Οἶκος Γ'
The Mystery of the Incarnation
The Virgin Mary questions the angel regarding the mystery of the virginal conception.
Seeking to know a knowledge beyond knowing, the Virgin cried out to the one who served: How can a Son possibly be born from a pure womb? Tell me.1
The Hymn of the Bride
The angel responds with a series of titles celebrating Mary's role as the bridge between heaven and earth.
To her he spoke in fear, yet crying out like this: Hail, initiate of the hidden counsel; hail, faith of those who need silence.2 Hail, the prelude to Christ's wonders; hail, the chief point of His teaching.3 Hail, heavenly ladder by which God came down; hail, bridge that leads from earth to heaven. Hail, the angels' much-celebrated wonder; hail, the demons' much-lamented wound. Hail, you who bore the Light beyond all telling; hail, you who taught no one the how.4 Hail, you who surpass the knowledge of the wise; hail, you who light up the minds of the faithful. Hail, Bride Unwedded.
Read the original Latin
Γνῶσιν ἄγνωστον γνῶναι, ἡ Παρθένος ζητοῦσα, ἐβόησε πρὸς τὸν λειτουργοῦντα· ἐκ λαγόνων ἁγνῶν, Υἱὸν πῶς ἔσται τεχθῆναι δυνατόν; λέξον μοι. Πρὸς ἥν ἐκεῖνος ἔφησεν ἐν φόβῳ, πλὴν κραυγάζων οὕτω· Χαῖρε, βουλῆς ἀπορρήτου μύστις, χαῖρε, σιγῆς δεομένων πίστις. Χαῖρε, τῶν θαυμάτων Χριστοῦ τὸ προοίμιον, χαῖρε, τῶν δογμάτων Αὐτοῦ τὸ κεφάλαιον. Χαῖρε, κλῖμαξ ἐπουράνιε, δι' ἧς κατέβη ὁ Θεός, χαῖρε, γέφυρα μετάγουσα ἀπὸ γῆς πρὸς οὐρανόν. Χαῖρε, τὸ τῶν Ἀγγέλων πολυθρύλητον θαῦμα, χαῖρε, τὸ τῶν δαιμόνων πολυθρήνητον τραῦμα. Χαῖρε, τὸ Φῶς ἀρρήτως γεννήσασα, χαῖρε, τὸ πῶς μηδένα διδάξασα. Χαῖρε, σοφῶν ὑπερβαίνουσα γνῶσιν, Χαῖρε, πιστῶν καταυγάζουσα φρένας. Χαῖρε, Νύμφη Ἀνύμφευτε.
Notes
- 1 ↩λειτουργοῦντα is the ministering/serving one (Gabriel as God's servant); not a cultic 'liturgist' in the modern parish sense. λαγόνων ἁγνῶν is literally 'pure loins/flanks'; rendered 'pure womb' for natural modern English while keeping virgin purity.
- 2 ↩σιγῆς δεομένων: δεομένων can mean 'those who need' or 'those who ask/pray for.' Rendered 'those who need silence' (contemplative need); alternate liturgical sense is 'those who pray in silence.'
- 3 ↩κεφάλαιον can mean summary, main point, or chapter-heading; 'chief point' keeps the sense that Mary heads/sums up Christ's dogmas. δογμάτων rendered 'teaching' for plain English; 'dogmas' is the tighter technical option.
- 4 ↩τὸ πῶς μηδένα διδάξασα: she taught no one the 'how' of the virginal birth—the manner remains unexplained mystery, not that she taught nothing at all.
Akathist Hymn to the Theotokos companion
Never lose the rhythm again
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