust all my hope to thee, Mother of the Light; preserve me beneath thy protection. He who emptied Himself unchangeably for the one who had fallen. ...in the whale's belly [is] Jonah. He who shatters wars with a high arm. Let us sing to Him, for He is glorified. ...fear came. Choirs of Israel, having crossed the Red Sea and the watery depth with dry feet. ...devoid of the moisture of the abyss. Moses with his rod divided the Red Sea in a straight line. The elder, rejoicing, embraces Christ. The sun once walked upon the sea-born, waterless ground, for it stood like a wall.

HYMNS OF COSMAS OF JERUSALEM

(GALLAND. Vet. Patrum Biblioth. t. XIII, p. 234.)

1.

ON THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD

^A Acrostic: Christ, having become man, remained what He was, God.

Christ is born, glorify Him. Christ from the heavens, meet Him. Christ on earth, be lifted up. Sing to the Lord, O all the earth, and in gladness praise Him, O ye peoples, for He is glorified.

He who, by transgression, had fallen away from God—he who was made in the image of God—and had become entirely subject to corruption, falling from the better, divine life—the wise Creator reforms him again, for He is glorified.

Seeing man perishing, whom He had fashioned with His hands, the Creator bows the heavens and descends; and taking him in his entirety from the divine and chaste Virgin, He becomes incarnate in truth, for He is glorified. ^B

^A Wisdom, Word, and Power, being the Son of the Father and the radiance, Christ God, having conquered the powers as many as are in the heavens, and as many as are on earth, and having become man, He re-created us, for He is glorified.

Let us cry out to Christ God, who was born of the Father without any flow before the ages, and who was incarnate of the Virgin without seed in the last days: O You who have exalted our horn, holy are You, O Lord.

Adam, the earthy one, who partook of the better inspiration but slipped into corruption through female deception, seeing Christ from a woman, cries out: O You who for my sake became as I am, holy are You, O Lord.

Having become conformed to the humble clay of our human nature, O Christ, and by the participation of the inferior flesh yielding to the divine seed, You were born man while remaining God, and having exalted our horn, holy are You, O Lord.

Bethlehem, rejoice, royal city of the leaders of Judah; for He who pastures Israel, who is borne upon the backs of the Cherubim, proceeding from you, O Christ, is made manifest, and having exalted our horn, He has reigned over all.

^B A rod from the root of Jesse, and a flower from it, O Christ, You have blossomed forth from the Virgin; You came from a mountain, overshadowed and dense, worthy of praise, having taken flesh from the One who knew no man, O You who are Spirit and God, glory to Your power, O Lord.

Whom Jacob of old foretold as the expectation of the nations, O Christ, You have risen from the tribe of Judah, and have come to take away the power of Damascus and the spoils of Samaria, turning error into faith pleasing to God. Glory to Your power, O Lord.

You filled with joy the wise observers of the stars, who were initiated into the words of the prophet Balaam of old, as a star risen from Jacob, O Lord; and You openly received the first-fruits of the nations as they brought them. Glory to Your power, O Lord.

As rain upon a fleece, O Christ, You descended into the virginal womb, and as drops falling upon the earth. Ethiopians and Tharsis, and the islands of the Arabs, and Saba, and the Medes, and the rulers of the whole earth fell down before You, O Savior. Glory to Your power, O Lord.

Being the God of peace, the Father of mercies, You sent to us the messenger of Your great counsel, providing peace; whence, guided to the light of the knowledge of God, rising early from the night, we glorify You, O Lover of mankind.

^D You were inscribed among the subjects by the decree of Caesar, being obedient; but You have set us free, O Christ, from the servants of the enemy and of sin. Having taken upon Yourself all that is ours in our poverty, You have made the earthy one divine through that very union and participation.

Behold the Virgin, as it is said of old, having conceived in her womb, gave birth to God made man, and remains a virgin; through whom we sinners, having been reconciled to God, let us praise her in faith as truly the Theotokos.

^A From the depths, the marine beast vomited out Jonah like a fetus, just as it had received him; but the Word, having dwelt in the Virgin and taken on flesh, passed through while keeping her uncorrupt. For the purity which she did not suffer to be altered by the birth, he kept inviolate in her who bore him.

Christ our God has come, having taken on flesh from the womb, he whom the Father begot before the morning star; and he who holds the reins of the most pure Virtues is laid in a manger of irrational creatures. He is wrapped in swaddling clothes, but he dissolves the manifold chains of transgressions.

A new child from the dust of Adam has been born, and is given as a son to the faithful; he is the Father and Prince of the age to come, and is called the Angel of the Great Counsel. He is the strong God, and holds the power of creation.

The children, reared in piety, despising the impious command, feared not the threats of the fire, but standing in the midst of the flame, they sang: "O God of our fathers, blessed art thou."

Shepherds abiding in the field became privy to a wondrous light; for the glory of the Lord shone around them, and the angel cried out: "Sing a hymn, for Christ is born. O God of our fathers, blessed art thou."

Suddenly, with the word of the angel, the armies of heaven shouted: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will among men." Christ shone forth. O God of our fathers, blessed art thou.

The shepherds said of this word: "Let us go over and see what has come to pass," namely, the divine Christ. And having reached Bethlehem, with the Mother they worshiped, singing: "O God of our fathers, blessed art thou."

^C The dew-bearing furnace ^D displayed the type of a supernatural wonder; for it did not consume the youths it had received, just as the fire of divinity did not consume the virginal womb into which it entered. Therefore, praising him, let us sing: "Let all creation bless the Lord, and exalt him above all for all ages."

The daughter of Babylon leads away the captives of David from Sion to herself; but she sends the subject Magi as gift-bearers to supplicate the daughter of David, the Mother of God. Therefore, praising him, let us sing: "Let all creation bless the Lord, and exalt him above all for all ages."

Tristesse put down the instruments of melody; for the sons of Sion did not sing among the strangers. But Christ, rising from Bethlehem, dissolves all the error of Babylon and the harmony of the musicians. Therefore, praising him, let us sing: "Let all creation bless the Lord, and exalt him above all for all ages."

^A

HYMNS

I behold a strange and paradoxical mystery: the cave is heaven, the Virgin a Cherubic throne, the manger the place where Christ the uncontainable God was laid, whom we praise and magnify.

Seeing the unusual course of a new, newly-appearing star, shining more brightly than celestial bodies, the Magi surmised that Christ the King was born on earth in Bethlehem for our salvation.

"A newborn child," the Magi said, "O King, whose star has appeared, where is he? For we have come to worship him." Herod, raging, was troubled, the enemy of God bristling to destroy Christ.

Herod carefully inquired about the time of the star, by whose guidance the Magi in Bethlehem worship Christ with gifts; led away from it to their own country, they left the terrible child-killer mocked.

^B

II. ON THE APPEARANCE OF THE LORD

He revealed the bottom of the deep, and leads his people through dry land, drowning adversaries within it, the Lord mighty in wars, for he is glorified.

The Lord, King of the ages, restores Adam, who had been corrupted, in the streams of the Jordan, and he crushes the heads of the dragons lurking there, for he is glorified.

Clothed in material flesh with the immaterial fire of divinity, the Lord, incarnate of the Virgin, enters the currents of the Jordan, for he is glorified.

Wiping away the filth of men, and purified in the Jordan—to whom he wished to be made similar, while remaining what he was—the Lord illuminated those who were in darkness, for he is glorified.

The Lord who gives strength to our kings and exalts the horn of his anointed is born of a Virgin, and comes to baptism. Therefore, let us faithful cry out: "There is no one holy as our God, and there is no one righteous besides you, O Lord." ^C

You who were formerly barren, but have now become fruitful, O Church of Christ, rejoice today; for through water and the Spirit, sons have been born to you in faith, crying out: "There is no one holy as our God, and there is no one righteous besides you, O Lord."

With a great voice in the desert the Forerunner of Christ cries: "Prepare the ways, and make straight the paths of our God," ^D

^A for you have thundered over many waters, bearing witness to your Son. Entirely filled with the present Spirit, he cried out: You are Christ, the wisdom and power of God.

Who has seen the Sun being purified, the herald cries, he who is radiant by nature? That I should wash you, the splendor of glory, the character of the eternal Father, with waters? And I, who am grass, should I touch the fire of your divinity? You are Christ, the wisdom and power of God.

Moses showed the divine reverence he held when he met you; for when he perceived you calling him from the bush, he immediately turned away his face. But I, how shall I look upon you clearly, or how shall I lay my hand upon you? You are Christ, the wisdom and power of God.

Endowed with a wise soul and possessed of reason, I stand in awe of the soulless. For if I baptize you, the mountain smoking with fire shall be my accuser, as shall the sea when it fled in two parts, and this Jordan which turned back. For you are Christ, the wisdom and power of God.

Jesus, the Author of life, has come to loose the condemnation of Adam, the first-formed; but as God, needing no purification, he is purified in the Jordan for the sake of him who fell, in which, by slaying enmity, he bestows peace that surpasses all understanding.

^B When infinite multitudes of people gathered to be baptized by John, he himself stood in the midst and cried out to those who were present: "Who has shown you, O unbelievers, to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth fruits worthy of Christ; for he who is present now bestows peace."

The Husbandman and Creator, standing in the midst as one of many, penetrates the hearts; and holding the purifying fan in his hand, he wisely sifts the threshing floor of the whole world, burning up sterility and bestowing eternal life upon the fruitful.

The voice of the Word, the lamp of light, the morning star, the forerunner of the Sun, cries out in the desert to all peoples: "Repent and be purified beforehand; for behold, Christ is present, delivering the world from corruption."

Born impassibly of God the Father, Christ is clothed in flesh from the Virgin without stain; the Forerunner teaches that the thong of his sandal—namely, our union with the Word—is impossible to loose, delivering the earth-born from error.

^C Christ baptizes in the final fire those who are disobedient and who do not consider him to be God; ^D but in the Spirit he renews through the water, by grace, those who acknowledge his divinity, delivering them from their transgressions.

HYMNS

^A The whistling spirit preserved the pious youths who were lingering in the furnace of fire unharmed, as did the descent of a divine angel; wherefore, being bedewed in the flame, they sang thankfully: "O most praiseworthy Lord and God of our fathers, blessed art thou."

As if in heaven, the angelic hosts stood in the Jordan with trembling and wonder, observing such a condescension of God, how he who moderates the supernal substance of the waters stood in the waters wearing a body. "O God of our fathers, blessed art thou."

A cloud and the sea once prefigured the miracle of the divine baptism, in which the ancient people were baptized as they crossed under the lawgiver; the sea was a type of the water, and the cloud of the Spirit; initiated by these, we cry out: "Blessed art thou, O God of our fathers."

All of us, O faithful, in whom we have received perfection, theologizing with an incessant voice, let us glorify the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; for this is the Trinity, consubstantial in persons, but one God, to whom we also chant: "O most praiseworthy Lord and God of our fathers, blessed art thou."

^B The Babylonian furnace, sprouting dew, showed a paradoxical mystery, for the Jordan was about to receive the immaterial fire into its streams, and to embrace the Creator baptized in the flesh, whom the peoples bless and supremely exalt unto all ages.

"Cast aside all fear," the Redeemer said to the Forerunner, "and obey me, as Christ, come to me, for such is my nature. Yield to my command, and baptize me who have condescended, whom the peoples bless and supremely exalt unto all ages."

When the Baptist heard the words of the Master, trembling he extends his palm, though he touches with his right hand the head of his own Creator; while being baptized, he cried out: "Sanctify me, for thou art my God, whom the peoples bless and supremely exalt unto all ages."

The manifestation of the Trinity occurred in the Jordan; for this is the transcendent nature. The Father called out: "This who is being baptized is my beloved Son"; the Spirit was present with his equal, whom the peoples bless and supremely exalt ^C unto all ages.

Every tongue is at a loss how to praise worthily; even the celestial mind grows dizzy pondering how to hymn thee, O Theotokos. Nevertheless, being good, accept our faith; for thou knowest our divine-inspired longing. For thou art the patroness of Christians: we magnify thee.

David, be present in spirit to those being enlightened: "Now draw near," he says in faith, "thereto, to God, saying: 'Be enlightened.'" ^D

'" ^A "This poor man cried," Adam that is, in his fall; "and the Lord heard him," coming to the streams of the Jordan, and He renewed him who had been corrupted.

Isaiah says, "Wash yourselves, be clean; take away the evil from before the Lord." You who thirst, "come to the living water," for Christ shall sprinkle the renewing water upon those who come to Him in faith; and He baptizes with the Spirit unto life that grows not old.

Let us be preserved, O faithful, by grace and the seal. For as the Hebrews of old escaped destruction, their threshold having been stained with blood; so, too, for us, this divine laver of regeneration shall be a way of escape. Whence also it may be granted us to see the unsetting light of the Trinity.

III.

FOR GREAT MONDAY

To Him who by His divine command dried up the impassable, surging sea, and as guide led the Israelite people to pass through it on foot, let us sing to the Lord; for gloriously has He been glorified.

The ineffable descent of God, which is Christ Himself; God and man. God, not counting it robbery to be equal, while bearing the form [of God], showed Himself a servant to the disciples; for gloriously has He been glorified.

I came to serve Him, whose form I, the Creator, have voluntarily put on—the poverty-stricken Adam; I who am rich in divinity. And to lay down my own soul as a price of redemption, I who am impassable in divinity. ^B

The immaculate body, conformed to the soul of the holy children, caused the intense fire, fed by boundless fuel, to shudder and give way. And as the most vivid flame grew dull, an eternal hymn was chanted: "O all you works of the Lord, bless the Lord, and superexalt Him unto the ages." ^C

"Then all shall know you are My disciples, if you keep My commandments," says the Savior, coming to His passion for His friends. "Have peace among yourselves and with all; and being humble in mind, be exalted. And acknowledging Me as Lord, bless and superexalt Him unto all the ages."

"Let the rule among you be the opposite of the gentile, worldly order; for it is not My inheritance, but a tyranny of arbitrary mind. Whoever therefore wishes to be first among you, let him be the last of all; and acknowledging Me as Lord, bless and superexalt Him unto all the ages." ^D

You have magnified, O Christ, the Theotokos who bore Thee, from whom our Fashioner put on a body of like passion, to be the ransom for our ignorances. Her all generations call blessed; Thee we magnify.

Casting off all filthy passions, assume a mind prudent and worthy of the divine kingdom; Thou didst proclaim this to Thy disciples, Thou who art truly Wisdom, in which ye shall be glorified, shining more brightly than the sun. ^A Looking unto Me, Thou saidst, O Lord, to Thy disciples, "Mind not high things, but associate with the lowly; the cup that I drink, do ye drink, for in the kingdom of the Father ye shall be glorified together."

IV. ON GREAT TUESDAY

ON GREAT WEDNESDAY

[alt-version omitted]

^A Since the word of the tyrant pressed hard, the furnace was once heated sevenfold, in which the youths were not consumed, but trampled upon the king's decree, crying out: "All you works of the Lord, bless the Lord, and praise Him highly for all eternity."

Pouring precious ointment upon the lordly and divine, reverend head, O Christ, the woman touched Thy spotless feet with her stained hands, and cried out: "All you works of the Lord, bless the Lord, and praise Him highly for all eternity."

Guilty of sins, she washes the feet of the Creator with tears and wipes them with her hair; therefore the liberation from the things she had committed in life did not fail her, but she cried out: "All you works of the Lord, bless the Lord, and praise Him highly for all eternity."

Redemption is celebrated by a grateful and mindful soul, from saving inward parts and a fountain of tears, in which, being washed through confession, she was not ashamed, but cried out: "All you works of the Lord, bless the Lord, and praise Him highly for all eternity."

With pure souls and clean lips, come, let us magnify the immaculate and most chaste mother of Emmanuel, through her offering worship to Him who was born of her. Spare our souls, O Christ God, and save us. ^B

Showing himself faithless and an evil zealot, he appraises the gift worthy of God for a price. Through Him the debt of crimes was paid, while the wretched Judas barters away the divine grace. Spare our souls, O Christ God, and save us.

Going to the wicked princes, he says: "What are you willing to give me, and I will deliver up to you Christ, whom you seek?" Judas, spurning the kinship of God for gold. Spare our souls, O Christ God, and save us. ^C

O oath-breaking one, blinded by avarice! Whence have you acquired forgetfulness of the things you were taught, that not even the whole world is of equal value with a soul? For in despair, O traitor, you have hanged yourself with a noose. Spare our souls, O Christ God, and save us.

VI.

FOR GREAT THURSDAY.

By divisions is the Red Sea parted, and the stormy deep is dried up; the same becomes at once passable for the unarmed, and a tomb for the armed. A hymn worthy of God was sung: "Gloriously has Christ our God been glorified." ^D

HYMNS

^A The cause of all things and the giver of life, the infinite wisdom of God, has built for herself a house from a most chaste Virgin mother; and having put on the temple of a body, Christ our God has been gloriously glorified.

Initiating her friends, she prepares a soul-nourishing table, and the true Wisdom of God mixes a cup of ambrosia for the faithful. Let us draw near with reverence and cry out: "Gloriously has Christ our God been glorified."

Let us all, the faithful, listen to the uncreated and innate wisdom of God calling us with a high-sounding proclamation. For she cries out: "Taste, and knowing that I am Christ, cry out: Gloriously has Christ our God been glorified."

^B O Lord who art of all things and Creator God, being impassible, Thou hast made the creature Thine own by becoming humble; and being the Passover of those for whom Thou wert to die, Thou didst set Thyself before them, crying out: "Eat, this is my body, and you shall be strengthened by faith."

O Liberator of the whole human race, O benign One, Thou didst serve Thy disciples a cup of joy of Thine own; for Thou didst sacrifice Thyself, saying: "Drink, this is my blood, and you shall be strengthened by faith."

"A foolish man is he who among you is a traitor," Thou didst foretell to Thy disciples, O most gentle One, "he shall not know these things; and this senseless man shall not understand them. Nevertheless, abide in me, and you shall be strengthened by faith."

^C The prophet, foreseeing the ineffable mystery of Thy passion, O Christ, proclaimed: "Thou hast established a mighty love as a power, O compassionate Father; for Thou hast sent forth the only-begotten Son, O good Father, as a propitiation into the world."

Coming to the passion which poured forth liberation from passions for all the descendants of Adam, O Christ, Thou didst say to Thy friends: "With you I have longed to partake of this Passover, for the Father has sent me, the Only-begotten, as a propitiation into the world."

Holding the cup in Thy hand, Thou didst cry to Thy disciples, O Immortal One: "Not again will I drink of the fruit of the vine henceforth while living with you, for the Father has sent me, the Only-begotten, as a propitiation into the world."

^D "A new drink beyond reason do I declare in my kingdom, O Christ, that I shall drink with my friends; for as God with gods I shall be with you," Thou didst say, "since the Father has sent me, the Only-begotten, as a propitiation into the world."

Bound together by the bond of love, the apostles, consecrating themselves to Christ the Sovereign of all, stretched forth their beautiful feet, bringing the good news of peace to all.

She who holds the immeasurable and the one above in the air

^A waters, the Wisdom of God who bridles the abysses and curbs the seas, pours water into a basin, and the Lord washes the feet of his servants. The Lord exhibits to his disciples a model of humility; he who veils the heavens with clouds girds himself with a towel, and bows his knee to wash the feet of servants—he in whose hand is the breath of all that exists.

An extreme abyss of sins has surrounded me, and no longer enduring the heat, like Jonah I cry to you, O Lord: lead me out of corruption. "You call me Lord and Master, and so I am," the Saviour cried out; "therefore imitate the model, as you have seen it in me." One who has no filth has no need to have his feet washed. "You are clean, O disciples, but not all; for the disorderly impulse of one of you is raging."

The children in Babylon did not fear the flame of the furnace, but being cast into the midst of the fire, bedewed, they chanted: "Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers." ^B Judas, nodding his head, moved as he foresaw evil, seeking an opportunity to deliver the Judge into condemnation, he who is the Lord of all and the God of our fathers.

"One of you will betray me," Christ cried out to his friends. Forgetting joy, they were seized with anxiety and grief; "Tell us who this is," they said, "O God of our fathers." ^C

"He who boldly dips his hand with me in the dish; yet for him it would have been better never to have crossed the gates of life." By saying this, he revealed him who is the God of our fathers.

The blessed ones in Babylon, enduring peril for the laws of their fathers, scorned the king’s irrational command; and joined by the fire by which they were not consumed, they sang a song worthy of the Almighty: "Praise the Lord, all you works, and superexalt him to the ages."

The blessed guests in Sion, assiduously cleaving to the Word, I mean the apostles, followed the Shepherd like lambs; and, joined to Christ, from whom they were not sundered, nourished by the divine word, they cried out with thanksgiving: "Praise the Lord, all you works, and superexalt him to the ages." ^D

The infamous Iscariot, willingly forgetting the law of friendship, prepared the feet he had washed for betrayal; and while eating your bread—your divine body, I say—he raised up a tripping against you, O Christ, and did not know how to cry: "Praise the Lord, all you works, and superexalt him to the ages."

The man without conscience received with his right hand the body that redeems from sin, and the divine blood poured out for the world...

yet he did not revere what he was drinking, and what he was selling for a price. He did not abhor the wickedness, and he knew not how to cry out: "Praise the Lord, O you works, and superexalt him to the ages."

^A Of the Master’s hospitality and the immortal table in the upper room, with lofty minds, O faithful, come, let us partake; having learned the Word that has ascended from the Word, whom we magnify.

"Go," the Word said to the disciples, "prepare the Pascha in the upper room, wherein the mind is established, and wherein I initiate you by the unleavened word of truth; and magnify the firmness of grace."

The Father begets the Creator as Wisdom before the ages, as the beginning of his ways; for works, he has now created what is mystically being fulfilled. For since I am the Word, uncreated by nature, I have now assumed the utterances of him whom I have taken on.

As man I exist in essence, not in appearance; so too in the manner of the union, the nature of God was united to me. Therefore, recognize me as one Christ, who saves by those things from which and in which I exist.

^B To the Lord. How terrible is thy judgment, O Lord, with angels standing by, with men being brought forward, with the books opened, with deeds examined, and with thoughts being called to account! What kind of judgment will it be for me, who was conceived in sins? Who will extinguish my flame, if not thou, O Lord? Have mercy on me, for thou art the lover of mankind.

To the Theotokos. Having thy hope, O Theotokos, which does not put to shame, I shall be saved; possessing thy protection, O most immaculate one, I shall not be afraid; I will pursue my enemies and rout them, holding on to thee alone as my breastplate, thy shelter, and thy omnipotent assistance. And I entreat thee, crying out: O Lady, save me by thy intercessions, and awaken me from the dark sleep to thy glorification, by the power of him who was incarnate of thee, the God.

To the same. O glorious, ever-virgin Mother of Christ God, present our prayer to thy Son and God, that he may save our souls through thee.

To the Lord. ^C Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us. For being destitute of any defense, we sinners offer this supplication to thee as Lord: Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us.

To the same. O Lord, have mercy on us, for in thee we have hoped. Be not angry with us greatly, nor remember our iniquities, but look upon us even now as a compassionate one, and deliver us from our enemies. For thou art our God, and we are thy people; we are all the works of thy hands, and we are called by thy name. ^D

To the Theotokos.

To the same.

To the same.

VII.

FOR GREAT FRIDAY.

Acrostic: And on the day before the Sabbath.

Adoringly I watch for thee from the dawn, O Word of God, who out of compassion emptied thyself for the one who had fallen, without undergoing change, and even submitted impassibly to the Passion. Grant me peace, O Lover of mankind.

With feet defiled, yet previously cleansed by participation in the mystery of thy divine mind, O Christ, thy servants ascended from Sion to the great mount of Olives, praising thee, O Lover of mankind.

"See," thou saidst, "O friends, do not be terrified; for now the hour has drawn near that I should be taken and killed by the hands of the lawless ones. But you shall all be scattered, leaving me, whom I shall assemble to proclaim me as the Lover of mankind."

Divine youths have exposed the column of ungodly wickedness; but the council of the lawless, rising up against Christ, plots vain things, thinking to kill him who holds life in his hand, whom every creature blesses, glorifying him throughout the ages.

^B "From your eyelids, O disciples, now shake off sleep," thou saidst, O Christ, "and watch in prayer, lest perhaps ye fall into temptation, and especially Simon; for to the stronger, more is required. By experience, O Peter, recognize me, whom every creature blesses, glorifying him throughout the ages."

"A profane word shall never fall from my lips, O Master; I will die with thee as one well-remembering, even if all should deny thee," cried Peter. "No flesh and blood, but my Father hath revealed me to thee, whom every creature blesses, glorifying him throughout the ages."

"Thou hast not searched out all the depth of divine wisdom and knowledge, nor hast thou grasped the abyss of my judgments, O man," the Lord said. "Being flesh, therefore, do not boast; for thou shalt deny me three times, O he whom every creature blesses, glorifying him throughout the ages."

Thou deniest, Simon Peter, that which thou shalt yet quickly suffer, as

has been said; and to thee the maiden suddenly approaching shall terrify thee, the Lord said. Yet, weeping bitterly, thou shalt have me as one easily appeased, whom every creature blesses, glorifying throughout the ages.

More honorable than the Cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim, who without corruption gavest birth to God the Word, the true Theotokos, thee we magnify.

A destructive band of those who hate God, a synagogue of God-killers, has stood against thee, O Christ, and dragged thee like a criminal, the Creator of all, whom we magnify.

Ignorant of the Law, the impious, meditating vainly on the voices of the prophets, dragged thee like a sheep, the Master of all, to be slain unjustly, whom we magnify.

The priests delivered the Life to the gentiles to be slain along with the Scribes, wounded by malice having no cause of envy; him, I say, who is by nature the Author of life, whom we magnify.

Dogs have surrounded me like many; they struck, O King, thy cheek with a blow; they questioned thee, and bore false witness against thee. But enduring all things, thou hast saved all.

VIII. FOR THE GREAT SABBATH.

Jonah was confined, but not detained, in the cetacean breast; for bearing the type of thee who didst suffer andwast given over to burial, he leaped forth from the monster as if from a bridal chamber, and was calling to the guard: "You who keep watch inanely and falsely, have forsaken Mercy itself." ^C

Thou wert slain, but not divided, O Word, from the flesh in which thou participated. For although thy temple was loosed in the time of the passion, nevertheless there was one hypostasis of thy divinity and thy flesh. For in both thou art one Son, the Word of God, God and man.

The fall of Adam was homicidal, but not Deicidal. For even if the earthly substance of thy flesh suffered, the divinity remained impassible. But thou hast transmuted thy corruptible [substance] to incorruption, and through the resurrection ^D hast shown the fountain of incorruptible life.

Hades reigns, but does not exist forever over the race of mortals. For thou, being placed in the tomb, with a mighty and life-giving hand didst tear asunder the bolts of death, and didst preach to those who had sat there from of old the true redemption, O Savior, having become the firstborn of the dead.

An ineffable prodigy! He who in the furnace delivered the holy youths from the flame is laid in the tomb dead and breathless for our salvation, we who sing: O Redeemer God, blessed art thou.

^A Hell is wounded, having received in its heart Him whose side was wounded by the spear; it groans, consumed by divine fire for our salvation, we who sing: O Redeemer God, blessed art thou.

O happy tomb! For having received into itself the Author of life as if sleeping, it is shown to be a divine treasure for our salvation, we who sing: O Redeemer God, blessed art thou.

By the law of the dead, the Life of all assumes burial in the tomb, and this He reveals as a fountain of resurrection for our salvation, we who sing: O Redeemer God, blessed art thou.

There was one in the underworld, inseparable, both in the tomb and in Eden, the divinity of Christ, with the Father and the Spirit, for our salvation, we who sing: O Redeemer God, blessed art thou.

Stand aghast, O heaven, and let the foundations of the earth be shaken! For behold, He who dwells in the highest is reckoned among the dead, and is entertained in a tiny tomb, whom the children bless, the priests praise, and glorify unto all ages.

The immaculate temple is dissolved, but He raises up the tabernacle that had fallen. For the second Adam, who dwells in the highest, descended even to the chambers of Hades, whom the children bless, the priests praise, and glorify unto all ages.

The boldness of the disciples has ceased, but Joseph of Arimathea acts with zeal. ^B For seeing the God of all dead and naked, he asks for Him, and performs the funeral rites, crying: Children, bless; priests, praise; O people, exalt Him unto all ages.

O strange wonders! O goodness and ineffable forbearance! For He who dwells in the highest is willingly sealed beneath the earth; and the God who leads astray is slandered, whom the children bless, the priests praise, and glorify unto all ages.

Do not lament for me, O my mother, seeing in the tomb the Son whom in the womb you conceived without seed. For I shall arise and be glorified, and as God I shall exalt in glory the horn of those who with faith and longing magnify you. ^C

In your admirable birth, being free from pains, I was supernaturally blessed, O timeless Son. But now, my God, seeing you breathless and dead, I am torn violently by the sword of grief. Yet arise, that I may be magnified.

The earth covers me by my own will, but the gaolers of Hades tremble, O Mother, seeing me clothed in the robe stained with blood, the robe of vengeance. For having trampled my enemies on the cross, as God I shall arise again, and I shall magnify you. ^D

Let creation exult, let all who are born of earth rejoice; for the enemy, Hades, has been despoiled. Let the women come with myrrh; He ransoms Adam together with Eve, the parents of the whole race, and on the third day He shall arise.

IX. ON PENTECOST

He covered Pharaoh with his chariots in the sea, He who crushes wars with a high arm. Let us sing to Him, for He has been glorified.

In deed, as You promised the disciples of old, by sending the Paraclete Spirit, O Christ, You have illumined the world with light, O lover of mankind.

What was foretold of old in the law and by the prophets has been fulfilled today by the Holy Spirit. For grace has been poured out upon all the faithful.

"The power from on high to the disciples, O Christ, until you are clothed with it," You said, "sit in Jerusalem; and I, as another Paraclete, shall send my Spirit, which is both Mine and the Father's, in whom you shall be strengthened." ^A

The power of the divine Spirit, having descended, joined together into one harmony of knowledge the voice previously divided by those who thought wrongly; instructing the faithful in the Trinity, in which we have been strengthened.

Perceiving Your coming, O Christ, in the last times, the prophet cried out: I have heard Your power, O Lord, that You have come to save all Your anointed ones.

He who spoke in the prophets, and who was proclaimed of old through the law to those not yet perfect, the true God the Paraclete, is made known today to the ministers and witnesses of the Word.

He bears the sign of divinity: to the apostles, the Spirit was divided in fire ^B and appeared in strange tongues, that the divine power coming from the Father is self-impelled.

That which was conceived through fear of You, O Lord, in the womb of the prophets, and was brought forth into the world, the Spirit of salvation, creates clean hearts in the apostles, and is renewed upright within the faithful. For Your commandments are light and peace.

This power that has descended today is the good Spirit, the Spirit of the wisdom of God, the Spirit proceeding from the Father, and through the Son appearing to us the faithful, bestowing gifts upon those in whom He dwells, by the nature of the divinity in which He is seen.

Nau- ^C seating me with the surge of the cares of this life, and drowning me as I sail among sins, and cast toward the soul-destroying beast, like Jonah, O Christ, I cry to You: Lead me up from the soul-destroying abyss.

Of Your Spirit upon all flesh, as You said, You have poured out abundantly, and the whole earth has been filled with the knowledge of You, for from the Father You, O Son, were born without seed, and the Spirit proceeds indivisibly.

They who were cast into the furnace of fire, the holy children,

[they] turned the fire into dew, crying out with the canticle thus: ^A Benedictus es, Domine, Deus patrum nostrorum.

As the apostles spoke of the divine wonders, the power of the Spirit was reputed by the unbelievers to be drunkenness, through which the Trinity was proclaimed as the one God of our fathers.

We praise the indivisible nature in an orthodox manner, God the Father without beginning, the Word of the same power, and the Spirit; Blessed art Thou, we cry, O God of our fathers.

^B The bush, unburned by the fire at Sinai, made God known to Moses, who was slow of speech and difficult of utterance; and the zeal of God made the youths, who were not consumed by the fire, to be chanters: Omnia opera Domini, Dominum laudate, et superexaltate in omnia sæcula.

The vivifying breath of the most holy Spirit, coming from above with a vehement noise upon the fishermen, in the form of fiery tongues, spoke of the wonders of God: Omnia opera Domini, Dominum laudate, et superexaltate in omnia sæcula.

Ascending the mountain as one untouched, not fearing the terrifying fire, come, let us stand on Mount Sion, in the city of the living God, now dancing with the disciples filled with the Spirit: Omnia opera Domini, Dominum laudate, et superexaltate in omnia sæcula.

O you who were ^C pregnant without the experience of corruption, and lent flesh to the Artificer of all things, mother who knew no man, Virgin Theotokos, receptacle of Him who cannot be contained, place of your infinite Creator, we magnify you.

In the fiery chariot that once surged with heat, that zealot, breathing fire while he was being carried, indicated the inspiration that now shone forth from on high upon the apostles, by which, being enlightened, they made the Trinity known to all.

A thing marvelous beyond the laws of nature was heard: for the disciples, informed by the gift of the Spirit with one voice, the peoples, tribes, and tongues were variously instructed in the divine wonders, being initiated into the knowledge of the Trinity.

^D

ON THE TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

The choirs of Israel, passing across the Red Sea with dry feet and through the wet abyss, seeing the mounted captains, their enemies, submerged in it, sang in exultation: Cantemus Domino, gloriose enim glorificatus est.

HYMNS

^A The immutable nature, united to the human form, laying bare the light of the immaterial divinity to the apostles, shone forth ineffably. When the disciples saw You, O Christ, shining out as the eternal light in the glory of the Father, they cried out to You: "Guide our paths in Your light." "In my distress I cried to the Lord, and the God of my salvation heard me." Shouting out a light far more brilliant than the solar beam on Tabor, the Savior enlightened us. Having ascended Mount Tabor, You were transfigured, O Christ, and obscuring all error, You shone forth as light. The glorious apostles recognized You as God, and on Tabor, O Christ, being struck with awe, they bent the knee.

The children of Abraham once in Babylon trampled upon the flame of the furnace, and praising, they sang: "God of our fathers, blessed are You." Surrounded by the light of the inaccessible glory on Mount Tabor, the apostles, O Christ, cried out: "God of our fathers, blessed are You." Rejoicing in the storm-blast of the divine voice, in the dew-laden cloud, O Christ, and in Your radiance, the apostles sang: "God of our fathers, blessed are You." As Peter saw You in the ineffable light flashing forth on Mount Tabor, O Christ, he worshipped: "God of our fathers, blessed are You." Standing by Christ, the Author of life, the sons of Zebedee, when He sent forth the light of His form, thundered: "God of our fathers, blessed are You."

^B The children in Babylon, inflamed with divine zeal, manfully trampled upon the tyrant's threats and the flames; and having been cast into the midst of the fire, bedewed, they sang: "Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord, and exalt Him above all forever." ^C He who sustains all things by His will, climbed Mount Tabor with immaculate feet, on which, beaming with a radiance greater than the sun’s, He showed the chosen ones of the Law and of grace singing: "Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord, and exalt Him above all forever."

In the inaccessible glory on Mount Tabor, appearing ineffably as the immeasurable and unset light, the radiance of the Father, He gladdened the creation and deified men, who sang: "Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord, and exalt Him above all forever." ^D Standing in a sacred manner on Mount Tabor, Moses and Elijah, plainly beholding the character of the divine hypostasis, as Christ shone in the Father’s glory, sang: "Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord, and exalt Him above all forever."

Through the divine voice in the cloud, the face of Moses was once glorified; but Christ is clothed in light and glory as with a garment. For, being the Author of light...

He irradiates those who sing: Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord, praise and highly exalt Him forever. ^A

Seeing Christ upon Thabor clothed in a light-born cloud, the disciples, falling prone upon the ground and inclining their heads, their minds enlightened, joined the Father and the Spirit in hymning Him: Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord, praise and highly exalt Him forever.

Your birth was shown to be incorrupt, for God came forth from your womb bearing flesh, who "appeared on earth and lived among men." Therefore, O Theotokos, we all magnify you.

Trembling at the new effusion of light, the disciples were suddenly enlightened; looking at one another, and falling prone upon the ground, they adored You, the Master of all. ^B

A voice from the cloud was sent forth, ringing with divine power and confirming the miracle. For the Father of lights proclaimed to the apostles, "This is my beloved Son, hear Him."

Seeing new and paradoxical things, and instructed by the paternal voice upon Thabor, the ministers of the Word cried out, "He is the image of the Archetype, our Savior."

O immutable image of Him who is! O immovable seal, unchangeable Son, Word, Wisdom, and right arm, O power of the Most High, we hymn You with the Father and the Spirit. ^C

ON PALM SUNDAY.

The fountains of the abyss were seen destitute of water, and the foundations of the seething sea were revealed by the storm at your command; for You rebuked it. You saved Your chosen people, who sang a song of victory to You, O Lord.

Out of the mouth of innocent infants and nursing babes, You have perfected praise from Your servants, to destroy the enemy and to avenge by the Passion of the Cross the fall of ancient Adam, and by the Tree to raise him up, singing a song of victory to You, O Lord. ^D

The Church of the saints offers praise to You, O Christ, who dwell in Sion. In You, Israel rejoices in its Maker; and the mountains, symbolical of the nations, stone-hearted, have exulted before Your face, singing a song of victory to You, O Lord.

The Israelite people drank from the precipitous, hard rock that gushed forth at Your command; but You, O Christ, are the Rock and the Life, in whom the Church is established, crying: Osanna, blessed is He that comes.

At Your command, trembling Hades gave up from the dead a four-day-old corpse, Lazarus; for You are the resurrection, O Christ.

^A For You are also life, in Whom the Church was established, crying: "Osanna, blessed is He that comes."

Sing worthily, O priests, in Sion, and pay your vow to Christ in Jerusalem. He Himself comes in glory with dominion, in Whom the Church was established, crying: "Osanna, blessed is He that comes."

Christ, being about to come manifestly as our God, shall arrive and shall not delay from the shadowy, dense mountain, of a virgin bearing, knowing no man, the prophet says of old. Therefore let us all cry: "Glory to Your power, O Lord."

Let the mountains and all the hills break forth in strong joy for mercy's sake, and the trees of the wood clap their hands. Praise Christ, O nations, and celebrating Him, all you peoples, cry: "Glory to Your power, O Lord."

^B The Lord, the King of the ages, having clothed Himself with strength, shall come; the beauty of this One’s comeliness and glory is incomparable in Sion. Therefore let us all cry: "Glory to Your power, O Lord."

He Who measured the heaven with a span, and the earth with a fist, the Lord is present. For He chose Sion; and He has willed to dwell and reign in her, and of the peoples who cry out in faith: "Glory to Your power, O Lord."

Get you up into the mountain, you that bring good tidings to Sion; and you that preach to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with strength. Glorious things have been spoken of you, O city of God; peace be upon Israel, and salvation to the nations.

He Who sits in the highest above the Cherubim, being God, and beholds humble things, lo, He comes in glory with power, and all things shall be filled with His divine praise. Peace be upon Israel, and salvation to the nations.

^C O Sion, holy mountain of God, and Jerusalem, lift up your eyes round about, and see your children gathered in you. For lo, they have come from afar to worship your King. Peace be upon Israel, and salvation to the nations.

The souls of the righteous cried out in joy: "Now is a new testament disposed to the world, and by the sprinkling of divine blood the people is made new."

Receive, O Israel, the kingdom of God, and let him who walks in darkness see a great light, and by the sprinkling of divine blood let the people be made new.

Send forth your released captives, O Sion, and lead them out of the pit of ignorance without water; and by the sprinkling of divine blood let the people be made new.

^D You Who saved in the fire Your Abramite children, and slew the Chaldeans, because they unjustly laid snares for the righteous, O most praiseworthy Lord, the God of our fathers, blessed are You.

The peoples, bending the knee, and rejoicing with the disciples, with palms cried out: "Osanna to the Son of David; O most praiseworthy Lord, the God of our fathers, blessed are You."

The simple multitude, as yet an infant age, [alt-version omitted]

^A suitably praised You, O King of Israel and of the angels: O most praiseworthy Lord, the God of our fathers, blessed are You. With palms, O Christ, and branches the crowds applauded You: "Blessed is He who comes, the King of ages," they cried out: "O most praiseworthy Lord, the God of our fathers, blessed are You." Rejoice, Jerusalem, hold a festival, you who love Sion. For the Lord of hosts, who reigns unto the ages, has come. Let all the earth fear before His face, and let it cry out: "Bless the Lord, all you works, and exalt Him above all forever." Upon a new foal, O your King, Sion, Christ has mounted. For He has come to dissolve the irrational error of idols, to restrain the unbridled impetus of all ^B nations, that they may sing: "Bless the Lord, all you works, and exalt Him above all forever." Your God (rejoice, Sion, greatly) Christ has reigned unto the ages. He, as it is written, meek and saving, our just Redeemer, came riding upon a foal, to destroy the boldness of the enemies who do not cry out: "Bless the Lord, all you works, and exalt Him above all forever." The lawless synod of the disobedient is dispersed, for they had made the house of prayer of God a den of thieves, casting out the Redeemer from their heart, to whom we cry: "Bless the Lord, all you works, and exalt Him above all forever." God is the Lord and has appeared to us, establish a festival, and rejoicing, come let us magnify Christ, crying out with palms and with branches in hymns: "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord our Savior." Nations, why have you raged against the Scriptures, and priests, why have you meditated in vain? saying: "Who is this, ^C to whom children with palms and branches cry out in hymns: Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord our Savior?" This is God to whom there is no likeness, who having found every just way gave it to the beloved Israel, and after these things, being seen, He dwelt with men. "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord our Savior." Why, you disobedient, do you place stumbling blocks occupying the paths? Your feet are swift to shed the blood of the Lord. But He shall rise again to save all who cry out: "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord our Savior." ^D

XII. ON THE EXALTATION OF THE CROSS.

^A divided the sea for Israel as they traveled; and in return, he reunited the waters over Pharaoh and his chariots, delineating the invincible weapon in its breadth. Therefore, let us sing to Christ our God, for He has been glorified.

Formerly, Moses showed in himself the type of the immaculate passion, standing between the priests; and being configured to the Cross with hands outstretched, he raised a trophy, destroying the power of the utterly wicked Amalek. Therefore, let us sing to Christ our God, for He has been glorified.

Moses placed a remedy upon a staff, a liberation from the corrupting and venomous bite; and by the wood, in the shape of the Cross, he bound the serpent that was dragging itself along the ground, thereby triumphing over the harm. Therefore, let us sing to Christ our God, for He has been glorified.

Heaven revealed the trophy of the Cross to the pious emperor and God-minded king, by which the fierce roaring ^B of the hostile forces was cast down; error was overturned, and the divine faith was spread to the ends of the earth. Therefore, let us sing to Christ our God, for He has been glorified.

A rod is taken as a type of the mystery, for by its budding it signifies the priest. And for the Church, formerly barren, the wood of the Cross has now blossomed into power and stability.

As the rock, being struck, sent forth water to the disobedient and hard-hearted people, it revealed ^C the mystery of the divinely called Church, whose power and stability is the Cross.

When the immaculate side was wounded by a lance, water with blood flowed forth, renewing the testament and purging sins. For the Cross is the boasting of the faithful, and the power and stability of kings.

I have heard, O Lord, the mystery of Your dispensation; I have understood Your works, and I have glorified Your divinity.

Moses once changed the bitter springs in the desert with wood by means of the Cross, prefiguring the calling of the nations unto piety.

He who had received the axe below restored it by wood in the Jordan, ^D indicating by the Cross and by baptism the cutting off of errors.

Sacredly, the four-part people marches forward, leading the ark of the testimony in figure, commendable in its cross-shaped battle lines.

Wonderfully displayed, the Cross sent forth solar rays, and the heavens declared the glory of our God.

O most blessed wood, upon which was stretched Christ, the King and Lord! Through you, he who deceived by wood fell, having been lured by God, who was nailed in the flesh upon you—the One who grants peace to our souls.

^A You, O praiseworthy wood, upon which Christ was stretched out, the turning sword that guards Eden feared you, O Cross! The terrible Cherubim yielded to the Christ who is nailed to you, the One who grants peace to our souls.

The powers of the netherworld, adversaries of the Cross, shudder when they see its sign traced in the air, wherein they dwell. The race of heavenly and earthly beings bows the knee to Christ, who grants peace to our souls.

By pure flashes of light, the divine Cross appeared to the nations darkened by the error of deceit; flashing forth its divine radiance, it reconciles them to Christ who was nailed upon it, the One who grants peace to our souls.

^B Jonas, inside the belly of the sea beast, stretching out his palms in the shape of a cross, clearly prefigured the saving passion. Therefore, going forth on the third day, he depicted the transcendent resurrection of Christ the God, who was nailed in the flesh and illuminated the world with his three-day resurrection.

Jacob, bowed by old age and wasted by disease, straightened himself by crossing his hands, showing the power of the life-giving Cross. For the new writing of the One who was nailed upon it in the flesh, God, has rewritten the antiquity of the shadowy letter of the Law, and has cast out the soul-destroying disease of error.

By placing his palms crosswise upon the heads of the youths, divine Israel showed that the people who kept the Law had an older glory. ^C When he was suspected of having erred, he did not alter the life-bearing type; for he cried out that the newly-compacted people of Christ the God would stand preeminent, fortified by the Cross.

The mindless decree of the ungodly tyrant shook the peoples, breathing out threats and God-hating blasphemy. Yet, the beastly rage did not terrify the three youths, nor did the crackling fire; but rather, dwelling in the fire as if in a dew-bearing, resounding breeze, they sang: "O most praiseworthy God of our fathers and our God, blessed are You."

By tasting the wood, the first of men passed into corruption. For by being condemned to an ignominious loss of life, he shared the disease like a contagion with the whole race, as one bearing it in his own body. ^D But we, the earth-born, having found the return of the Cross in the wood, cry out: "O most praiseworthy God of our fathers and our God, blessed are You."

Disobedience dissolved the commandment of God, and the wood brought death to mortals, which was untimely seized. But for the security of precious life, the wood is hereafter forbidden, which the kindness of the One who was to die in the pains of the night of the traps opened for those crying out: "O most praiseworthy God of our fathers and our God, blessed are You."

Joseph, who sees the future, holds the top of the staff.

^A seeing the powerful endurance of the kingdom of Israel, showing beforehand how the all-glorious cross holds it together. For this is the boast of victorious kings, and a light to those who with faith cry out: "O most praiseworthy God of our fathers and our God, blessed are You."

Bless the Lord, children equal in number to the Trinity, the Creator, God the Father; hymn the Word who descended and transformed the fire into dew; and superexalt the all-holy Spirit who provides life to all, throughout the ages.

As the wood is lifted up, having been sprinkled with the blood of the incarnate Word of God, hymn it, O powers of the heavens, celebrating the recall of mortals. O peoples, worship the cross of Christ, through which resurrection comes to the world throughout the ages.

Earth-born ones, who are stewards of grace by your hands, lift up in a manner befitting priests the cross upon which Christ God stood, and the lance which pierced the body of the Word of God. Let all the nations see, glorifying the salvation of God throughout the ages. ^B

You who have been chosen by divine vote, exult: O faithful kings of the Christians, boast, having obtained from God the trophy-bearing weapon, the precious cross. For within it, tribes seeking the boldness of wars are scattered throughout the ages.

You are a mystical Paradise, O Theotokos, having sprouted Christ without cultivation, by whom the life-bearing tree of the cross has been planted upon the earth: and now that it is lifted up, worshipping it, we magnify you.

Let all the trees of the forest exult; for their nature has been sanctified by Him by whom they were planted from the beginning, Christ being stretched out upon the wood; and now that it is lifted up, worshipping Him, we magnify you. ^C

A holy horn has been raised for the God-minded people, the head of all, the cross; in which all the horns of assumed spiritual sins are broken; and now that it is lifted up, we worship Christ, and we magnify you.

The death which came about for the race through the eating of the wood is rendered void today through the cross. For the ancestral curse of our foremother is dissolved by the sprout of the most pure Theotokos, whom all the powers of the heavens magnify.

Not having left the bitterness of the wood unremoved, O Lord, you utterly wiped it away through the cross. Wherefore also a piece of wood once solved the bitterness of the waters of Marah, prefiguring the efficacy of the cross, which all the powers of the heavens magnify. ^D

Those incessantly buried in the darkness of the forefather, O Lord, you have exalted this day through the cross. For just as nature was carried away excessively toward error, so the light of the cross has again raised us up entirely, which we faithful magnify.

That You might show the type of the cross to be worshipped by the world, O Lord, as glorious among all things, in heaven it

has adorned with immense light, a king with invincible armor. Therefore, the powers of the heavens magnify You. ^A

XIII. ON THE MEETING.

The sun once traversed the dry land that gave birth to the abyss; for the water stood fast as a wall on either side for the people traveling on foot through the sea, and for those singing in a manner pleasing to God: Let us sing to the Lord, for He has been gloriously glorified. ^B

Let the clouds rain down water; for the Sun, riding upon a light cloud, stood in the temple as a babe in pure arms, even Christ. Therefore, let us faithful cry out: Let us sing to the Lord, for He has been gloriously glorified.

Be strengthened, O hands of Simeon, slackened by old age, and the feeble legs of the elder, move rightly toward the meeting of Christ, forming a dance with the incorporeal ones: Let us sing to the Lord, for He has been gloriously glorified.

Be stretched out with understanding, O heavens; rejoice, and let the earth exult; for Christ, the Artificer, coming from divine bosoms, is brought by a Virgin mother to God the Father as an infant, He who is before all things: Let us sing to the Lord, for He has been gloriously glorified. ^C

Establish, O Lord, the foundation of those who trust in You, the Church which You have purchased with Your precious blood.

The Firstborn from the Father before the ages, the firstborn infant of an incorrupt maiden, appeared, stretching out a hand to Adam.

God the Word, appearing as an infant, came to restore again the one who had become childish in mind through the deception of the first-created.

The Creator, having lowered to the earth her who had returned to it, showed her again as a nature conformed to the Divinity, as He unchangeably became an infant.

Your virtue, O Christ, has covered the heavens. For coming forth from the ark of Your sanctification, the incorrupt mother, You were seen in the temple of Your glory as a babe carried in arms; and all things were filled with Your praise. ^D

Rejoicing, O Simeon, minister of the mysteries, the Theotokos cried out, "The One whom you prophesied of old through the Holy Spirit, receive Him in your arms, the Word made infant, Christ, crying to Him: All things are filled with Your praise."

The One you hoped for, O Simeon, to see in your time, joyfully receive as a babe, even Christ, the consolation of Israel, the Maker and Lord of the law, fulfilling the order of the law, crying to Him: All things are filled with Your praise.

^A

Simeon, beholding the Word who is without beginning, now in the flesh, carried upon the Virgin as upon a Cherubic throne, the Author of all existence as a babe, struck with wonder, cried out to Him: All things are filled with Your praise.

As Isaiah saw symbolically God upon a throne raised high, attended by the angels of glory: O miserable man that I am, he cried, for I have seen God in the flesh, the Lord of unsetting light and of peace.

The divine elder, understanding the glory once revealed to the prophet, seeing the Word held in the hands of the Mother: Rejoice, he cried, O venerable one! For as a throne you contain God, the Lord of unsetting light and of peace. ^B

Bending low, the elder, touching the footprints of God-breathed grace of her, the one who knew no man and is the Mother of God: You carry fire, O immaculate one! I fear to receive in my arms the infant God, the Lord of unsetting light and of peace.

Isaiah was purified when he received the coal from the Seraphim. The elder cried to the Mother of God: As with tongs, you will enlighten me with your hands, presenting Him whom you carry, the Lord of unsetting light and of peace.

The elder, seeing with his eyes the Salvation that has stood before the peoples from God, cried out to You: Christ, You are my God.

O Sion, You were set as a stone of stumbling and offense to the unbelieving; a rock unbroken, the salvation of the faithful.

Firmly bearing the character of Him who begot You before the ages, out of mercy You have now clothed Yourself in human weakness.

Son of the Most High, Son of a Virgin, God made a babe, whom I have worshipped, now dismiss me in peace.

You who sprinkled with dew the children who spoke of divine things in the fire, and who dwelt in the Virgin without spot, we praise You, O God the Word, piously singing: Blessed are You, O God of our fathers. ^C

About to reveal it to Adam, who is passing his time in Hades, and to bring good tidings to Eve, Simeon cried out, dancing with the prophets: Blessed are You, O God of our fathers.

God, who delivered the earthly race, will come even to Hades; and to all the captives He will grant release, and sight to the blind, that they may cry to one another: Blessed are You, O God of our fathers. ^D

And a sword shall pierce your heart, O immaculate one, Simeon prophesied to the Theotokos, when you see your Son upon the cross, to whom we cry: Blessed are You, O God of our fathers.

The rulers of piety, the children, brought near to the intolerable fire, yet not harmed by the flame, sang a divine hymn: Bless, all you works of the Lord, the Lord.

People of Israel, beholding your glory, Emmanuel, as an infant from the Virgin, dance now before the face of the divine ark: O all you works of the Lord, bless the Lord. ^A

Behold Simeon was crying out: The sign that is spoken against, this shall be God, who is also an infant. To Him let us sing in faith: O all you works of the Lord, bless the Lord.

Being by nature Life, this One shall be a fall to the unbelieving, the child born as God the Word, for He is the resurrection to all who sing in faith: O all you works of the Lord, bless the Lord.

In the Law, in the shadow, and in the letter, let us believers discern the type: Every male that opens the womb is holy to God. Therefore, let us magnify the firstborn Word, the Son of the Father without beginning, becoming the firstborn from a Mother without husband. ^B

Of old, a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons were for the newborn; for which things the divine elder and the wise prophetess Anna serve, magnifying Him born of the Virgin, and the unique Son of the Father entering the temple.

You have rendered unto me, Simeon was crying out, the joy of your salvation, O Christ; receive your worshiper, weary in the shadow, but a new herald of grace, a mystic, magnifying in praise.

Religiously Anna gave thanks, prophesying, she the wise and holy old woman, clearly to the Master in the temple; and proclaiming the Theotokos to all who were present, she magnified Him. ^C

OTHER ODES OF COSMAS THE MONK

I.

You, who of old brought forth the entire creation from nothing, and who know the secret places of hearts, foretell, as Master, to the disciples the falling asleep of Lazarus.

Having been clothed in human nature by essence, O Christ, from the Virgin, you asked to learn the tomb of Lazarus as a man, not being ignorant as God of where he lay. ^D

^A To confirm truly, O Word, your resurrection, you awakened the friend who was already decaying, as if from sleep, the four-day-old dead man from the tomb. The orders of angels and of mortals, O mother who knew not wedlock, praise you unceasingly; for you carried their Creator as an infant in your arms. Passing through the waters as if on dry land, and escaping the Egyptian wickedness, the Israelite cried out: Let us sing to our Redeemer and God.

II. ^B Standing before the tomb, O Lord, worker of wonders, in Bethany, you wept for Lazarus, proving by the law of nature the flesh, O my God Jesus, which you have assumed. You immediately calmed the grief of Mary, O Savior, and at the same time manifested the will of Martha; for you are the resurrection, and you are the life, as you said; for you are truth, and Lord of all. Wrapped in grave-clothes, O Lord, you snatched the friend from the dead and from the gloom of the underworld, you, having shattered the bars and kingdoms of death by your all-powerful word. You who dwelt in the Virgin bodily, O Lord, were seen by men as it was fitting that you should be seen, whom you also showed forth as the true Theotokos, and help of the faithful, O only merciful one. ^C You who vault the celestial arch, O Lord, and builder of the Church, do you strengthen me in your love, you who are the summit of desires, the support of the faithful, O only merciful one.

The sisters of Lazarus stood by Christ, and weeping bitterly and wailing, they said to him: Lord, Lazarus is dead. But he, as God, not ignorant of the burial, asked them: Where have you laid him? And approaching the tomb, he called upon the four-day-old Lazarus. Immediately he arose, and worshipped him who had raised him. Foreknowing all things as their Creator, in Bethany you predicted to the disciples: Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep today. And knowing, you asked: Where have you laid him? And you prayed to the Father, weeping as a man. Whence also, calling out, you raised from the underworld him whom you loved, O Lord, the four-day-old Lazarus. Therefore we cry out to you: Receive, O Christ God, the praise of those who dare to offer it, and make all worthy of your glory. ^D

III. You, as a shepherd, snatched, O Savior, the man already rotting for four days, O Creator, from a pit truly evil and devouring all; and as powerful and Lord, you are in this prefiguring the immense glory of your own now three-day resurrection. Seeing you who are the Life, those around Martha cried out, O Christ: If you had been here, Lord, the illumination of all and life,

Lazarus would not have died. But you, O Merciful One, who are the life of the dead, turn their mourning into joy.

The abysses shudder before you, O Lord, as the Source; the entire wet element serves you. The gatekeepers of Hades, O Christ, tremble before you, and its bolts are dissolved by your power, as Lazarus rises from the dead at your voice, O Almighty Savior, Lover of mankind. ^A

You are the boast of the faithful, O unwedded one; you are the protectress; you are also the refuge of Christians, a wall and a harbor. For you bring petitions to your Son, O all-blameless one, and you save from dangers those who in faith and longing recognize you as the chaste Mother of God.

You are my strength, O Lord, you are also my power; you are my God, you are my exultation: you who did not abandon the fatherly bosom, and visited our poverty. Therefore with the prophet Habakkuk I cry out to you: Glory to your power, O Lover of mankind.

Δ'.

O voice sounding with divine power, O Savior, of your authority! By which you shattered the gates of Hades and all-consuming death. But snatch me away, as of old, from my passions, like your four-day-old friend Lazarus. ^B

Through the supplications of Lazarus, and of Martha and Mary, make us worthy to be spectators of your cross and passion, O Lord, and of your light-bearing and royal resurrection, O Lover of mankind.

Possessing maternal boldness toward your Son, O all-immaculate one, do not disregard the care of your own kin, we beseech you: for Christians offer you, alone, as a propitiation to the Lord.

Why have you cast me away from your face, O unsetting light, and why has strange darkness covered me, wretched as I am? But turn me back, and direct my ways toward the light of your commandments, I pray.

Ε'.

Love brought you, O Lord, to Bethany, to Lazarus, and him already stinking you raised as God, and delivered him from the bonds of Hades.

Martha indeed had despaired of Lazarus, as he was already four days dead; but Christ raised the corrupted one as God, and brought him back to life by his word.

Ϛ'.

Having wept as a human, O merciful one, you raised...

the dead man, as the Creator, by a Lordly command; ^A whom the underworld dreads, crying out to you: Blessed are you, O Lord God, unto the ages.

Lazarus went forth bound with burial cloths, having escaped the chasm of Hades and the darkness, by the word of the Lord, crying out: Blessed are you, O Lord God, unto the ages.

VII.

When musical instruments sounded, and infinite peoples worshipped the miserable statue, the three youths, not obeying, praised the Lord and glorified him unto all the ages.

As a shepherd following the tracks of the lamb, and snatching it from a cruel and destructive wolf, you, who are omnipotent, renew the corrupted one, crying out to you: Praise and superexalt unto all the ages.

As a human you sought the tomb, as Creator raising the dead man by a Lordly command: whom Hades dreads, crying out to you: Praise and superexalt unto all the ages. ^B

VIII.

Let us glorify the immaculate one, O peoples, the Theotokos, who conceived the divine fire in her womb without being burned; with unceasing hymns let us magnify her.

The peoples, seeing the four-day-dead man walking, struck with admiration, cried out to the Redeemer, magnifying you, God, in hymns.

Confirming beforehand your glorious resurrection, O my Savior, you free from Hades the four-day-dead man, Lazarus. In hymns I magnify you. ^C

IX.

He who clothes himself with light as with a garment, for our sake deigned to become as we are. Today he enters the streams of the Jordan; not because he himself has need of them for purification, but because he is accomplishing our regeneration within himself. O the wonder! Without fire he melts, and he remakes without kneading, and he solidifies those who are illuminated in him (by baptism), Christ the God and Savior of our souls.

Seeing the Baptizer approaching him, who cleanses the sin of the world in Spirit and fire, he stood in fear and trembling, crying out and saying: I do not dare touch your immaculate head. Sanctify me, O Master, by your divine appearing, O only friend of man. ^D

Come, let us imitate the wise virgins. Come, let us go to meet the appearing Master, because he has come forth like a bridegroom to John. Jordan, seeing you, feared and stood still. John cried out: I do not dare touch the immortal head. The Spirit descended in the form of a dove to sanctify the waters; and a voice from heaven: This is my Son, who has come into the world to save the human race. Glory to you, O Lord.

Christ is baptized, and ascends from the water: at the same time

VARIAE LECTIONES. * We find these in the Anthologion for the month of January, p. 73.

Spirit testifies to the divinity; for it rushes upon its like, ^A and there is a voice from heaven; for from thence the Savior of our souls is testified to.

The hand of the Baptist trembled when it touched the immaculate head. The river Jordan turned backward, not daring to minister to you. For he who stood in awe of Jesus the son of Nun, how could he not have feared his own Maker? But you fulfilled every dispensation, O our Savior, that you might save the world by your manifestation, O only Lover of mankind.

X

Adorn your bridal chamber, O Sion, and receive Christ the King. Embrace Mary, the heavenly gate; for she has been shown to be a Cherubic throne. She carries the King of glory; the Virgin is a cloud of light, carrying in the flesh the Son who is before the Morning Star; whom Simeon, taking into his arms, proclaimed to the peoples to be the Lord of life and death, and the ^B Savior of the world.

XI

Before your cross, O Lord, the mountain imitated heaven; a cloud was spread out like a tabernacle when you were transfigured. And as you were testified to by the Father, Peter was present with James and John, as those who were to be with you also at the time of your betrayal, that they might behold your wonders; which do you vouchsafe that we may adore in peace, for your great mercy.

Before your cross, O Lord, having taken the disciples up into a high mountain, you were transfigured before them, illuminating them with the rays of your power; wishing thereby to show forth in your loving-kindness and power the brightness of your resurrection; of which do you, O God, count us also worthy in peace, as you are merciful and loving to mankind.

Having been transfigured on a high mountain, the Savior shone forth gloriously, having with him the chief of the disciples, showing that those who excel in the height of virtues shall also be counted worthy of divine glory. Moreover, Moses and Elias, conversing with ^C Christ, showed that he is Lord of the living and the dead, and that he is the God who formerly spoke through the law and the prophets, to whom the voice of the Father from the bright cloud also bore witness, saying: "Listen to him," who through the cross despoiled Hades and granted eternal life to the dead.

The mountain that was once dark and smoky is now honorable and holy, on which your feet stood, O Lord. For the mystery hidden before the ages, in these last ^D VARIAE LECTIONES. * We find these in the Anthologion for the month of January, p. 73.

in the latest times, your reverend ^A transfiguration revealed to Peter, John, and James, who, not at all bearing the rays of your countenance and the splendor of your garments, fell prone to the earth; and they, struck with amazement, marveled to see Moses and Elijah speaking with you about the things that were to happen to you; and a voice from the Father testified, saying: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; listen to him," who also grants to the world great mercy.

OF COSMAS OF JERUSALEM

SCHOLIA ON SAINT GREGORY NAZIANZEN

(These may be read among the Works of Saint Gregory Nazianzen in Volume XXXVIII of this Patrologia, col. 339-679.)

YEAR OF OUR LORD 690. ST. GREGORY II, BISHOP OF AGRIGENTUM. OF OUR HOLY FATHER GREGORY, BISHOP OF AGRIGENTUM, TEN DISCOURSES OF EXPLANATION ON ECCLESIASTES. ST. GREGORY II, BISHOP OF THE AGRIGENTINES, TEN BOOKS OF EXPLANATION OF ECCLESIASTES. FIRST PUBLISHED IN GREEK WITH LATIN INTERPRETATION AND COMMENTARIES; TO WHICH IS PREFIXED THE LIFE OF THAT SAME BISHOP, WRITTEN BY THE MONK LEONTIUS AND NOT YET PUBLISHED IN GREEK. (VENICE, 1791, FOLIO.) STEPHANO ANTONIO MORCELLI, PREFACE CONCERNING THE DESIGN AND ORDER OF THE EDITION.

While the enthusiasm for publishing books grows daily, and this concern especially occupies the unlearned and the learned throughout all Europe; those are considered blessed above others who are able to bring forth some remnants of neglected antiquity, and ones that have been entirely unseen by the nearest ages. Indeed, the labors of these men are usually more successful and their efforts more auspicious: so that they find as many patrons for their books as there are people everywhere who are delighted by the novelty of things. Which the French, especially in Italy...