Lives of Syriac Saints (On Sale Now)

Volume 2 of Syriac Treasures includes vocalized Syriac texts, introductions, and English translations of works by:

  • Jacob of Serugh, on Saint Simeon the Stylite
  • Jacob of Serugh, on Zokhe
  • Jacob of Serugh, on The Blessed Julian Saba
  • Jacob of Serugh, on Shmuno
  • Guryo Marinus and Anatolus, Acts of Sharbel the Martyr

Get your copy now:
https://thehiddenpearl.press

For more information, email Armando Elkhoury elkhoury@thehiddenpearl.press

Santiago de Serugh: Homilías Métricas Seleccionadas (A la venta ahora)

A la venta ahora

Para mayor información escribir a Alberto Meouchi (informacion@icharbel.org) o Armando Elkhoury (elkhoury@thehiddenpearl.press).

The Virtue of Being Imperfect: The Way for Most of Us in The Book of Steps – The book of steps: Part Three

St. Ephrem’s Hymn on the Angel’s Announcement to Mary (an excerpt)

Annunciation
St. Ephrem’s Hymn on the Angel’s Announcement to Mary (an excerpt) (Translated by Fr. Ephrem Adde and edited by the staff of thehiddenpearl.org) ܣܘܽܓܺܝܬܳܐ ܕܡܳܪܝ ܐܦܪܝܡ ܕܥܰܠ ܣܘܽܒܳܪ ܥܺܝܪܳܐ ܠܡܰܪܝܰܡ
Glory to You, Lord, whom heaven and earth, and everything in [heaven] and on [earth] worship.ܫܘܽܒܚܳܐ ܠܳܟ ܡܳܪܝ ܕܠܳܟ ܣܳܓ̈ܕܺܝܢ ܫܡܰܝܳܐ ܘܰܐܪܥܳܐ ܘܟܽܠ ܕܰܒܗܘܽܢ
[O] Father’s Power, whose love compelled Him to come down and dwell in a virgin womb, grant me a mouth to speak about this mysterious, extraordinary event.ܚܰܝܠܶܗ ܕܰܐܒܳܐ ܕܰܢܚܶܬ ܫܪܳܐ ܒܥܽܘܒܳܐ ܒܬܘܽܠܳܐ ܕܚܘܽܒܶܗ ܥܨܶܐ . ܗܰܒ ܠܺܝ ܦܘܽܡܳܐ ܕܶܐܡܰܠܠܺܝܘܗ̱ܝ ܠܫܰܪܒܳܐ ܪܰܒܳܐ ܕܠܳܐ ܡܶܬܒܨܶܐ ܀
The mouth is feeble to speak about You; both voice and word are inadequate to praise Your humility [lacuna]ܙܥܘܽܪ ܗ̱ܘܽ ܦܘܽܡܳܐ ܕܰܢܡܰܠܠܶܟ ܘܰܒܨܺܝܪ ܩܳܠܳܐ ܐܳܦ ܡܶܠܬܳܐ . ܕܫܘܽܒܚܳܐ ܢܶܬܠܘܽܢ ܠܡܘܽܟܳܟܳܟ [lacuna]
O discerners, come; pay attention; listen to the altogether awe-inspiring event, and sing glory to Him who lowered Himself to grant life to Adam, who had sinned and died.ܐܳܘ ܦܳܪ̈ܘܽܫܶܐ ܬܰܘ ܨܘܽܬܘ ܫܡܰܥܘ ܫܰܪܒܳܐ ܕܟܽܠܳܗ ܬܶܗܪܳܐ ܡܠܶܐ . ܘܰܙܡܰܪܘ ܫܘܽܒܚܳܐ ܠܗܰܘ ܕܶܐܬܪܟܶܢ ܕܢܰܐܚܶܐ ܠܳܐܕܳܡ ܕܰܚܛܳܐ ܘܡܺܝܬ ܀
Mercy appeared to David’s daughter that she might become a mother to Him who brought into existence Adam and the world, and whose name existed before the sun.ܨܶܕ ܒܰܪ̱ܬ ܕܰܘܺܝܕ ܪܳܚܡܳܐ ܕܢܰܚ ܕܗܺܝ ܬܶܗܘܶܐ ܠܶܗ ܐܶܡܳܐ ܠܗܰܘ . ܕܰܐܘܠܶܕ ܠܳܐܕܳܡ ܘܰܠܥܳܠܡܳܐ ܘܰܩܕܳܡ ܫܶܡܫܳܐ ܐܺܝܬܰܘܗ̱ܝ ܫܡܶܗ܀
He [sc. the angel Gabriel] brought to the world the letter that was sealed with an awesome mystery, announced peace to the girl, and good tidings to the entire world.ܫܩܰܠ ܐܶܓܰܪܬܳܐ ܕܰܡܚܰܬܡܳܐ ܒܐ̱ܪܳܙܳܐ ܪܰܒܳܐ ܡܶܢ ܥܳܠܡܳܐ . ܘܡܰܠܳܗ݀ ܫܠܳܡܳܐ ܠܰܥܠܰܝܡܬܳܐ ܘܣܰܒܪܳܐ ܛܳܒܳܐ ܠܟܽܠ ܥܳܠܡܳܐ ܀
The Virgin says, “Who are you, Sir? What is this that you are saying? What you have [just] said is far from me. Besides, I do not know the Power of your Lord.ܐܳܡܪܳܐ ܒܬܘܽܠܬܳܐ ܡܰܢ ܐܰܢ̱ܬ ܡܳܪܝ ܘܡܳܢܰܘ ܗܳܢܳܐ ܕܰܡܡܰܠܠܰܬ . ܪܰܚܺܝܩ ܗ̱ܘܽ ܡܶܢܝ ܡܘܽܢ ܕܶܐܡܰܪܬ ܘܚܰܝܠܶܗ ܕܡܳܪܳܟ ܠܳܐ ܝܳܕܥܳܢܝ ܀
I beseech you, Sir, do not frighten me; do not set me on fire with burning coals that are from you, for it is difficult for my virginity to receive the Almighty, whom you are announcing.ܒܳܥܝܳܢܳܐ ܡܳܪܝ ܠܳܐ ܬܰܪܗܒܰܢܝ ܒܓܘܽܡܪ̈ܶܐ ܕܡܶܢܳܟ ܠܳܐ ܬܰܘܩܕܰܢܝ . ܕܥܳܛܠܳܐ ܒܬܘܽܠܘܽܬܝ ܕܰܬܩܰܒܶܠܝ ܠܗܰܘ ܥܰܙܺܝܙܳܐ ܕܰܐܢ̱ܬ ܡܰܟܪܙܰܬ ܀
You are a blaze; do not frighten me. You are arrayed in burning coals; do not set me on fire. Fiery one, why have you come to me, and why do you also talk to me about novelties?ܓܰܘܙܰܠܬܳܐ ܐܰܢ̱ܬ ܠܳܐ ܬܰܪܗܒܰܢܝ ܓܘܽܡܪ̈ܶܐ ܥܛܺܝܦ ܐܰܢ̱ܬ ܠܳܐ ܬܰܘܩܕܰܢܝ . ܢܘܽܪܳܢܳܐ ܠܡܘܽܢ ܐܶܬܰܝܬ ܠܺܝ ܘܳܐܦ ܚ̈ܰܕܬܳܬܳܐ ܥܰܡܝ ܡܰܠܰܠܬ ܀
Sir, I am afraid to consent to the words of your fiery mouth, for even my mother, Eve, died after she consented to the message of the snake.”ܕܳܚܶܠܐ ܐ̱ܢܳܐ ܡܳܪܝ ܕܶܐܩܰܒܶܠ ܡܶܠܰـܝ̈ ܦܘܽܡܳܟ ܢܘܽܪܳܢܳܐ . ܕܳܐܦ ܐܶܡܝ ܚܰܘܳܐ ܟܰܕ ܐܰܩܒܠܰܬ ܣܒܰܪܬܳܐ ܕܚܶܘܝܳܐ ܡܺܝܬܰܬ ܠܳܗ݀ ܀
“This subject which I have talked to you about is elementary for the Lord, about whom all the prophets had proclaimed that He willed to become a human being.”ܗܳܢܳܐ ܫܰܪܒܳܐ ܕܡܰܠܠܶܬ ܠܶܟܝ ܦܫܺܝܩ ܗ̱ܘܽ ܣܰܓܺܝ ܥܰܠ ܡܳܪܝܳܐ . ܕܟܽܠܗܘܽܢ ܢ̈ܒܺܝܶܐ ܥܠܰܘܗ̱ܝ ܐܰܟܪܶܙܘ ܕܰܨܒܳܐ ܕܢܶܗܘܶܐ ܒܰܪܢܳܫܳܐ ܀
“Your promise would have been appropriate if I were married to a man like everyone else; I am chaste and have never had relations.ܘܰܥܕܳܟ ܫܰܦܺܝܪ ܐܶܠܘܽ ܡܛܳܢܝ ܙܘܽܘܳܓ ܓܰܒܪܳܐ ܐܰܝܟ ܟܽܠ ܐ̱ܢܳܫ . ܕܰܒܬܘܽܠܳܝܬܳܐ ܐ̱ܢܳܐ ܘܡܶܢ ܡܬܘܽܡ ܠܳܐ ܪܓܝܺܫܳܐ ܐ̱ܢܳܐ ܒܙܘܽܘܳܓܳܐ ܀
I am disquieted, Sir, alarmed, and afraid. Still, I am not convinced because nature does not instruct me that a virgin begets a child.ܙܳܥܶܬ ܠܺܝ ܡܪܳܝ ܘܶܐܣܬܰܪܕܶܬ ܘܟܰܕ ܩܳܢܛܳܐ ܐ̱ܢܳܐ ܘܠܳܐ ܡܰܫܪܳܢܝ . ܕܳܐܦ ܗ̱ܘܽ ܟܝܳܢܳܐ ܠܳܐ ܡܦܺܝܣ ܠܺܝ ܕܢܶܗܘܶܐ ܝܰܠܕܳܐ ܠܰܒܬܘܽܠܬܳܐ ܀
Your appearance is venerable; your story is frightening, and the entire house is on fire. Your Lord’s matter is inscrutable; it is difficult for me to confirm this [matter].ܚܶܙܘܳܟ ܝܰܩܺܝܪ ܘܫܰܪܒܳܟ ܕܚܺܝܠ ܘܟܽܠܶܗ ܒܰܝܬܳܐ ܡܶܬܓܰܘܙܰܠ . ܫܰܪܒܶܗ ܕܡܳܪܳܟ ܠܳܐ ܡܶܬܒܨܶܐ ܘܕܰܐܫܰܪ ܗܳܕܶܐ ܥܰܣܩܳܐ ܗ̱ܝ ܠܺܝ ܀
I am [but] a girl, and cannot give consent to a man of fire, for the subject you spoke about is hidden and makes me afraid to consent to it.ܛܠܺܝܬܳܐ ܐܶܢܳܐ ܘܠܳܐ ܡܶܫܟܚܳܢܝ ܠܓܰܒܪܳܐ ܕܢܘܽܪܳܐ ܕܰܐܩܒܶܠܺܝܘܗ̱ܝ . ܕܰܟܣܳܐ ܫܰܪܒܳܐ ܕܰܡܡܰܠܠܰܬ ܘܰܡܣܰܪܶܕ ܠܺܝ ܕܰܐܩܒܶܠܺܝܘܗ̱ܝ ܀
Today, I have been amazed and astonished at all you have said to me. I am afraid, Sir, to give you consent, for deceit could be [lurking] in your word.ܝܰܘܡܳܢ ܬܶܡܗܶܬ ܘܶܐܬܕܰܡܪܶܬ ܒܗܳܠܶܝܢ ܟܽܠܗܶܝܢ ܕܶܐܡܰܪܬ ܠܺܝ . ܕܳܚܠܳܐ ܐ̱ܢܳܐ ܡܳܪܝ ܕܰܐܩܶܒܠܳܟ ܕܰܠܡܳܐ ܢܶܟܠܳܐ ܒܓܰܘ ܡܶܠܬܳܟ ܀
All your words amaze me. I ask you, Sir, not to frighten me. Childbearing is never for a virgin, and no man has touched me.ܟܽܠܗܶܝܢ ܡܶܠܰܝ̈ܟ ܠܺܝ ܡܬܰܗܪ̈ܳܢ ܡܦܺܝܣܳܐ ܐ̱ܢܳܐ ܡܳܪܝ ܠܳܐ ܬܙܺܝܥܰܢܝ . ܠܳܐ ܒܰܒܬܘܽܠܬܳܐ ܝܰܠـܕܳܐ ܡܬܘܽܡ ܘܶܐܢܳܐ ܓܰܒܪܳܐ ܠܳܐ ܦܓܺܝܥ ܒܺܝ ܀
I do, Sir, have a man; he does not have relations with me, and I am not married. How could it come to happen according to what you have said that a son is to be without having relations?ܠܺܝ ܡܳܪܝ ܓܰܒܪܳܐ ܠܳܐ ܚܟܺܝܡ ܠܺܝ ܘܰܒܙܘܽܘܳܓܳܐ ܠܳܐ ܪܓܺܝܫܳܢܝ . ܘܰܐܝܟܰܢ ܬܶܗܘܶܐ ܐܰܝܟ ܕܶܐܡܰܪܬ ܕܰܕܠܳܐ ܢܶܩܦܳܐ ܒܪܳܐ ܢܶܗܘܶܐ ܀
Well then, Watcher [sc. angel], I will not refuse whensoever the Holy Spirit would come to me. I am his Handmaid; He has the power to make it happen to me according to your word.ܡܳܕܶܝܢ ܥܺܝܪܳܐ ܠܳܐ ܡܗܰܦܟܳܢܝ ܐܶܢ ܪܘܽܚ ܩܘܽܕܫܳܐ ܐܶܬܳܐ ܠܘܳܬܝ . ܐܰܡܬܶܗ ܐܶܢܳܐ ܘܫܰܠܺܝܛ ܠܶܗ ܢܶܗܘܶܐ ܠܺܝ ܡܳܪܝ ܐܰܝ̱ܟ ܡܶܠܬܳܟ ܀
May my head, Sir, be raised according to your word, and I shall praise His name while rejoicing. Since you are His servant, and thus you are splendid, what does he resemble, if you know?ܢܶܬܬܪܺܝܡ ܪܺܝܫܝ ܡܳܪܝ ܐܰܝ̱ܟ ܡܶܠܬܳܟ ܘܰܐܘܕܶܐ ܠܰܫܡܶܗ ܟܰܕ ܚܳܕܝܳܢܝ . ܕܶܐܢ ܐܰܢ̱ܬ ܥܰܒـܕܶܗ ܗܳܟܰܢ ܦܰܐܝܰܬ ܠܡܘܽܢ ܕܳܡܶܐ ܗ̱ܘܽ ܐܶܢ ܝܳـܕܥܰܬ ܀
You disturbed me greatly now! If He is a blaze according to your word, how would my womb not be injured by the Flame that dwells in it?ܣܰܓܺܝ ܗܳܫܳܐ ܐܰܙܺܝܥܬܳܢܝ ܘܐܶܢ ܓܰܘܙܰܠܬܰܐ ܗ̱ܘ ܐܰܝܟ ܡܶܠܬܳܟ . ܥܘܽܒܝ ܕܺܝܠܝ ܐܰܝܟܰܢ ܠܳܐ ܡܶܬܢܟܶܐ ܒܫܰܠܗܶܒܺܝܬܳܐ ܕܒܶܗ ܫܳܪܝܳܐ ܀
Watcher, reveal to me why it pleased your Lord to dwell in a poor [girl]. Behold the world is filled with daughters of kings. Why did He choose me, a destitute?ܥܺܝܪܳܐ ܓܠܺܝ ܠܺܝ ܠܡܘܽܢ ܟܰܝ ܫܦܰܪ ܠܡܳܪܳܟ ܕܢܶܫܪܶܐ ܒܡܶܣܟܺܢ̱ܬܳܐ. ܗܳܐ ܒ̈ܢܳܬ ܡܰܠ̈ـܟܶܐ ܥܳܠܡܳܐ ܡܠܶܐ ܘܒܺܝ ܠܡܳܢܳܐ ܨܒܳܐ ܕܰܡܓܰܙܝܳـܢܝ ܀
Announce to me, sir, if you know when He desires to come to me, and whether He will appear to me as fire whenever He [comes to] dwell in me according to your word.ܦܰܫܶܩ ܠܺܝ ܡܳܪܝ ܐܶܢ ܝܳܕܥܰܬ ܐܶܡܰܬܝ ܨܳܒܶܐ ܕܢܺܐܬܶܐ ܠܘܳܬܝ . ܘܶܐܢ ܐܰܝ̱ܟ ܢܘܽܪܳܐ ܠܺܝ ܡܶܬܚܙܶܐ ܡܳܐ ܕܰܫܪܳܐ ܒܺܝ ܐܰܝ̱ܟ ܡܶܠܬܳܟ܀
Sir, I would like to ask you to explain to me the habits of my Son, for He will dwell in me, and I do not know what to do for Him lest He be insulted.ܨܳܒܝܳܐ ܐ̱ܢܳܐ ܡܳܪܝ ܕܶܐܫܰܐܠܳܟ ܐܰܢ̱ܬ ܦܰܫܶܩ ܠܺܝ ܥܝ̈ܳـܕܰܘܗ̱ܝ ܕܒܶܪܝ . ܕܫܳܪܶܐ ܒܺܝ ܘܠܳܐ ܝܳܕܥܳܢܝ ܡܘܽܢ ܐܶܥܒܶܕ ܠܶܗ ܕܠܳܐ ܢܶܬܬܫܺܝܛ ܀
His name is holy, glorious and blessed, for He gave heed to the lowliness of His handmaid. Henceforth, the kings of the earth and all that is on it shall call me blessed.ܩܰܕܺܝܫ ܘܰܫܒܺܝܚ ܘܰܒܪܺܝܟ ܫܡܶܗ ܕܰܒܡܽܘܟܳܟܳܗ܁ ܚܳܪ ܕܰܐܡܬܶܗ . ܡܶܟܺܝܠ ܛܘܽܒܳܐ ܠܺܝ ܢܶܬܠ̈ـܘܽܢ ܡܰܠ̈ـܟܶܐ ܕܰܐܪܥܳܐ ܘܟܽܠ ܕܰܥܠܶܝܗ݀ ܀
He is mighty, glorious, and inscrutable; He is unfathomable through lips. His Might is powerful, for He, the One who sent Him, and the Holy Spirit created all.”ܪܰܒ ܗ̱ܘܽ ܘܰܫܒܺܝܚ ܘܠܳܐ ܡܶܬܒܨܶܐ ܘܰܒܣܶܦܘ̈ܳܬܳܐ ܠܳܐ ܡܶܬܬܡܺܝܫ . ܕܚܰܝܠܶܗ ܚܰܣܺܝܢ ܕܗܘܽ ܒܪܳܐ ܠܟܽܠ ܥܰܡ ܫܳܠـܘܽܚܶܗ ܘܪܘܽܚ ܩܘܽܕܫܳܐ ܀
Heaven and earth were awestruck because of His birth from Mary. Behold they witness that He became man for sinful Adam.ܫܡܰܝܳܐ ܘܰܐܪܥܳܐ ܬܶܗܪܳܐ ܠܒܰܟ ܥܰܠ ܡܰܘܠܳܕܶܗ ܕܡܶܢ ܡܰܪܝܰܡ . ܘܕܰܗܘܳܐ ܐ̱ܢܳܫܳܐ ܗܳܐ ܣܳܗܕܺܝܢ ܡܶܛܽܠ ܐܳܕܳܡ ܚܰܝܳܒܳܐ ܀

A Communion Hymn Sung in Syriac Churches (St. Jacob’s Tune)

Andreas Pavias Icon of the Crucifixion, the second half of the 15th-century egg tempera and gold on wood overall: 83.5 × 59 cm (32 7/8 × 23 1/4 in.) National Gallery, Alexandros Soutzos Museum, Athens (see the following blog: blog.historians.org)
The One on whose account the fiery beings [sc. the Seraphim] tremble and whom they fear to behold [see Is 6:2]: you gaze at Him [as] Bread and Wine on the [altar] table. ܗܰܘ ܕܢܘܽܪ̈ܳܢܶܐ ܙܳܝܥܺܝܢ ܡܶܢܶܗ ܕܰܢܚܘܽܪܘܽܢ ܒܶܗ ܃ ܠܰܚܡܳܐ ܘܚܰܡܪܳܐ ܠܶܗ ܗܘܽ ܚܳܙܶܝܬ ܥܰܠ ܦܳܬܘܽܪܳܐ ܀
If those arrayed in lightning would see Him, they would be consumed by Him; [yet] worthless dust [see Gn 2:7] eat Him unashamedly. ܥܛܺܝ̈ܦܰܝ ܒܰܪ̈ܩܶܐ ܐܶܢ ܚܳܙܶܝܢ ܠܶܗ ܝܳܩܕܺܝܢ ܡܶܢܶܗ ܃ ܥܰܦܪܳܐ ܫܺܝܛܳܐ ܓܰܠܝ̈ܳܢ ܐܰܦܰܘ̈ܗ̱ܝ ܟܰܕ ܐܳܟܶܠ ܠܶܗ ܀
The mysteries of the Son are fire among the heavenly beings. Isaiah who saw them [see Is 6:6-7] also testifies with us. ܪ̈ܳܙܰܘܗ̱ܝ ܕܰܒܪܳܐ ܢܘܽܪܳܐ ܐܶܢܘܽܢ ܒܶܝܬ ܥܶܠܳܝ̈ܶܐ ܃ ܣܳܗܶܕ ܥܰܡܰܢ ܐܳܦ ܐܶܫܰܥܝܳܐ ܕܰܚܙܳܐ ܐܶܢܘܽܢ ܀
These mysteries in the bosom of the Godhead are distributed on the [altar] table to the children of Adam. ܗܳܠܶܝܢ ܪ̈ܳܐܙܶܐ ܕܺܐܝܬ ܗܘܰܘ ܒܥܘܽܒܳܗ݀ ܕܰܐܠܳܗܘܽܬܳܐ ܃ ܥܰܠ ܦܳܬܽܘܪܳܐ ܗܳܐ ܡܶܬܦܰܠܓܺܝܢ ܠܝܰܠܕܰܘ̈ܗ̱ܝ ܕܳܐܕܳܡ ܀
The altar is established like the chariot of the cherubim [see Ez 1] and the heavenly hosts surround it. ܡܰܬܩܰܢ ܡܰܕܒܚܳܐ ܐܰܝܟ ܡܰܪܟܰܒܬܳܐ ܗܳܝ ܕܰܟܪ̈ܘܽܒܶܐ ܃ ܘܰܟܪܺܝܟܺܝܢ ܠܶܗ ܚܰܝ̈ܠܰܘܳܬܳܐ ܕܰܫ̈ܡܰܝܳܢܶܐ ܀
Behold the body of the Son of God is placed on the altar and the children of Adam carry Him with their hands. ܥܰܠ ܦܳܬܘܽܪܳܐ ܗܳܐ ܣܺܝܡ ܦܰܓܪܶܗ ܕܒܰܪ ܐܰܠܳܗܳܐ ܃ ܘܰܡܙܰܝܚܺܝܢ ܠܶܗ ܝܰܠܕܰܘ̈ܗ̱ܝ ܕܳܐܕܳܡ ܥܰܠ ܐܺܝ̈ܕܰܝܗܘܽܢ ܀
Instead of the man wearing linen [see Ez 10:2], the priest stands and he (sc. priest) goes out [of the sanctuary] to scatter pearls (sc. the Eucharistic Species) on the destitute. ܘܰܚܠܳܦ ܓܰܒܪܳܐ ܕܰܠܒܺܝܫ ܒܘܽܨܳܐ ܟܳܗܢܳܐ ܩܳܐܶܡ ܃ ܘܢܰܦܶܩ ܘܢܶܕܪܶܐ ܡܰܪ̈ܓܳܢܝܳܬܳܐ ܥܰܠ ܚܰܣܺܝܪ̈ܶܐ ܀
Were there jealousy among heavenly beings, the cherubim would be at the point of envying human beings. ܐܶܠܘܽ ܐܺܝܬ ܗܘܳܐ ܚܣܳܡܳܐ ܬܰܡܳܢ ܒܶܝܬ ܥܶܠܳܝ̈ܶܐ ܃ ܟܪ̈ܽܘܒܶܐ ܠܡܶܚܣܰܡ ܒܰܒ̈ܢܰܝܢܳܫܳܐ ܩܰܪܺܝܒܺܝܢ ܗ̱ܘܰܘ ܀
Where Zion set up the wood (sc. cross) to crucify the Son of God sprung that tree which brought forth the lamb [see Gn 22:13]. ܐܰܝܟܳܐ ܕܨܶܗܝܘܽܢ ܩܶܒܥܰܬ ܩܰܝܣܳܐ ܕܬܶܨܠܘܽܒ ܠܰܒܪܳܐ ܃ ܬܰܡܳܢ ܝܺܥܳܐ ܗܰܘ ܐܺܝܳܠܢܳܐ ܕܰܐܘܠܶܕ ܐܶܡܪܳܐ ܀
Where the nails were hammered into the hands of the Son were the bonds of Isaac cut loose [see Gn 22:12-13]. ܐܰܝܟܳܐ ܕܨܶܨ̈ܶܐ ܒܺܐܝ̈ܕܘܗ̱ܝ ܕܰܒܪܳܐ ܐܶܬܩܰܒܰܥܘ ܗ̱ܘܰܘ ܃ ܐܳܦ ܬܰܡܳܢ ܬܘܽܒ ܦܟܳܪ̈ܰܘܗ̱ܝ ܕܺܐܝܣܚܳܩ ܐܶܬܦܰܣܰܩ ܗ̱ܘܰܘ ܀
Come in peace, priest, who carries the mysteries of the Son and distributes life with his right hand to human beings. ܬܳܐ ܒܰܫܠܳܡܳܐ ܟܳܗܢܳܐ ܕܰܛܥܺܝܢ ܪ̈ܳܐܙܰܝ ܡܳܪܶܗ ܃ ܘܰܒܝܰܡܺܝܢܶܗ ܚܰܝ̈ܶܐ ܡܦܰܠܶܓ ܠܰܒ̈ܢܰܝܢܳܫܳܐ ܀
Come in peace, priest, who carries a pure censer; its fragrance burns and the whole world delights in it. ܬܳܐ ܒܰܫܠܳܡܳܐ ܟܳܗܢܳܐ ܕܰܛܥܺܝܢ ܦܺܝܪܡܳܐ ܕܰܟܝܳܐ ܃ ܘܡܰܥܛܰܪ ܪܺܝܚܶܗ ܘܰܡܒܰܣܶܡ ܠܶܗ ܠܥܳܠܡܳܐ ܡܶܢܶܗ ܀
Come in peace, priest, whom the Holy Spirit brought up and who carries on his tongue the keys [see Is 22:22; Mt 16:19] to the house of God. ܬܳܐ ܒܰܫܠܳܡܳܐ ܟܳܗܢܳܐ ܕܪܰܒܝܰܬ ܪܘܽܚܳܐ ܕܩܘܽܕܫܳܐ ܃ ܘܰܒܠܶܫܳܢܶܗ ܛܥܺܝܢ ܠܰܩ̈ܠܺܝܕܶܐ ܕܒܶܝܬ ܐܰܠܳܗܳܐ ܀
Come in peace, priest, who binds a human being on earth, and the Lord binds him in the height (sc. heaven) [see Is 22:22; Mt 16:19]. Alleluia (sc. God be praised)! ܬܳܐ ܒܰܫܠܳܡܳܐ ܟܳܗܢܳܐ ܕܳܐܣܰܪ ܐ̱ܢܳܫܳܐ ܒܰܐܪܥܳܐ ܃ ܘܡܳܪܝܳܐ ܒܪܰܘܡܳܐ ܗܘܽ ܐܳܣܰܪ ܠܶܗ ܗܰܠܶܠܘܽܝܰܗ ܀
Come in peace, priest, who looses a human being in the depth [sc. on earth], and the Lord looses him in the height [sc. heaven; see Is 22:22; Mt 16:19]. Kyrie Eleison [sc. Lord, have mercy]. ܬܳܐ ܒܰܫܠܳܡܳܐ ܟܳܗܢܳܐ ܕܫܳܪܶܐ ܐ̱ܢܳܫܳܐ ܒܥܘܽܡܩܳܐ ܃ ܘܡܳܪܝܳܐ ܒܪܘܰܡܳܐ ܗܘܽ ܫܳܪܶܐ ܠܶܗ ܩܘܽܪܝܶܐܠܰܝܣܳܘܢ ܀
Glory be to the Lord; may [His] mercy be upon you; may forgiveness of sins be [granted] to me, and may Mar Jacob, the doctor, be commemorated. ܠܡܳܪܝܳܐ ܫܘܽܒܚܳܐ ܥܠܰܝܟܘܽܢ ܪ̈ܰܚܡܶܐ ܘܠܺܝ ܚܘܽܣܳܝܳܐ ܃ ܘܰܠܡܳܪܝ ܝܰܥܩܘܽܒ ܗܰܘ ܡܰܠܦܳܢܳܐ ܢܗܶܐ ܕܘܽܟܪܳܢܳܐ ܀
Son of God, You redeemed debtors by your sacrificial offering; by Your life-giving sacrifice put an end to my sufferings and cure my sicknesses. ܒܰܪ ܐܰܠܳܗܳܐ ܕܒܰܕܒܺܝܚܘܽܬܶܗ ܦܪܰܩ ܚܰܝ̈ܳܒܶܐ ܃ ܒܕܶܒܚܳܟ ܚܰܝܳܐ ܛܰܠܶܩ ܚܰܫ̈ܰܝ ܘܰܐܚܠܶܡ ܟܺܐܒ̈ܰܝ ܀
Good One, who came and whose side was opened on Golgotha [see Jn 19:34], quench my thirst with the blood and water that flowed from You [see Jn 19:34]. ܛܳܒܳܐ ܕܶܐܬܳܐ ܘܰܬܪܰܥ ܣܶܛܪܶܗ ܥܰܠ ܓܳܓܘܽܠܬܳܐ ܃ ܒܰܕܡܳܐ ܘܡܰܝ̈ܳܐ ܕܰܪܕܰܘ ܡܶܢܳܟ ܦܰܝܶܓ ܨܰܗܝܘܽܬܝ ܀

For a Dutch translation, you may go to kole suryoye (ܩ̈ܳܠܶܐ ܣܘܽܪ̈ܝܳܝܶܐ)

Hear this hymn sung according to the tradition of the Syriac Orthodox Church:

Hear it sung according to the tradition of the Maronite Church:

Hear it sung according to the tradition of Malankara Church:

On Divine Love (excerpt) by Jacob of Serugh (ca. AD 451 – 521)

Syriac Hymn: ܒܳܥܘܽܬܳܐ ܕܡܳܪܝ ܝܰܥܩܘܽܒ
On account of love, He created the Creation while He was creating. And due to it, He also gave His Only-Begotten while He was saving.ܒܶܗ ܗ̱ܘܽ ܒܚܘܽܒܳܐ ܒܪܳܐ ܒܶܪ̈ܝܳܬܳܐ ܟܰܕ ܒܳܪܶܐ ܗ̱ܘܳܐ ܃ ܘܒܶܗ ܬܘܽܒ ܐܰܫܠܶܡ ܠܺܝܚܺܝܕܳܝܶܗ ܟܰܕ ܦܳܪܶܩ ܗ̱ܘܳܐ ܀
In which king was there power to love thus: to give up his son for captives that they should return to their land?ܒܰܐܝܢܳܐ ܡܰܠܟܳܐ ܐܺܝܬ ܗ̱ܘܳܐ ܚܰܝܠܳܐ ܕܢܰܚܶܒ ܗܳܟܰܢ ܃ ܕܢܰܫܠܶܡ ܠܰܒܪܶܗ ܚܠܳܦ ܓܳܠܘܽܬܳܐ ܕܬܶܦܢܶܐ ܠܰܐܬܪܳܗ݀ ܀
For which rich person was it easy to lavish his entire wealth on beggars that his love enrich them?ܠܡܰܢ ܥܰܬܺܝܪܳܐ ܦܫܺܝܩ ܗ̱ܘܳܐ ܕܢܶܕܪܶܐ ܟܽܠܶܗ ܥܘܽܬܪܶܗ ܃ ܥܰܠ ܚܳܕܘܽܪ̈ܶܐ ܡܶܛܽܠ ܚܘܽܒܶܗ ܕܢܰܥܬܰܪ ܐܶܢܘܽܢ ܀
Who has surrendered his son to death as a sacrifice for the sake of slaves who fled from him to bring them back?ܡܰܢ ܝܳܗܶܒ ܗ̱ܘܳܐ ܠܰܒܪܶܗ ܠܡܰܘܬܳܐ ܕܢܶܗܘܶܐ ܕܶܒܚܳܐ ܃ ܡܶܛܽܠ ܥܰܒ̈ܕܶܐ ܕܰܥܪܰܩܘ ܡܶܢܶܗ ܕܢܺܐܬܶܐ ܐܶܢܘܽܢ ܀
Who is the good person who is not afraid of laying down his life and tasting death for the sake of evil people to give them life?ܡܰܢܘܽ ܛܳܒܳܐ ܕܠܳܐ ܕܳܚܶܠ ܗ̱ܘܳܐ ܕܢܰܪܡܶܐ ܢܰܦܫܶܗ ܃ ܘܰܚܠܳܦ ܒܺܝ̈ܫܶܐ ܡܰܘܬܳܐ ܢܶܛܥܰܡ ܕܢܰܚܶܐ ܐܶܢܘܢ ܀
Which living person has the power to touch the bottom of Sheol, release [its] prisoners, and imprison himself in the house of darkness?ܐܰܝܢܳܐ ܚܰܝܳܐ ܡܨܶܐ ܗ̱ܘܳܐ ܕܢܶܓܘܽܫ ܥܘܽܡܩܳܐ ܕܰܫܝܘܽܠ ܃ ܘܢܶܫܪܶܐ ܚܒܺܝ̈ܫܶܐ ܘܢܶܐܣܘܽܪ ܢܰܦܫܶܗ ܒܶܝܬ ܚܶܫ̈ܘܽܟܶܐ ܀
Which heavenly being made a grave his habitation, and brought up the dead to the exalted heavenly habitation?ܡܰܢ ܥܶܠܳܝܳܐ ܥܳܒܶܕ ܗ̱ܘܳܐ ܠܶܗ ܥܘܽܡܪܳܐ ܩܰܒܪܳܐ ܀ ܘܡܰܣܶܩ ܡܺܝ̈ܬܶܐ ܠܥܘܽܡܪܳܐ ܪܳܡܳܐ ܕܰܫ̈ܡܰܝܳܢܶܐ ܀
Love subjected the Son of God to this ordeal that He taste death in favor of human beings and give them life!ܗܳܢܳܐ ܥܒܳܕܳܐ ܚܘܽܒܳܐ ܥܒܰܕ ܠܶܗ ܠܒܰܪ ܐܰܠܳܗܳܐ ܃ ܕܰܚܠܳܦ ܐ̱ܢܳܫܳܐ ܡܰܘܬܳܐ ܢܶܛܥܰܡ ܘܢܰܚܶܐ ܐܶܢܘܽܢ ܀

Light Your Lamps (A Syriac Hymn – Maronite Prayer of the Faithful)

1. Light your lamps, sisters and brothers, for the Bridegroom is about to arrive (Mt 25:1-13).ܐ. ܐܰܢܗܰܪ ܐܰܚܰܝ̈ ܠܰܡ̈ܦܺܐܕܰܝܟܘܽܢ. ܕܗܳܐ ܡܰܛܺܝ ܠܶܗ ܚܰܬܢܳܐ ܕܢܺܐܬܶܐ ܀
2. He makes the Righteous dwell in the spiritual garden of Eden on the day of salvation.ܒ. ܒܓܰܢܰܬ ܥܕܶܝܢ ܗܳܝ ܕܪ̈ܘܽܚܳܢܶܐ . ܡܰܫܪܶܐ ܠܟܺܐܢ̈ܶܐ ܒܝܘܽܡ ܦܘܽܪܩܳܢܳܐ ܀
3. He opens the bridal chamber of light to them, and they praise him with their harps. ܓ. ܓܢܘܽܢܳܐ ܕܢܘܽܗܪܳܐ ܦܳܬܰܚ ܠܗܘܽܢ ܆ ܘܰܡܫܰܒܚܺܝܢ ܠܶܗ ܒܟܶܢܳܪ̈ܰܝܗܘܽܢ ܀
4. They also exult in meeting him when he comes, for they expect him and hope in his name.ܕ. ܕܳܝܨܺܝܢ ܠܐܘܽܪܥܶܗ ܬܘܽܒ ܡܳܐ ܕܳܐܬܶܐ. ܟܽܠ ܕܣܰܟܺܝܘ ܠܶܗ ܘܣܰܒܰܪܘ ܒܰܫܡܶܗ ܀
5. Behold the Bridegroom is about to arrive. Blessed are they who are expecting him. ܗ. ܗܳܐ ܡܰܛܺܝ ܠܶܗ ܚܰܬܢܳܐ ܕܢܺܐܬܶܐ ܆ ܛܘܽܒܰܘܗ̱ܝ ܠܰܐܝܢܳܐ ܕܰܡܣܰܟܶܐ ܠܶܗ ܀
6. He interweaves a crown of glory for the Righteous, who expect his name and his redemption.  ܘ. ܘܰܟܠܺܝܠ ܫܘܽܒܚܳܐ ܠܟܺܐܢ̈ܶܐ ܓܳܕܶܠ ܆ ܕܣܰܟܺܝܘ ܠܰܫܡܶܗ ܘܰܠܦܘܽܪܩܳܢܶܗ ܀
7. The First-born (Col 1:15) arose and descended to Sheol to raise the dead from their graves.  ܙ. ܙܳܚ ܗ̱ܘܳܐ ܘܰܢܚܶܬ ܒܘܽܟܪܳܐ ܠܰܫܝܘܽܠ ܆ ܕܰܢܩܺܝܡ ܡܺܝ̈ܬܶܐ ܡܶܢ ܩܰܒܪ̈ܰܝܗܘܽܢ ܀
8. The Just saw his light in Sheol and eagerly watched for the return of the Son of the Merciful One.  ܚ. ܚܙܰܘ ܙܰܕܺܝ̈ܩܶܐ ܢܘܽܗܪܶܗ ܒܰܫܝܘܽܠ ܆ ܘܰܣܘܰܚܘ ܠܐܘܽܪܥܶܗ ܕܒܰܪ ܚܰܢܳܢܳܐ ܀
9. They forgot their pain and the suffering they endured when they saw their Lord hung on a tree.  ܛ. ܛܥܰܘ ܟܺܐܒ̈ܰܝܗܘܽܢ ܘܚܰܫ̈ܶܐ ܕܰܣܒܰܠܘ ܆ ܕܰܚܙܰܘ ܠܡܳܪܗܘܽܢ ܬܠܶܐ ܥܰܠ ܩܰܝܣܳܐ ܀
10. He gave us life because of his mercy, and he intermingled our mortality with the angels.  ܝ. ܝܰܗ̱ܒܠܰܢ ܚܰܝ̈ܶܐ ܡܶܛܽܠ ܪ̈ܰܚܡܘܰܗ̱ܝ ܆ ܘܒܰܝܢܳܬ ܥܺܝܪ̈ܶܐ ܚܠܰܛ ܡܺܝܬܘܽܬܰܢ ܀
11. Death lay in wait for our humanity. But he came in his lovingkindness and saved us.  ܟܟ . ܟܡܶܢ ܗ̱ܘܳܐ ܡܰܘܬܳܐ ܥܰܠ ܐ̱ܢܳܫܘܽܬܰܢ ܆ ܘܗܘܽ ܒܛܰܝܒܘܽܬܶܗ ܐܶܬܳܐ ܘܦܰܪܩܰܢ ܀
12. To you be glory, Lord of the angels, for your shining forth gladdened the mournful in Sheol.  ܠ. ܠܳܟ ܬܶܫܒܘܽܚܬܳܐ ܡܳܪܳܐ ܕܥܺܝܪ̈ܶܐ ܆ ܕܕܶܢܚܳܟ ܐܰܦܨܰܚ ܟܡܺܝܪ̈ܶܐ ܕܰܫܝܘܽܠ ܀
13. Thenceforth the night fled and vanished, and your light shone on Creation.  ܡ. ܡܶܟܺܝܠ ܥܪܰܩ ܠܶܗ ܠܺܠܝܳܐ ܘܰܐܘܦܺܝ ܆ ܘܰܕܢܰܚ ܢܘܽܗܪܶܗ ܥܰܠ ܒܶܪ̈ܝܳܬܳܐ ܀
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).  ܢܢ . ܢܚܶܬ ܡܶܢ ܪܰܘܡܳܐ ܦܰܪܩܰܢ ܘܰܣܠܶܩ ܆ ܘܗܳܐ ܝܳܬܶܒ ܬܳܘܒ ܡܶܢ ܝܰܡܺܝܢܳܐ ܀
15. They eagerly watch for his coming, when he comes again: all those who expect him and hope in his name.  ܣ. ܣܳܘܚܺܝܢ ܠܐܘܽܪܥܶܗ ܬܘܽܒ ܡܳܐ ܕܳܐܬܶܐ ܆ ܟܽܠ ܕܣܰܟܺܝܘ ܠܶܗ ܘܣܰܒܰܪܘ ܒܰܫܡܶܗ ܀
16.  He entered Sheol, his light shone, and drove out darkness from its departed.  ܥ. ܥܰܠ ܠܳܗ݀ ܠܰܫܝܘܽܠ ܘܰܕܢܰܚ ܢܘܽܗܪܶܗ ܆ ܘܰܛܪܰܕ ܚܶܫܟܳܐ ܡܶܢ ܥܰܢܺܝ̈ܕܶܝܗ݀ ܀
17. The fruit Adam ate killed him; the fruit of the height descended and saved him.  ܦ. ܦܺܐܪܳܐ ܕܶܐܟܰܠ ܐܳܕܳܡ ܩܰܛܠܶܗ ܆ ܘܰܢܚܰܬ ܦܰܪܩܶܗ ܦܺܐܪܳܐ ܕܪܰܘܡܳܐ ܀
18. He burst open the graves, raised the dead, and depicted to us the type of his magnificent day.  ܨ. ܨܰܪܺܝ ܩܰܒܪ̈ܶܐ ܡܢܰܚܶܡ ܡܺܝ̈ܬܶܐ ܆ ܨܳܪ ܠܰܢ ܛܘܽܦܣܳܐ ܕܝܰܘܡܶܗ ܪܰܒܳܐ ܀
19. He drew near, and the day of resurrection arrived; blessed are they who expect him.  ܩ. ܩܪܶܒ ܘܰܡܛܳܐ ܠܶܗ ܝܘܽܡ ܢܘܽܚܳܡܳܐ ܆ ܛܘܽܒܰܘܗ̱ܝ ܠܰܐܝܢܳܐ ܕܰܡܣܰܟܶܐ ܠܶܗ ܀
20.  The day on which he comes is magnificent because all hidden things are revealed on it. ܪ. ܪܰܒ ܗ̱ܘܽ ܝܰܘܡܳܐ ܗܰܘ ܕܳܐܬܶܐ ܒܶܗ ܆ ܕܒܶܗ ܡܶܬܓܰܠ̈ܝܳܢ ܟܽܠ ܟܰܣ̈ܝܳܬܳܐ ܀
21.  Those lying in the dust hear his voice on the day of the resurrection and come out to meet him. ܫ. ܫܳܟ̈ܒܰܝ ܥܰܦܪܳܐ ܫܳܡܥܺܝܢ ܩܳܠܶܗ ܆ ܒܝܘܽܡ ܢܘܽܚܳܡܳܐ ܘܢܳܦܩܺܝܢ ܠܐܘܽܪܥܶܗ ܀
22.  Adam marvels when he is resurrected and returns to the place filled with blessedness. ܬ. ܬܳܗܰܪ ܐܳܕܳܡ ܡܳܐ ܕܡܶܬܢܰܚܰܡ ܆ ܘܦܳܢܶܐ ܠܰܐܬܪܳܐ ܕܰܡܠܶܐ ܛܘܽܒ̈ܶܐ ܀