Hymns for the Feast of the Epiphany · Part 9

27. "Pontiffs of Thee are consecrated,--priests by Thy hyssop are purified;--the anointed and the kings Thou makest.--Baptism, how shall it profit Thee?"

28. "The Bride thou betrothedst to Me awaits Me,--that I should go down, be baptized, and sanctify her.--Friend of the Bridegroom withhold Me not--from the washing that awaits Me."

29. "I am not able, for I am weak,--Thy blaze in my hands to grasp.--Lo! Thy legions are as flame;--bid one of the Watchers baptize Thee!"

30. "Not from the Watchers was My Body assumed,--that I should summon a Watcher to baptize Me.--The body of Adam, lo! I have put on,--and thou, son of Adam, art to baptize Me."

31. "The waters saw Thee, and greatly feared;--the waters saw Thee, and lo! they tremble!--The river foams in its terror;--and I that am weak, how shall I baptize Thee?"

32. "The waters in My Baptism are sanctified,--and fire and the Spirit from Me shall they receive;--and if I be not baptized they are not made perfect--to be fruitful of children that shall not die."

33. "Fire, if to Thy fire it draw near,--shall be burnt up of it as stubble.--The mountains of Sinai endured Thee not,--and I that am weak, wherein shall I baptize Thee?"

34. "I am the flaming fire;--yet for man's sake I became a babe--in the virgin womb of the maiden.--And now I am to be baptized in Jordan."

35. "It is very meet that Thou shouldst baptize me,--for Thou hast holiness to purify all.--In Thee it is that the defiled are made holy; but Thou that art holy, why art Thou to be baptized?"

36. "It is very right that thou shouldst baptize Me,--as I bid, and shouldst not gainsay.--Lo! I baptized thee within the womb;--baptize thou me in Jordan!"

37. "I am a bondman and I am weak.--Thou that freest all have mercy on me! Thy latchets to unloose I am not able;--Thy exalted head who will make me worthy to touch?"

38. "Bondmen in My Baptism are set free;--handwritings in My washing are blotted out;--manumissions in the water are sealed;--and if I be not baptized all these come to nought."

39. "A mantle of fire the air wears,--and waits for Thee, above Jordan;--and if Thou consentest to it and willest to be baptized,--Thou shalt baptize Thyself and fulfil all."

40. "This is meet, that thou shouldst baptize Me,--that none may err and say concerning Me,--Had He not been alien from the Father's house,--why feared the Levite to baptize Him?'"

41. "The prayer, then, when Thou art baptized,--how shall I complete over Jordan?--When the Father and the Spirit are seen over Thee,--Whom shall I call on, as priest?"

42. "The prayer in silence is to be completed:--come, thy hand alone lay thou on Me.--and the Father shall utter in the priest's stead--that which is meet concerning His Son."

43. "They that are bidden, lo! all of them stand;--the Bridegroom's guests, lo! they bear witness--that day by day I said among them,--I am the Voice and not the Word.'"

44. "Voice of him that cries in the wilderness,--fulfil thou the work for which thou camest,--that the desert whereunto thou wentest out may resound--with the mighty peace thou preachedst therein."

45. "The shout of the Watchers has come to my ears;--lo! I hear from the Father's house--the hosts that sound forth the cry,--In Thy Epiphany, O Bridegroom, the worlds have life.'"

46. "The time hastes on, and the marriage guests--look to Me to see what is doing.--Come, baptize Me, that they may give praise--to the Voice of the Father when it is heard!"

47. "I hearken, my Lord, according to Thy Word:--come to Baptism as Thy love constrains Thee!--The dust worships that whereunto he has attained,--that on Him Who fashioned him he should lay his hand."

48. The heavenly ranks were silent as they stood,--and the Bridegroom went down into Jordan;--the Holy One was baptized and straightway went up,--and His Light shone forth on the world.

49. The doors of the highest were opened above,--and the voice of the Father was heard,--"This is my Beloved in Whom I am well pleased."--All ye peoples, come and worship Him.

50. They that saw were amazed as they stood, at the Spirit Who came down and bare witness to Him.--Praise to Thy Epiphany that gladdens all,--Thou in Whose revelation the worlds are lightened!

Hymn XV.

1. In the Birth of the Son light dawned,--and darkness fled from the world,--and the earth was enlightened; then let it give glory--to the brightness of the Father Who has enlightened it!

2. He dawned from the womb of the Virgin,--and the shadows passed away when He was seen,--and the darkness of error was strangled by Him,--and the ends of the earth were enlightened that they should give glory.

3. Among the peoples there was great tumult,--and in the darkness the light dawned,--and the nations rejoiced to give glory--to Him in Whose Birth they all were enlightened.

4. His light shone out over the east;--Persia was enlightened by the star:--His Epiphany gave good tidings to her and invited her,--"He is come for the sacrifice that brings joy to all."

5. The star of light hasted and came and dawned--through the darkness, and summoned them--that the peoples should come and exult--in the great Light that has come down to earth.

6. One envoy from among the stars--the firmament sent to proclaim to them,--to the sons of Persia, that they might make ready--to meet the King and to worship Him.

7. Great Assyria when she perceived it--called to the Magi and said to them,--"Take gifts and go, honour Him--the great King Who in Judea has dawned."

8. The princes of Persia, exulting,--carried gifts from their region;--and they brought to the Son of the Virgin--gold and myrrh and frankincense.

9. They entered and found Him as a child--as He dwelt in the house of the lowly woman;--and they drew near and worshipped with gladness,--and brought near before Him their treasures.

10. Mary said, "For whom are these?--and for what purpose? and what is the cause--that has called you to come from your country--to the Child with your treasures?"

11. They said, "Thy Son is a King,--and He binds crowns and is King of all;--and great is His power over the world,--and to His Kingdom shall all be obedient."

12. "At what time did this come to pass,--that a lowly woman should bring forth a King? I who am in need and in want,--how then could a king come forth from me?"

13. "In thee alone has this come to pass--that a mighty King from thee should appear;--thee in whom poverty shall be magnified,--and to thy Son shall crowns be made subject."

14. "Treasures of Kings I have not;--riches have never fallen to my lot.--My house is lowly and my dwelling needy;--why then proclaim ye that my Son is King?"

15. "Great treasure is in thy Son,--and wealth that suffices to make all rich;--for the treasures of kings are impoverished,--but He fails not nor can be measured."