THE DREAM OF THE ROOD

The Dream of the Rood, traced to the 8th century, was the earliest of the English “dream-vision” poems. It describes in allegory the redemption of the world through the Cross. This version is from Project Gutenberg. Lo! choicest of dreams I will relate, What dream I dreamt in middle of night When mortal men reposed [...]

Read Full Post »

Hymn to Christ on Easter Day – St. Gregory Nazianzen

HYMN TO CHRIST ON EASTER DAY (AFTER LONG SILENCE), Cristi anax, se prvton, epei logon heri dvka, dhnaion katecwn, fqegxom apo stomatwn, (Dactylic hexameter, and pentameter.) O Christ the King! since breath pent up so long I have outpoured, Thou first shalt be my song; May this my word, the current of my mind, If [...]

Read Full Post »

Holy Saturday -

Joseph begged Thy Holy Body from Pilate; / He anointed it with sweet-smelling spices; / He wrapped in in clean linen and laid it in his own new tomb; // And early in the morning, the myrrhbearing women cried out / || “As Thou hast foretold O Christ, show us Thy Resurrection! || The choirs [...]

Read Full Post »

[Excerpt] Leo the Great of Rome, Homily 59: On the Holy Passion of Christ

. . . From Sermon LIX, given in Wednesday of Holy Week. St Leo the Great (pope of Rome from 440-461, reposed in the Lord AD 461) was bishop in one of the more controversy-ridden periods of Church history. He was engaged in the Christological controversy that consumed the fifth century, and his great Tome [...]

Read Full Post »

A Blank Page -

What is it about a blank page that makes my mind go blank? I think of so many things to publish here when I’m NOT sitting here trying to get my blog entry done on time!! Yes, I keep a folder full of “ideas,” and I have some sites bookmarked for memes and things, but [...]

Read Full Post »

A Pilgrimage at Home?

One of the many endearing stories of St. Seraphim of Sarov was a small act of devotion he engaged in during his years as a hermit. The area around his hermitage was designated by him with Biblical place-names. Thus one place was Jerusalem, another Bethlehem, etc. Thus did the great saint transform the trees and [...]

Read Full Post »

A Hymn at Night, After Failure to Keep Vow – St. Gregory Nazianzen

A HYMN AT NIGHT, AFTER FAILURE TO KEEP VOW. eyeusamhn se thn alhqeian, loge, (Iambic trimeter.) O Thou, the Word of truth divine! All light I have not been, Nor kept the day as wholly Thine; For Thou dark spots hast seen. The day is down: night hath prevailed: My Lord I have belied; I [...]

Read Full Post »

Admonitory Address to a Virgin – Gregory Nazianzen

Gregory Nazianzen. ADMONITORY ADDRESS TO A VIRGIN. Parqene, numfe Cristou, (The Greek is of varied metre, arranged in lines of generally seven syllables each.) O bride of Christ on high, Thy Bridegroom glorify! Always thyself keep pure, In word and wisdom sure, That bright with Him all-bright Thou e’er mayst dwell in light. Far better [...]

Read Full Post »

Psalms of St. Ephraim the Syrian

What follows is a selection of Psalms by St. Ephraim the Syrian. They can be found in the book A Spiritual Psalter, published by St. John of Kronstadt Press. This little book is very edifying and uplifting, and is highly recommended. How to Relieve the Conscience of Inner Anxiety O Lord and Master! O God [...]

Read Full Post »

Hymn to His Own Soul – St. Gregory Nazianzen

TO HIS OWN SOUL. ti soi qeleiV genesqai; (Iambic dimeter catalectic.) 1. O soul of mine, repining, What wouldst have done for thee? Speak, great or small defining: Granted thy wish shall be. 2. Of all bright things, prized highest, Beneath the rolling sun, Tell that for which thou sighest; For thee it shall be [...]

Read Full Post »

Hymn to God – by St. Gregory Nazianzen

Gregory Nazianzen HYMN TO GOD. ‘W pantwn epekeina . ti gar qemiV allo se melpein; (Dactylic hexameter.) 1. O Thou, the One Supreme o’er all! [22] For by what other name May we upon Thy greatness call, Or celebrate Thy fame? 2 Ineffable! to Thee what speech Can hymns of honour raise? Ineffable! what tongue [...]

Read Full Post »

My Eucharistic Theology is Orthodox!

As tomorrow (Tuesday) will be a long and harrowing day, I’m posting a day early. Thursday we’ll get back on track! = = = = = Thanks to Steve for the reference to this lovely quiz!! Eucharistic theology created with QuizFarm.com You scored as OrthodoxYou are Orthodox, worshiping the mystery of the Holy Trinity in [...]

Read Full Post »

Hymn to Christ – St. Clement of Alexandria (c. 220)

HYMN TO CHRIST. basileu agiwn, loge pandamatwr (Anapaestic dimeter.) O Thou, the King of saints, all-conquering Word, Son of the Highest, wisdom’s Fount and Lord, The prop that doth uphold through toil and pain; The joy of ages through immortal reign; Yet born of mortal flesh for life’s brief span, O Saviour Jesus, Shepherd, Husbandman; [...]

Read Full Post »

From a Friend –

“Christ told them a parable, to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor regarded man; and there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, “Give me justice against my [...]

Read Full Post »

Marriage: The Great Sacrament (warning: long)

The Orthodox Christian Information Center says, “Many Orthodox Christians with whom I have spoken, including several clergy and nuns, consider this to be the best statement on marriage they’ve ever read.” http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/marriage.aspx A Sermon delivered in the Church of St. Nicholas, Trikala, Greece, 17 January, 1971 By Archimandrite Aimilianos of Simonopetra, Mount Athos Nobody would [...]

Read Full Post »

An Evening Hymn – Gregory Nazianzen

AN EVENING HYMN. Se kai nun eulogoumen, (Semi-iambic.) 1. And now again at night, O Christ, the living Word, Thou Light of the Eternal Light, Be Thou by us adored. 2. Thou dost the Spirit give, Third Light, in glory one; His grace, by whom alone we live, Thou dost refuse to none. 3. Thou [...]

Read Full Post »

A Hymn to Christ – St. Gregory Nazianzen –

Gregory Nazianzen. I. HYMN TO CHRIST. Se ton afqiton monarchn (Dimeter ionicus.) 1. O Thou, the One Supreme, O thou, the deathless King, Be Thou my only theme: Grant me Thyself to sing. To Thee the hymn, to Thee the praise, Celestial choirs for ever raise. 2. For Thee the ages run In order as [...]

Read Full Post »