Kontakion of St. Romanos: "On Adam's Lament"

The Expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise (source)

 
The Guide of wisdom, Leader of prudence, Chastener of the senseless, and the Defender of the poor: fortify, grant understanding to my heart, O Master. Give me a word, O Word of the Father, for behold, I do not hold back my lips from crying out to You: O Merciful, have mercy on the fallen.

Adam sat and wept across from the delight of Paradise, and beating his eyes with his hands, he said: "O Merciful, have mercy on the fallen."

When Adam beheld the Angel turning him back, and closing the gate of the divine garden, he groaned greatly, and said: "O Merciful, have mercy on the fallen."

O Paradise, bear pain together with your master, who has been impoverished of you, and through the sound of your leaves, entreat the Fashioner to not close you. "O Merciful, have mercy on the fallen."

O Paradise full of virtue, all-holy, all-joyous, which was planted for Adam and was shut from Eve, entreat God for the fallen. "O Merciful, have mercy on the fallen."
-Excerpt from the Kontakion of St. Romanos: "On Adam's Lament", read on Forgiveness Sunday (source)
 
For the remainder of this beautiful Kontakion of St. Romanos, see here.
 

Forgive me, and may God grant us all forgiveness, repentance, and a blessed Lent!

 

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

The Nativity Kontakion of St. Romanos the Melodist

Christ is born! Glorify Him!

The Nativity of Christ (source)

   

The first and great Kontakion of St. Romanos the Melodist, written through God's help in honor of His Nativity in the flesh.
   

On the Nativity of Christ
by St. Romanos the Melodist
   
Prelude
Today the Virgin gives birth to him who is above all being,
and the earth offers a cave to him whom no one can approach. Angels with shepherds give glory,
and magi journey with a star,
for to us there has been born
a little Child, God before the ages. 

Bethlehem has opened Eden, come, let us see;
we have found delight in secret, come, let us receive the joys of Paradise within the cave.

There the unwatered root whose blossom is forgiveness has appeared. There has been found the undug well
from which David once longed to drink.
There a virgin has borne a babe
and has quenched at once Adam’s and David’s thirst.
For this, let us hasten to this place where there has been born

a little Child, God before the ages.

(Note, this excerpt is taken from the English translation by Fr. Ephraim Lash of blessed memory, available in his wonderful book: On the Life of Christ: Chanted Sermons by the Great Sixth Century Poet and Singer St. Romanos (Sacred Literature Trust Series); the English text of this translation is available here, is available read by Frederica Mathewes-Green here, and the original Greek is available here)
   

The Nativity of Christ (source)

   

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

Excerpt from the Kontakion on Holy Theophany, by St. Romanos the Melodist

Icon depicting the great feast of Theophany, Christ being baptized by the Forerunner, and the revelation of the Holy Trinity (source)

  
Excerpt from the Kontakion on Holy Theophany, by St. Romanos the Melodist
God did not despise the one who was robbed by trickery in Paradise and lost the garment woven by God, for he came towards him calling to the disobedient once again with his holy voice, “Adam, where are you? From now on, do not hide from me; I want to see you. Though you are naked, though you are poor, do not be ashamed, for I have become like you. Though you desired it you did not become a god, but now, by own will, I have become flesh. Draw near me then and recognize me, that you may say, ‘You have come, you have appeared, the unapproachable Light.

“In my mercy, I was overcome by my compassion and came to my creature, stretching out my hands to embrace you. So do not be ashamed in front of me; for your sake, naked as you are, I am stripped naked and baptized. Already the Jordan opens for me, and John prepares my ways in the waters and in minds.” The Saviour spoke thus to humankind, not in words but in deeds, and came, as he said drawing near to the river on foot, but to the Forerunner as the unapproachable Light.
  
For more, see the excellent book of translations of the Kontakia of St. Romanos: On the Life of Christ, by Fr. Ephraim Lash.
  

Mosaic from Ormylia Monastery depicting Christ walking with Adam and Eve in Paradise (source)

 

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

Kontakion for All Saints by St. Romanos the Melodist

Christ depicted with all His Holy Saints (source)

   

Kontakion for All Saints by St. Romanos the Melodist

Note: The Proimion I and the first Oikos below are taken from the link below, while the rest of the text following is an amateur translation from the Greek.

   

Prooimion I

O Planter of creation, Lord, to You does the entire world bring as an offering the God-bearing martyr Saints, as being nature’s first fruits. At their earnest entreaty, keep Your Church in a state of profoundest peace, through the Theotokos, O Lord abundantly merciful.

   

1. Those who were martyred throughout the earth,

And those who moved their homes to the heavens,

The imitators of Christ’s suffering,

And those who remove from us our suffering,

Here today are gathered, shown to be the first fruits of the Church,

Having held it as the type of that above.

And they cried out to Christ, “You are my God; preserve me.

This, through the Theotokos,

as You are most merciful.”

(source)

   

2. Having gathered from every city

And being our compatriots,

They came out from all the world,

And have taken us from the world,

And have made us participants in the feast.

Together with that above, creation below dances,

For the Angels cry out with us:

“O God, You are truly wondrous among Your Saints,

O Most-Merciful One.”

3. Let us celebrate a sacred feast,
For the things on earth have become heaven.

The lights among the firmament,

The Martyrs among the multitudes

Have shone upon the Church,

And enlightened the whole world,

That David might therefore say with us,

That “Your lightning has shown upon the earth,

O Most-Merciful One.”

4. Now you hear strange things,
And behold divine and incomprehensible deeds.

Everywhere the blood of the Martyrs,

As roses without thorns,

Have been sown, pouring forth healings,
And breathing forth the fragrance of gifts,

From which we receive deliverance from the passions,

And cry to God: “Your hand is lifted high,

O Most-Merciful One.”

5. Their struggles and crowns,

Their sweat and wonders,

Cannot be related by word, nor circumscribed by place.

The Church beholds them,

As arrayed in garments fringed with gold,

And standing beside You as a queen,

God, the immortal and incorruptible King,

O Most-Merciful One.

6. Let us continuously chant unto our God,

For He has richly poured forth grace,

As Joel preached beforehand.

“I will pour out,” he writes, “from the Spirit

Upon my sons and daughters.”

For this strength guided the champions

In word and and power,

And silenced the mouths of those against You,

O Most-Merciful One.

7. They were not swayed by vain wealth,

For they loved Your Kingdom.

They neglected things of this life,

And kept in memory the incorruptible things.

They went forth on the road,

Preferring to die rather than to live,

That they might pass on to Your life,

And be fed with Your good things,

O Most-Merciful One.

8. Appearing before rulers more fierce than beasts,

Your Saints, O Lord,

Came into dangers and wrath,

And were greatly tortured in anger,

As lambs torn apart by wolves.

But You, the Lamb of God and our Shepherd,

Granted them Your help,

Thus for You, they endured blows,

O Most-Merciful One.

9. Your word alone made the Saints follow You, O Lord,

For You said, “Let he who wishes to follow me

Deny relatives and parents.”

Eagerly they cast off everything,

And as being naked, they followed You,

The true Way and Spring of Life,

And with un-taught knowledge, they believed in You,

O Most-Merciful One.

10. Having partaken of the sacrifices [to idols],

The lawless fell upon them.

But [the Saints], beholding Your heavenly supper

With their spiritual eyes,

Did not defile themselves with the filth of the idols,

But praised You by mouth, and blessed You,

That they might become partakers of Your good things,

Of which Your Disciples were made worthy,

O Most-Merciful One.

11. Everyone beheld with astonishment

That the mouths of beasts were calmed,

And they approached [the Saints'] bodies and lied at their feed,

Serving, or rather embracing them,

For who would dare to struggle against Your Saints?

For the fire again became like the brazen furnace for them

[as the fire which did not burn the Three Youths],

Therefore teaching them to honor Yours,

O Most-Merciful One.

12. The devil was struck down, and fell along with all his power.

For he emptied his quiver of arrows,

And was unable to hit Your Soldiers.

And he raised up a wave, to cast them upon the rock,

But could not overturn them, nor shake them,

For they had You as their firm foundation,

O Most-Merciful One.

13. They were truly patient with patience,

And they struggled according to the rules.

They fought the good fight,

And finished the course of the race.

They kept the faith,

And instead of all these pains,

They received Your crowns.

Through their intercessions, be merciful to us,

O Most-Merciful One.

14. Richly is Your grace poured forth,

To those who need it and entreat You with faith.

Therefore, I, the unworthy one, entreat You,

O Merciful Lord,

That a small drop of Your Spirit,

Like a drop of rain,

Be sent to me, I ask,

That I might therefore chant and speak,

And enrich many from Your gifts,

O Most-Merciful One.

(source)

   

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

Kontakion on Pentecost by St. Romanos the Melodist

The Descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, depicted in one of the domes of St. Mark's in Venice (source)

 
Kontakion on Pentecost by St. Romanos the Melodist
When the Most High came down and confused the tongues,
he parted the nations.
When he divided out the tongues of fire, he called all to unity;
and with one voice we glorify
the All-Holy Spirit.

Give swift and stable comfort to your servants, Jesus,
when our spirits are despondent.
Do not part from our souls in afflictions,
do not be far from our minds in perils, be ever before us.
Be near us, be near, you who are everywhere.
As you are also always with your apostles,
so too unite yourself with those who long for you,
O Compassionate One,
that united to you, we may praise and glorify
the All-Holy Spirit.

You were not parted from your disciples, Saviour, when you took
The road to heaven,
For having reached the things on high, you still hold those below,
for not one place is separate from you, O Uncontainable;
and were there such a place, it perishes and vanishes and becomes like Sodom.
For you establish the universe, filling all things.
The apostles there had you in their souls.
And so, when you had been taken up from the Mount of Olives,
they came down dancing and singing and glorifying
the All-Holy Spirit.

The eleven disciples returned with joy from the Mount of Olives.
For Luke, the revealer of sacred mysteries, writes this.
they returned to Jerusalem,
ascended to the upper room, where they were staying. They entered
and sat down -
Peter and the rest of the disciples.
Kephas, as their leader, said to them,
“Sharers of the Kingdom, let our hearts be on high
with the One who made the promise and said, `I will send you
the All-Holy Spirit.’”

When he had spoken like this to the apostles, Peter roused them to prayer,
and standing in their midst, cried out,
“Let us pray, let us bend the knee, let us ask,
let us make this room a church. For so it is and so it has become.
Let us sing and cry aloud to God,
`Send us your good Spirit
that he may guide us all into your upright land
which you have prepared for those who honor and who glorify
the All-Holy Spirit.’”

On hearing this, those who had been called with him gathered
themselves at once
like lambs to a shepherd, charmed by his word,
and silently they articulated what they longed for
and made intense supplications to the Almighty,
which contained these words,
“To you the Governor and King of the angels,
to the Suzerain and Creator of mortals,
to you, the One who by his mere nod holds sway
over things on earth and sea,
your friends and servants cry aloud, `Swiftly send us
the All-Holy Spirit.’”

As soon as they had completed their supplications, they signed them,
having sealed them with faith and sent them on high.
Their Teacher read them and said,
“Of your own free will, O Paraclete, under no order, but as you wish,
descend.
For the disciples, whom I gathered
for you and the Father, await you,
the ones whom I instructed when I said, `Make disciples of the nations
proclaiming the Father, honoring the Son and praising
the All-Holy Spirit.’”

Then God the Paraclete heeded those who implored him
and took hold of them as they prayed.
Yet the ineffable in no way changed his place,
for condescension did not become alteration,
nor did he suffer diminution,
for he was on high and he was below and everywhere.
For divine nature is ineffable and intangible.
He is not seen with the eyes, but he is known by faith.
He is not grasped by hands, but he is handled
by the hearts of believers,
the All-Holy Spirit.

When the divine Pentecost had been completed, [i.e., 50 days]
the eleven initiates
stood together, persevering in prayers,
and, as the reading from Acts says,
there came a sudden sound, as of a mighty wind,
resounding from heaven,
while it filled the whole room with fire,
but even more, it also struck the loved ones with amazement.
And so, seeing the house tossed about like a skiff,
they cried out, “Master, still the storm and send
the All-Holy Spirit.”

The wise apostles, thinking the whole upper room
was collapsing under the wind,
all shut their eyes in fear.
And then, something more fearful came to pass
and wonder succeeding wonder
added to the first alarm a second terror.
For fiery tongues were touching them again,
and lighting on the head of the beloved,
tongues that were not burning their hair,
but enlightening their minds;
for to purify and cleanse he had sent them on before him,
the All-Holy Spirit.

When Peter saw all that had taken place, he cried out, “Brothers,
let us honor what we see, do not let us pry into it.
Let no one say, `What is this that is being done?’
For what has been accomplished surpasses understanding and vanquishes reasoning.
Spirit and fire are yoked together – certain wonder.
Breeze and flame are linked together – awesome spectacle.
Torches with winds, and sparks with drops of dew.
Who has seen? Who has heard? Who can say what he grants,
the All-Holy Spirit.

“You then, beloved, stand your ground and quietly contemplate the fire
that He who Is in the highest has sent from on high.
Do not be afraid, for the coals do not burn.
Do not be amazed, for this fire does not consume,
but as prudent men remember
how of old the three youths received fire,
how their bodies were not burned, nor a single hair,
how that which received the three showed them to be four,
for it gave up with interest those it had received, because it feared
the All-Holy Spirit.

“So, brothers, let each of you now cast away the fear from his soul
and let him show his longing for the One who was taken up.
For this is how he loved those whom he called:
everything that he foretold he has fulfilled, as he said,
so he has done.
Why then should we be afraid of a flame that does not burn?
Let us think that the fire is a rose, as indeed it is,
for it has been placed on our heads like flowers
with which he has crowned us, adorned us, made us resplendent,
the All-Holy Spirit.”

When Kephas had said this to all the apostles, he became still
along with them
and with them received the Holy Spirit,
for the latter had come after this, as it is written.
He had used as forerunners the two wonders of fire and wind,
because it was necessary that a wonder run before the Spirit,
necessary that a flame precede the Enlightener
and inform the world beforehand like a sounding trumpet
that, as he knows how and as he wills, he comes upon the earth,
the All-Holy Spirit.

Great and fearful were all the things that happened
and they held the minds of all,
for suddenly, being filled with the Spirit, they all
spoke with those who heard them just as they heard them,
to the Romans not as foreigners, to the Parthians like themselves
and to the Medes as their own.
To the Elamites they appeared to be speaking well and clearly,
to the Arabs they were immediately their kin.
To Asians and Phrygians they spoke clearly and distinctly
and to all the nations they were speaking as he gave them power,
the All-Holy Spirit.

But when those who were there from every land saw them all
speaking in tongues,
they were amazed and cried out, What does this mean?
The apostles are Galileans;
how then, as we now see, have they become fellow countrymen
of all the nations?
When did Peter Kephas ever see Egypt?
When did Andrew ever dwell in Mesopotamia?
How did the sons of Zebedee see Pamphylia?
How can we understand these things? What are we to say?
It was entirely as he willed it,
the All-Holy Spirit.

Now those who before were fishermen have become skilled speakers.
Now those who once
stood by the shores of lakes are orators, and clear ones.
Those who previously used to mend their nets
now unravel the webs of orators
and make them worthless with simpler utterances.
For they speak one Word, instead of many,
they proclaim one God, not one of many.
The One as one they worship, a Father beyond understanding,
a Son consubstantial and inseparable, and like to them
the All-Holy Spirit.

Was it not then given them to overcome all
through the tongues they speak?
And why do the fools outside strive for victory?
Why do the Greeks puff and buzz?
Why are they deceived by Aratos the thrice accursed?
Why err like wandering planets to Plato?
Why do they love debilitated Demosthenes?
Why do they not consider Homer a chimera?
Why do they go on about Pythagoras,
who were better muzzled?
Why do they not run believing to those to whom has appeared
the All-Holy Spirit.

Brothers, let us sing the praise of the tongues of the disciples
because, not with elegant words,
but with divine power they caught all mortals in their nets,
because they took up His Cross like a rod,
because they used words again as lines and fished the world,
because they had the Word as a sharp hook,
because the flesh of the Master of all things became for them
a bait, not hunting to bring death,
but drawing out to life those who honor and glorify
the All-Holy Spirit.
(source)
 

The descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, fresco from the Monastery of Decani (source)

 

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

Why was the Angel seated on the stone at the Resurrection of Christ?

Christ is risen! Truly He is risen!

The Myrrhbearers beholding the Angels seated at the Tomb of Christ after His Resurrection (source)

 
Every word of the Holy Scriptures is placed appropriately with deep meaning, and we can perceive this if we struggle to obtain the humility and the illumination of the Fathers to understand how this is so. In the following short excerpt from St. Romanos the Melodist's Kontakion on the Resurrection of Christ (the beginning of which, "Though you descended into the grave, O Immortal One..." is still included in the Paschal service), he explains the significance of why the Angel was seated on the stone after Christ's Resurrection.
 

            Λαβούσαι θάρσος άμεμπτον εκ της φωνής του αγγέλου

φρονίμως αι γυναίκες απεκρίθησαν προς τούτον∙

«Αληθώς ανέστη ο κύριος, καθώς έφης∙

έδειξας ήμιν και τω ρήματι και τω σχήματι

ότιπερ ανέστη ο ελεήμων∙

ει μη γαρ ηγέρθη και επορεύθη της ταφής,

ουκ αν αυτός εκάθισας∙

πότε γαρ στρατηγός του βασιλέως

παρόντος κάθηται και διαλέγεται;

ει δε και τελείται εν γη τα τοιαύτα,

αλλ’ εν τω ύψει ουκ έστι ταύτα,

όπου θρόνος αθέατος και άφραστος ο καθήμενος,

ο τοις πεσούσι παρέχων ανάστασιν.»

   

The Holy Myrrhbearers coming the the Tomb of Christ, beholding the Angel, and the soldiers who became like dead men (source)

   

Taking unassailable courage from the voice of the angel,

The prudent women replied to him:

"Truly, the Lord has risen, as you said.

You indicate this to us by word and sign

That the Merciful One has risen,

For if He had not risen and proceeded from the tomb,

You would not be seated,

For when does the soldier before the King

Ever remain seated and speaking?

Though, therefore, things such as this are accomplished on earth,

In the highest, things are not like this,

For there is a throne invisible, and unspeakable, on which sits

He Who grants resurrection to the fallen."

   

(amateur translation, see here for the full Greek text)

   

The Angel proclaiming to the Myrrhbearing Women: "See the place where the Lord was laid..." (source)

   

Christ has risen from the dead, by death he has trampled on death, and to those in the graves given life!

Truly the Lord is risen!

Selected Quotes of the Fathers on the Parable of the Ten Virgins

The Parable of the Ten Virgins (source)

    
Selected Quotes of the Fathers on the Parable of the Ten Virgins
The five wise virgins, watchful and alert, had taken oil in the vessels of their heart. That oil, not part of their own nature, means the grace of the Spirit. They were enabled to enter with the Bridegroom into the heavenly bridal chamber. The other five virgins, however, were content with their own nature. They neither watched nor busied themselves to receive the oil of gladness [Ps. 44:6] in their vessels, while they were yet in the flesh. Instead, they sank into sleep through carelessness, slackness, idleness, and ignorance, or even fancied righteousness. Hence, they were shut out of the bridal chamber of the Kingdom, unable to give satisfaction to the heavenly Bridegroom. Held fast by their tie to the world, and by some earthly affection, they did not give their whole love or passionate devotion to the heavenly Bridegroom; thus they were not provided with oil. Souls that seek the sanctification of the Spirit, which is outside of nature, fasten all their affection upon the Lord. It is in the Lord that they walk, pray, and employ their thoughts, turning away from all else. For this cause, they are priviledged to receive the oil of heavenly grace. This enables them to succeed in coming through without falling, giving perfect satisfaction to the spiritual Bridegroom. Those souls, however, content with what belongs to their own nature, creep upon the earth in their thoughts. Not only do they employ their thoughts upon earth, but their minds have their whole existence upon earth. In their own estimation, they appear to belong to the Bridegroom, and to be adorned with the ordinances of the flesh. Nonetheless, they have not been born of the Spirit; and they have not received the oil of gladness.
-Saint Macarios the Great (Fifty Spiritual Homilies, Homily IV)
   

This parable admonishes us to remain diligent in almsgiving. It counsels us to help our neighbor by every means available to us, since it is impossible to be saved in any other way....For nothing is more sullied than virginity without mercy ... What was the profit of virginity, when they saw not the Bridegroom? Even when they knocked at the door, they did not obtain; instead, they heard the fearful saying, "Depart, I know you not". When he said this, nothing else but hell is left, and that intolerable punishment....This parable was spoken with respect to mercy in almsgiving ... It is also that we might learn how close Christ is joined unto virgins that strip themselves of their possessions; for this indeed is virginity.
-Saint John Chrysostom (Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew, Homily LXXVII)
   

As it is written: "The day of the Lord shall come as a thief in the night" (1 Thess. 5:2). Then the virgins shall awake, because both good and wicked are roused from the sleep of death. They shall trim their lamps, that is, they shall count the number of their good works for which they hope to receive the reward of eternal happiness. However, the lamps of the foolish virgins shall fail. This is because their works, seen so clearly by men, shall wane and vanish at the coming of the Judge. From God, they shall receive no recompense, for men gave them the praise they esteemed so highly. The blessed will rejoice in their recompense, when they enjoy that vision of Him in Whose presence the elements tremble. They will then go in with Him to the marriage. As they rejoice in the nuptials of the Bridegroom, they themselves will be the bride; for in the bridal chamber of the eternal Kingdom, they are united forever to their God. Thenceforth, that vision can never be snatched from them. The door of the Kingdom will close forever upon those left outside, who then will weep. However, that same door is now open to all penitents. There will be repentance then, but it will be fruitless. When the Bridegroom comes, those that wasted time that might have be used for repentance shall not find pardon. Thus St. Paul warns us: "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (2 Cor. 6:2). The Prophet Isaiah says: "Seek ye the Lord, and when ye find Him, call upon Him" (Is. 55:6).
-Saint Gregory the Great (Parables of the Gospel, "The Ten Virgins")
(source)
   

Some say that the shortage of oil of the foolish virgins signifies their shortage of good works in their lives. Such understanding is not exactly correct. How can they be short of good works if they, though foolish, are still called virgins? Chastity is a supreme virtue, the state of being equal to angels, and could itself serve as a substitute for all other virtues. I humbly think that they were actually short of the grace of God's All-Holy Spirit. These virgins did good, and out of their spiritual foolishness supposed that doing good was exactly the point of Christianity. They did good works and by this obeyed God, but they did not care in the least beforehand whether they had received or reached the grace of God's Spirit. This very gaining of the Holy Spirit is that oil which the foolish virgins lacked. They were called foolish because they forgot about the necessary fruit of virtue, the grace of the Holy Spirit, without which no one is saved and no one can be saved, for: ‘it is by the Holy Spirit that any soul is vitalized and exalted in chastity, and any soul is lit by the Trinitarian unity in holy mysteries’. The Holy Spirit moves into our souls, and this installation of the All-Mighty into our souls, and co-existence of His Trinitarian Unity with our spirit is given only through the gaining by all means, the Holy Spirit, which prepares in our soul and body the throne for God’s creative co-existence with our spirit in strict accordance with the word of God: ‘I will dwell among them and will be their God, and they will be my people’. This is the oil in the lamps of wise virgins, oil that burnt bright and long, so that the virgins with the burning lamps could wait until the Bridegroom who came at midnight, and enter with Him into the house of joy. But the foolish virgins, seeing that their lamps were going out, went to the marketplace to buy oil but would not come back in time, for the doors were already shut. The marketplace is our life; the door of the house of marriage (that was shut and did not lead to the Bridegroom) is our human death; wise and foolish virgins are Christian souls; the oil is not works but the grace of the All-Holy Spirit of God which is received through these works, and which converts things perishable into things imperishable, transforms spiritual death into spiritual life, darkness into light, the manger of our being, with passions tied like cattle and beasts, into the Divine Temple, into the glorious palace of never-ending rejoicing in Christ Jesus.
-St. Seraphim of Sarov (Conversation with Nicholas Motovilov) (source)
   

O brothers, let us love the Bridegroom, Let us make ready our lamps, Shining out with brightness and true faith, So that, like the wise virgins at the Lord's coming, We may arrive with Him at the marriage, For He, the Merciful, since He is God, Offers to all as a gift The incorruptible crown!

Thou, O God, the Bridegroom of salvation, the hope of those who hymn Thee, Grant to us who pray to Thee That we find, without stain, in Thy marriage, Just like the virgins The incorruptible crown.

-St Romanos the Melodist - Vol. II, Kontakion On the Ten Virgins I

   

My soul, now we observe these things. There are doors; let my soul not be at the doors; Let it be ready and at hand. It leaves nothing behind, Just as Christ said. As He foretold, all things will happen Famines and pestilence, And continuous earthquakes, And tribe upon tribe will be raised up. Fearful things within and without, Full of battles. It is not possible to be saved anywhere, For everywhere there is danger. Nowhere is there a refuge; there is flight by all men. The gate has been closed, Mercy has been sealed; For we were not chosen To be within the bridal chamber, we are Crying, 'Open.'
-St Romanos the Melodist - Kontakion On the Ten Virgins II
(source)
   

The Parable of the Ten Virgins (source)

    

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

Kontakion on Palm Sunday by St. Romanos the Melodist

Christ entering Jerusalem before His Passion (Palm Sunday) (source)     FOR THE FEAST OF PALMS Acrostic: OF ROMANOS FOR THE PALMS Proemium 1 Mounted on the throne in heaven, Christ God, and on the colt on earth, You accepted the praise of the angels and the hymn of the children Who cried to you, ‘Blessed are you Who come to call back Adam.’ Proemium 2 At first the ungrateful Jews with branches praised Christ God, Later with staves arrested him. But as with faith unchanging we ever honour him as Benefactor, Let us cry to him, ‘Blessed are you Who come to call back Adam.’ 1 Since you bound Hell, slew Death and raised the world, With palms the infants praised you, O Christ, as victor, Crying out to you to-day, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David. For no more’, they say, ‘will infants be slaughtered because of Mary’s babe, But for all, infants and elders, you alone are crucified. No more against us will the sword advance, For your side will be pierced by a lance. Therefore we rejoice and say, ‘Blessed are you Who come to call back Adam.’’ 2 Behold our King, meek and gentle, seated on the colt Draws near with haste to suffer and to cut off the passions; The Word upon an irrational beast wishing to deliver rational creatures; And it was possible to see on the back of a colt the One who rides on the shoulders of the Cherubim, Who once took up Elias in a fiery chariot, He who is rich by nature making himself poor by design, And weak by intention, he who empowers All those who cry to him, ‘Blessed are you Who come to call back Adam’. 3 All Sion was shaken as once Egypt was. There the inanimate, But here the animate were shaken as you came, O Saviour, Not because you are fomenter of trouble—for you are the sower of peace— But because you abolish, as Maker of all things, all the trickery of the foe, Driving him from everywhere as you reign in every place. Their idols fell down of old, And now those who favour them are shaken As they hear the voices of infants, ‘Blessed are you Who come to call back Adam.’ 4 ‘Who is this?’ they said, who deliberately did not know you. For it says they did not know Who was the son of David who had delivered them from corruption. They are still untying Lazarus and do they not know who raised him? The shoulders of those who carried the widow’s son are still hurting, And do they really not know who it was snatched him from death? They have not yet left Jairus’s courtyard, And do they not know who it was gave his daughter life? They do know, but do not want to say ‘Blessed are you Who come to call back Adam.’ 5 Ungrateful, lawless, they welcomed ignorance, indeed were ignorant. The one they were plotting to kill they did not know, the sons of falsehood! What they say is not strange. They are repeating the past. Moses led them out of Egypt; he was immediately denied by them. And Christ, who saved them from death, was now unknown. They did not know Moses, those who knew the calf. They denied Christ, the friends of Beliar. Then it was ‘What has happened?’ But now they said, ‘Who is this Who comes to call back Adam?’ 6 With palms infants sing your praise, calling you Son of David rightly, Master; For it was you who slew the Mocker, the spiritual Goliath. David the dancing maidens extolled after his victory, ‘Saul slew them in thousands and David in ten thousands’. That is: the Law, and after it your Grace, my Jesu. The Law was Saul, envying and persecuting, But David persecuted, sprouted grace, For you are David’s Son and Lord, Who come to call back Adam. 7 The sun is a chariot of light, and, resplendent as a carriage, it is enslaved to you, And it is subject to your command as Creator and God. And now a colt was your delight. I worship your compassion, Since once for me you were laid in a manger, wrapped in swaddling clothes, And now you are mounted on a colt, who have the heaven as your throne. There the angels encircled the manger, Here disciples held the colt. ‘Glory’ you heard then, and now, ‘Blessed are you Who come to call back Adam.’ 8 You showed your strength in choosing penury, since for you to be seated on a foal Is a form of beggary. But in glory you shake Sion. The disciples’ garments signified penury, But the sign of your might was the hymn of the children and the gathering of the crowd Crying ‘Hosanna’—that is ‘Save now’—’in the highest’. Most High, save the humbled; Have mercy on us, as you look on our branches. Boughs that are brandished will move your compassion, O you Who come to call back Adam. 9 Adam contracted for us the debt that we owe, by eating what he ought not, And until to-day it is demanded of us who are descended from him. The creditor was not satisfied with seizing the debtor, But he attacks his children too, demanding the ancestral debt, And empties the debtor’s house entirely, sweeping everyone away. And so let us all flee to one who is powerful. Knowing that we are in dire poverty, Do you yourself pay back what we owe, for you are rich, Who come to call back Adam. 10 You have come to deliver all, and your prophet Zachary, who once called you Most meek, just and who save, is your witness. We were wearied, we were worsted, we were utterly cast out; We thought we had the law as our redeemer, and it enslaved us; The prophets too, and they left us on our hope. And so with infants we bow the knee to you. Have mercy on us who have been humbled, Be willing, be crucified, and tear up the record of our debt, you Who come to call back Adam. 11 ‘Creature fashioned by my hand’, the Fashioner answered those who shouted, ‘Knowing that the law had no strength to save you, I have come myself. It was not for the law to save you, since it did not fashion you. Nor was it for the prophets, because they too are my fashioning just as you are. Mine alone was the task of releasing you from this most heavy debt. I am being sold for your sake and I shall free you. I am being crucified for you and you are not being made to die. I die and I teach you to cry, ‘Blessed are you Who come to call back Adam. 12 For was it for angels that I showed affection? It was you the pauper that I befriended. I hid my glory And I, the Rich, have willingly become poor, for I love you greatly. I was hungry, I was thirsty, I toiled also for your sake. I passed by mountains, cliffs and valleys, seeking you, the lost. I was named ‘Lamb’, that attracting you by my voice I might lead you; ‘Shepherd’, and for you I am willing to lay down my life, That I may snatch you from the hand of the wolf. I suffer all, wishing you to cry, ‘Blessed are you Who come to call back Adam.’’ 13 But after words he showed it by deeds, for he reached the city, And the hymn of the children enraged all his enemies. Raising his eyes he gazed on Sion And wove a lament over her, crying, ‘Groan aloud, Jerusalem, Because you have found children to be fathers, teachers your sons. In evil and wickedness you are a youngster, For doing good you are weighed down by old age. Better than you are those who cry to me ‘Blessed are you Who come to call back Adam.’ 14 Now I shall enter you and casting you aside reject you, not because I have hated, But because I have understood that you have hated me and mine. Your children have prepared a cross for me in return for what? Because with a staff I rent the sea apart like a tunic before them? Do they carve out a tomb because I gave them a cloud as protection? And I rejoice, since for their sake I came, And I long to suffer in my love for the fallen, That those who love me may say, ‘Blessed are you Who come to call back Adam.’’ 15 So he who sees the inmost heart reproached city sluggish of heart and enters The temple with all the infants, he the universal priest. The Son arrived in his Father’s house. And cast out both sellers and buyers together, saying, ‘Let nothing remain here; for we are leaving here, I and my Father together with the Spirit. Now we have found a court: the will of the meek, Of those who with their voices faithfully cry to me, ‘Blessed are you Who come to call back Adam.’’ 16 All-holy Son of God, number us together with those who sing your praise, And receive the supplication of your servants as once the children’s. Have mercy on those you fashioned, amongst whom you dwelt in love. Give peace to your churches, shaken by enemies, And send down to me, O Saviour, release from my iniquities. Grant me to speak what you will as you will Do not let grief make my mind sluggish. Show me to be a skilled cultivator to cry, ‘Blessed are you Who come to call back Adam.’

Copyright to Archimandrite Ephrem © (source)     Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

Excerpts from the Kontakion on the Holy Forty Martyrs, by St. Romanos the Melodist

The Holy Forty Martyrs of Sebaste - Commemorated March 9 (source)

 
Excerpts from the Kontakion on the Holy Forty Martyrs, by St. Romanos the Melodist (amateur translations below, with the exception of the first two sections)

Proemion I

When you had forsaken every worldly battalion, then you joined yourselves unto the Master in heaven, as the Lordʹs forty‐numbered contenders who won the prize. Inasmuch as you have gone through fire and through water, O blessed ones, you worthily received * heavenly glory from on high, and manifold crowns.

Oikoi

O Christ the Ruler over all,
Our Creator and God,
The One who is carried on an insufferable throne,
Who stretched out the heavens like a curtain,
Established the earth, and gathered the water into its places,
Who brought all things from nothingness into being,
And who gives breath and life to all,
Who receives praise from the Archangels,
And is glorified by Angels and worshipped by all:
I the unworthy come before You and bring my prayer,
Asking for the grace of speech,
So that I may piously extol the holy Martyrs,
Whom You showed to be victorious,
And to whom You have given
heavenly glory from on high, and manifold crowns.

(source)

   

The champions were arrayed with all wisdom,
In a manner surpassing encomiums,
As they fought Satan,
And trampled upon the band of the idols.
They deposed irreverence in favor of reverence.
These steadfast ones were preachers of piety.
They, without a doubt, were teachers of precision.
They ever heal the sick, and deliver from evil spirits.
They make the blind see and cleanse lepers.
They raise up from the dung hill and lift up the fallen.
They are the harbor for those who sail,
They are the good fellow-traveling guides.
They especially protect from tyrants, as the band that received
Heavenly glory from on high, and manifold crowns.
   
Surpassing the light of the sun
Shines this joy of the Saints.
For though the sun can be covered by clouds,
The Saints are never succeeded by night.
The sun makes jewels to shine,
And after it sinks at dusk, again it comes back to all.
This all-joyous and radiant lamp of the Saints
Proclaims the day,
While the night again is greatly amazed
How they were able to traverse the hurricane of deeds.
For they stand full of glory beside Him Who glorifies the faithful,
And they hear from Him: "You glorified me upon those on the earth.
Now I will confess you in the highest,
Granting you good things,

Heavenly glory from on high, and manifold crowns.

   
O wise beloved ones of the all-wise Master,

And well-known children of Him Whom we know to be begotten [of the Father],
The accountable army of Jesus our God Who enlisted you,
The wondrous flock of the wondrous Shepherd,
And the sowing of the Sower,
For He pours forth the waters of an ineffable spring upon them.
O divine branches of the divine Vine,
And holy shoots from the holy Root,
As the beloved creations of the Creator of all,
And the all-joyous gathering of the Pure Lord,
The disciples of Christ, the Savior of all, Who gathered them together,
And ordained that they dwell in the living pastures,
Granting to them
Heavenly glory from on high, and manifold crowns.
 
Greatly they were exalted by the Fashioner,
And with the Angels they celebrate,
The unconquerable phalanx of forty athletes.
For as ones bearing victory,
They rejoice together with the Saints of all ages in the highest,
Being arrayed with holy and spotless garments
From their struggles,
And through faith received the crown,
That is praised by all of the noetic powers
As a worthy bride standing beside the Lord,
The Good Bridegroom, which He adorned through His gifts,
Ever shining with divine jewels,
For they were made worthy to receive

Heavenly glory from on high, and manifold crowns.
   

Which mouth is sufficient to praise,
Which tongue is strong enough to hymn
The holy martyrs, who left the fleeting glory towards that to come,
Who separated themselves from the devil
And joined themselves to our Savior with faith,
Who broke apart every sin
And were united to righteousness,
Who are inapproachable in commendations,
Who fled from the whole land of error
And preached Orthodox dogma everywhere,
The soldiers of Christ, who ever fight on behalf of the faithful,
And fervently make war against the enemies of God?
For to them was granted

Heavenly glory from on high, and manifold crowns.

   

They were shown strong in war,
And again, they were shown very strong in struggles,
These all-joyous ones, who were from various and sundry places.
One was their desire in one harmony
To worship the God of all with their whole soul.
They were one of mind and one of knowledge in truth,
As they fled delusion,
As they stood against distortion,
As they partook of good things,
As they received crowns as ones worthy, through their steadfastness.
Forty, they appeared, the athletes of Christ,
Who glorified Christ, the only Redeemer,
Who granted them

Heavenly glory from on high, and manifold crowns.

   
My soul is unable to recount
Of the divine multitude with one heart,
Though divided in forty bodies and known as one.
Therefore, they fled from the tortures of the north
And bravely resisted the devil.
I would need forty tongues
To be able to hymn
Those who with one tongue
Clung to and hastened to the noetic powers
Which, together with them, sing a holy song that cannot be silenced
To God in the highest, Who separated them from the fleeting dangers
And united them to His servants,
For He granted them

Heavenly glory from on high, and manifold crowns...
   

Mighty is the way of the athletes,
For they waged war against the enemies
As when Moses warred against Amalek, lifting his eyes towards the Lord,
His nous and heart soaring to the heights
Together with his hands and all his senses,
And therefore truly, with many entreaties
And lifting his hands with his heart
He reached Him Who is in the highest.
He was upheld by Aaron and Or, as it is written,
And he upheld them with faith and hope, as we know.
Moses was therefore shown a victor, teaching all to turn to God,
And that the way of the faithful is victory through prayer,
Showing as they received

Heavenly glory from on high, and manifold crowns...

(source)

 

The Holy Forty Martyrs of Sebaste (source)

 

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!