An ancient Byzantine hymn, praising the lifegiving power of the cross, sung at the Vesper liturgy for the feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross (September 14). The hymn is translated from Church Slavonic, the liturgical language of The Eastern Slavic churches.
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COME, O FAITHFUL, LET US BOW BEFORE THE LIFEGIVING CROSS ON WHICH CHRIST, THE KING OF GLORY, FREELY STRETCHED OUT HIS HANDS. BY THIS HE RAISED US TO OUR FORMER JOY, WHICH WE HAD LOST BECAUSE OF THE ANCIENT ENEMY AND THE BITTER PLEASURE THAT EXILED US FROM GOD. COME, O FAITHFUL, LET US BOW BEFORE THE WOOD THAT ALLOWS US TO CRUSH THE HEAD OF THE INVISIBLE ENEMY. COME, ALL YOU FAMILIES OF THE NATIONS, LET US VENERATE THE CROSS OF THE LORD WITH OUR HYMNS: REJOICE, O PERFECT REDEMPTION OF THE FALL OF ADAM. REJOICE, O VENERABLE CROSS. FILLED WITH FEAR AND AWE, WE EMBRACE YOU, WE GLORIFY OUR GOD AND WE SAY: O LORD, YOU WERE NAILED ON THE CROSS; IN YOUR GOODNESS AND LOVE, HAVE MERCY ON US. COME, O PEOPLE, LET US CONTEMPLATE THE MARVELOUS WONDER; LET US BOW BEFORE THE POWER OF THE CROSS. FOR THE TREE OF PARADISE GAVE RISE TO THE REIGN OF DEATH, AND NOW A TREE HAS MADE OUR LIFE BLOSSOM, WHEN THE SINLESS SAVIOR WAS NAILED UPON IT. AND NOW, ALL THE NATIONS THAT ARE NOURISHED BY THIS INCORRUPTIBLE FOOD SING PRAISES: YOU DESTROYED DEATH BY YOUR CROSS AND SET US FREE. O LORD, GLORY TO YOU. |