The Hymn of Kassiani

St. Kassiani the Hymnographer

O Lord God, the woman who had fallen into many sins, having perceived Thy divinity received the rank of ointment-bearer, offering Thee spices before Thy burial wailing and crying: "Woe is me, for the love of adultery and sin hath given me a dark and lightless night; accept the fountains of my tears O Thou Who drawest the waters of the sea by the clouds incline Thou to the sigh of my heart O Thou Who didst bend the heavens by Thine inapprehensible condescension; I will kiss Thy pure feet and I will wipe them with my tresses. I will kiss Thy feet Whose tread when it fell on the ears of Eve in Paradise dismayed her so that she did hide herself because of fear. Who then shall examine the multitude of my sin and the depth of Thy judgment? Wherefore, O my Saviour and the Deliverer of my soul turn not away from Thy handmaiden O Thou of boundless mercy".

Lord have mercy upon me, a sinner.

Relevant Reading

Matthew 26:6-16

St, Kassiani the Hymnographer

The Theotokos Comforts Eve

The Theotokos comforts our foremother, Eve,
and crushes the head of the serpent beneath her foot

O Eve!

My mother, my daughter,

life-giving Eve,

Do not be ashamed, do not grieve.

The former things have passed away

Our God has brought us to a New Day.

See, I am with Child,

Through whom all will be reconciled.

O Eve!

My sister, my friend,

We will rejoice together

Forever

Life without end.


~ Sr. Columba Guare (copyright © 2005 Sisters of the Mississippi Abbey)

 The Holy Mother is always a comfort. Her prayers reach the ears of her Son with especial music. Today, through her prayers, I was rescued from an awkward situation. I can only thank her so much that she has deigned to come into my home and become my mother as well.

The Resurrection of Christ,
depicting His resurrection of Adam and Eve

Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, here is your son.’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.

~ John 19:25-27

Relevant Reading
Adam and Eve
"Reading" the Icon of the Resurrection
Original Sin, St. Augustine, and Orthodoxy
Appellations of the Theotokos (drawn from the OT...You may have to scroll down a little.)