New Jerusalem

Daily Reading for December 4 • John of Damascus, Priest, c. 760

Thou New Jerusalem, arise and shine!
The glory of the Lord on thee hath risen!
Sion, exult! rejoice with joy divine,
Mother of God! Thy Son hath burst His prison!

O heavenly Voice! O word of purest love!
‘Lo! I am with you alway to the end!’
This is the anchor, steadfast from above,
The golden anchor, whence our hopes depend.

O Christ, our Pascha! greatest, holiest, best!
God’s Word and Wisdom and effectual Might!
Thy fuller, lovelier presence manifest,
In that eternal realm, that knows no night!

From Ode 9 of the Canon for Easter Day (“Golden Compass”) of John of Damascus. Found at http://www.ccel.org/ccel/neale/easternhymns.johndmsc.html

Posted by Vicki K. Black on December 4, 2008 4:00 AM | |
Comments (1)

John of Damascus, defender of icons during the first Iconosclastic controversy in the eighth cenury, also said, "I worship not matter but the Creator of matter, who became matter for my sake."

Those of us who love stained glass windows, statues, and the icons through which we experience the reality beyond the image have him and others such as Theodore the Studite to thank.

Happy December 4, everyone.

Posted by E H Culver [TypeKey Profile Page] | December 4, 2008 7:27 AM

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