Categories: hymns, feast-days
Date: 10 October 2007 05:07:56
From Word from the Desert:
St Romanus the Melodist, 6th century; Kontakion on the Victory of the Cross, 1, 18
trans. Archimandrite Ephrem Lash
The sword of flame no longer guards the gate of Eden,
for a strange bond came upon it: the wood of the Cross.
The sting of Death and the victory of Hades were nailed to it.
But you appeared, my Saviour, crying to those in Hades:
“Be brought back
again to Paradise.”
O most high and glorious, God of fathers and of youths,
Your willing outrage has become our honour.
For, in Your Cross, we may all boast.
To it we have nailed our hearts,
that on it we may hang our instruments
and sing to You, the Lord of all, from the songs of Zion.
The ship from Tarshish once upon a time
brought gold to Solomon, as it is written.
To us Your Tree gives back,
every day and moment, wealth beyond all price,
for it brings us all
again to Paradise.