“The Lord Whom the seraphs fear to look at”

My favorite hymn from the liturgy is this metrical homily attributed to St. Jacob of Sarug. At St. Mary’s we sing it (in Malayalam) during the distribution of the Gifts. What do you think?

The Lord Whom the seraphs fear to look at,
the same you behold in bread and wine on the altar.
The lightning-clothed hosts are burned if they see Him in His brilliance,
yet the contemptible dust partakes of Him with confidence.

The Son’s Mysteries are fire among the heavenly beings.
Isaiah bears witness with us to have seen them.
These Mysteries which were in the Divinity’s bosom
are distributed to Adam’s children on the altar.

The altar is fashioned like the cherubim’s chariot
and is surrounded by the heavenly hosts.
On the altar is laid the Body of God’s Son
and Adam’s children carry it solemnly on their hands.

Instead of a man clad in linen, stands the [priest],
and distributes alms [the Eucharist] among the needy.
If envy existed among the angels,
the cherubim would have envied men.

Where Zion set up the Cross to crucify the Son,
there grew up the tree that gave birth to the Lamb.
Where nails were driven in the Son’s hands,
there Isaac’s hands were bound for an offering.

Welcome, priest, who carries the Mysteries of his Lord,
and with his right hand distributes life to men.
Welcome, priest, who carries a pure censer,
and with its fragrance makes the world sweet and pleasant.

Welcome, priest, whom the Holy Spirit did raise up,
and on his tongue bears the keys to the house of God.
Welcome, priest, who binds man in the depth below,
and the Lord binds him in heaven on high. Hallelujah.

Welcome, priest, who unbinds men on earth,
and the Lord unbinds him in the highest. Kyrie eleison.
Praise be to the Lord! His mercy upon you and absolution for me,
and good commemoration to Mor Jacob the Malphono [James the Great Teacher].

“Like a strong man who shakes off his wine”

When the Hero slept on the cross and trampled on death, after three days His sleep departed and He rose strengthened; while He rested for three days His burden was lightened and He was awakened after His labour without corruption from His wounds.

David His father saw Him when He came forth and ran before Him and touched the strings of his lyre and began to sing in prophecy: The Lord has awakened like a strong man who shakes off his wine and has struck His enemies and delivered His friends who were mourning.

The Bo’ootho of St. Jacob, taken from Saphro (Morning Prayer) of the Sunday of the Resurrection

For Holy Saturday

Yesterday was Friday full of sorrow and darkness, today is the Sabbath of hope and joy.

Yesterday the crucifiers raged like madmen, today the dead in Sheol sing praise.

Yesterday, Friday, the jeering crowd mobbed the city, today, Saturday, the Giver of life to the dead descends to Sheol and lays waste its walls and spoils its treasures.

Today Sheol is resplendent with praises and as in the month of April the dead shoot up like flowers, rejoicing in their tombs.

Today the house of the dead becomes gloomy when they see that Death is bound and Adam is released who was bound captive.

Today Sheol, the place of those who died, is cast down because it knows that its captives have returned to their former place.

Today those who lay in the dust shout praise from their mouths because their Redeemer has descended to them.

Today all those who slept cry out with one accord, “Blessed is the glory of the Lord from His place forever!”

From the Office of the Twelfth Hour for Holy Saturday

For the Wednesday of Conspiracies

Today our Lord reveals to the Twelve the secret mystery:
“One of you will betray Me and take a price for Me.”

Today the wolf goes forth from the fold of the sheep
to mingle with the company of treacherous people.

Today in his treachery Judas parts from his companions
and conspires perfidiously against the True Shepherd.

Today the Good One offers Himself to the Passion and to Death
for the sake of the guilty Adam who fell in the Garden of Eden.

Today the chief priest prophesies concerning the Lord,
“It is in our interest that one man die so that the nation may live.”

Today our Lord tells His disciples, “Do not grieve.
I rise. I resurrect that you  may live.”

From Saphro (Morning Prayer) for Wednesday of the Week of the Life-giving Passion (Wednesday of Conspiracies)

For the Annunciation: Hymns from the Night Vigil

Lord, our Lord, when Your Godhead was moved
to descend and to be clothed with our [humanity],
Gabriel flew with the peace of His Lord and sowed it
in the ear of Mary, saying to her, “Peace be with you, Mary.
Blessed are you among women. The Lord is with you.
From you shall come forth the Saviour of the Creation.

Mary said to Gabriel, “How can this be for I know not a man?
When, where and how was a virgin known to have given birth?”
The Watcher replied, “The Holy Spirit will come on you
and the power from on high will rest in your womb.
From you shall come forth the Ancient of Days
who will restore to life Adam worn out by corruption.”

The ark which Moses built on Sinai,
in which he placed the tablets of the Law,
represented you, Mary, as a figure.
Your virginity was preserved when the Giver of the Law
dwelt in your womb—God-made-man who came forth from you
and made His peace reign to the ends of the earth.

The closed cell sealed with the seal of the king
in which dwelt Daniel the Just
was a sign of you, Mary, who preserved your virginity
when the Saviour of the Creation came forth from you.
Blessed is He who has come and is to come,
halleluia, halleluia, Son of God, Offspring of the Virgin!

Qolo of the First Watch

*****

God called Gabriel from the secret place of the Watchers
and from on high He spoke these words to the Fiery One:
“My Son wills to descend on earth, so prepare a palace for Him with Mary,
the Daughter of David, and remember this on your journey.
Greet her with peace, that seeing you she may not be afraid.
Let peace be on your lips that she may be comforted by you.”

“Tell her that the Son of God is to come forth from her womb.
Wear a white veil on your head that she may have no fear.
Do not strike her with dumbness like Zechariah.
Speak to her tenderly and make your announcement gently.
When she asks how this will be, answer with sweetness:
‘The Holy Spirit will come and God’s power will rest on you.’”

The Fiery One received the message and flew swiftly to Mary.
“Peace be with you, Daughter of David,” he said,
“The Lord is with you, blessed among women.
You shall receive a wonderful conception
and bring forth the Saviour of the Creation.”
As she received this announcement from the Fiery One,
the great power from on high descended and rested in her womb.

Glory to the Exalted One who humbled Himself
for the sake of the race of the earthly ones, to raise us from our fall,
from the dunghill of our affliction. To Him be glory,
and to His Father our adorations and to the Holy Spirit our shouts of joy;
and on us graciousness and compassion, at all times. Amen. Amen.

Bo’ootho of the Fourth Watch

—————

The above translations are taken with slight amendations from Francis Acharya, Prayer with the Harp of the Spirit, Volume III: The Crown of the Year Part II: The Seven Weeks of the Fast of our Lord and of His Life-giving Passion and the Night of His Resurrection (Vangamon: Kurisumala Ashram, 1985).