St John Damascene on Holy Images (πρὸς τοὺς διαβάλλοντας τᾶς ἁγίας εἰκόνας). Followed by Three Sermons on the Assumption (κοίμησις)John of Damascus, Saint
Religion
St John Damascene on Holy Images (πρὸς τοὺς διαβάλλοντας τᾶς ἁγίας εἰκόνας). Followed by Three Sermons on the Assumption (κοίμησις)
John of Damascus, Saint
Icons -- Cult; Idols and images -- Worship; Mary, Blessed Virgin, Saint -- Assumption -- Sermons -- Early works to 1800
now what is mine. Come, my Mother, to thy Son, reign with Him who was
poor with thee.’ Depart, O Queen, depart, not as Moses did who went up
to die. Die rather that thou mayest ascend. Give up thy soul into the
hands of thy Son. Return earth to the earth, it will be no obstacle.
Lift up your eyes, O people of God. See in Sion the Ark of the Lord God
of powers, and the apostles standing by it, burying the life-giving body
which received our Lord. Invisible angels are all around in lowly
reverence doing homage to the Mother of their Lord. The Lord Himself is
there, who is present everywhere, and filling all things, the universal
Being, not in place. He is the Author and Creator of all things. Behold
the Virgin, the daughter of Adam and Mother of God; through Adam she
gives her body to the earth, her soul to her Son above in the heavenly
courts. Let the holy city be sanctified, and rejoice in eternal praise.
Let angels precede the divine tabernacle on its passage, and prepare the
tomb. Let the radiance of the spirit adorn it. Let sweet ointment be
made ready and poured over the pure and undefiled body. Let a clear
stream of grace flow from grace in its source. Let the earth be
sanctified by contact with that body. Let the air rejoice at the
Assumption. Let gentle breezes waft grace. Let all nature keep the feast
of the Mother of God’s Assumption. May youthful bands applaud and
eloquent tongues acclaim her, and wise hearts ponder on the wonder,
priests hoary with age gather strength at the sight. Let all creation
emulate heaven, even so the true measure of rejoicing would not be
reached.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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