A Syriac Hymn from the Prayer of the Faithful
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1. Light your lamps,
sisters and brothers, for the Bridegroom is about to arrive (Mt 25:1-13).
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2. He makes the
Righteous dwell in the spiritual garden of Eden on the day of salvation.
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3. He opens the
bridal chamber of light to them, and they praise him with their harps.
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4. They also exult
in meeting him when he comes, for they expect him and hope in his name.
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5. Behold the
Bridegroom is about to arrive. Blessed are they who are expecting him.
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6. He interweaves a
crown of glory for the Righteous, who expect his name and his redemption.
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7. The First-born
(Col 1:15) arose and descended to Sheol to raise the dead from their graves.
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8. The Just saw his
light in Sheol and eagerly watched for the return of the Son of the Merciful
One.
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9. They forgot their
pain and the suffering they endured when they saw their Lord hung on a tree.
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10. He gave us life
because of his mercy, and he intermingled our mortality with the angels.
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11. Death lay in
wait for our humanity. But he came in his lovingkindness and saved us.
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12. To you be glory,
Lord of the angels, for your shining forth gladdened the mournful in Sheol.
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13. Thenceforth the
night fled and vanished, and your light shone on Creation.
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14. He
descended from the height, saved us, and ascended [back]; behold he sits
again on the right [hand of the Father] (Mk 16:5).
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15. They eagerly
watch for his coming, when he comes again: all those who expect him and hope
in his name.
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16. He entered
Sheol, his light shone, and drove out darkness from its departed.
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17. The fruit Adam
ate killed him; the fruit of the height descended and saved him.
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18. He
burst open the graves, raised the dead, and depicted to us the type of
his magnificent day.
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19. He drew near,
and the day of resurrection arrived; blessed are they who expect him.
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20. The day on
which he comes is magnificent because all hidden things are revealed on it.
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21. Those
lying in the dust hear his voice on the day of the resurrection and come out
to meet him.
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22. Adam
marvels when he is resurrected and returns to the place filled with blessedness.
(reprinted from www.hiddenpearl.org)
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