My earnest cry I raise, Hear Thou the prayer I make, And from the dark abyss of death My soul in mercy take. Centos And Suggestions {hai myrophoroi gynaikes, orthrou batheos} I At early dawn, with pious thought, The holy women spices brought-- For Christ, their Lord, was dead;-- But lo! the stone was rolled away: "Where are the seals?" they wondering say, "The guard, where He was laid?" II "Why with your ointments mix your tears? Why all this sighing, and those fears?" An angel near declares: "There lies the stone that barred the tomb, No longer now its solemn gloom Your Lord and Master shares." III "Haste, haste with joy the tidings tell, The Lord hath vanquished death and hell, For He, the Death of death, Hath burst asunder hades prison, And, first-born from the dead hath risen, Even as afore He saith." IV Honour to Thee, O Christ, we bring, Thy glorious rising now we sing, Victorious is Thy strife; Our Hope, our Trust, on Thee we call, Our Joy, our Strength, our God, our All, And our Immortal Life. {kai strapheis ho kyrios eneblepse to Petro} I I brought my darkest sin to mind, And called it by the vilest name, And thought to fill my soul with grief, When I had charged it with the blame;-- I said, "Before my God I'll fall," But sorrow came not at my call. II I said, "Ah, soul! the wrath of God Shall smite the sinner with dismay, The record of thy sin is kept, And swiftly nears the reckoning day;"-- Methought I heard God's thunders roll, But sorrow came not to my soul. III "Ah, stony heart! can thought of sin In all its vileness bring no tears? And canst thou hear God's thunders speak, And weep not though the reckoning nears?" I had no weeping to control, For sorrow came not to my soul. IV I looked, my Saviour looked at me, O look of love no heart can bear! Like raging torrents came my tears, And plunged my spirit in despair; Vain, vain my weeping to control, For sorrow now hath found my soul. {kai aneoxas hemin paradeisou tas pylas} I O God of light and glory, Thy servants look to see The light that shines effulgent Upon their souls from Thee. II And lo! the heavens are open, And from the throne of God, The Christ, the Light eternal, That glory sheds abroad. III