This wondrous hymn, which was appointed to be used in the Bendictine Monastic Diurnal at Lauds today reduced me to tears on my knees at my icon corner this morning.
Thirty years among us dwelling,
His appointed time fulfilled,
born for this, He meets His passion,
for that this He freely willed:
on the Cross the Lamb is lifted,
where His life-blood shall be spilled.
He endured the nails, the spitting,
vinegar and spear and reed;
from that holy body pierced
blood and water forth proceed;
earth and stars and sky and ocean
by that flood from stain are freed.
Faithful Cross! above all other,
one and only noble tree!
None in foliage, none in blossom,
none in fruit thy peers may be;
sweetest wood and sweetest Iron!
sweetest weight is hung on thee.
Bend thy boughs, O tree of glory!
thy too rigid sinews bend;
for awhile the ancient rigor
that thy birth bestowed, suspend;
and the King of heavenly beauty
on thy bosom gently tend!
Thou alone wast counted worthy
this world's ransom to sustain;
That a shipwrecked race for ever
Might a port of refuge gain:
with the Sacred Blood anointed
Of the Lamb for sinners slain.
Glory be to God and honour
In the highest as is meet,
To the Son and to the Father,
And the eternal Paraclete,
Whose is boundless praise and power
Through the ages infinite.
Amen.
It was composed by Venantius Honorius Clementianus Fortunatus circa 569 AD, and is thoroughly Orthodox.
May we all have a blessed and fruitful Holy Week, and look forward to proclaiming Christ is Risen !
1 comment:
It's beautiful, thank you!
A Blessed Holy Wednesday to you!
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