st. john of damascus (676-749 - Cristo Raul

"
who
HYMNS.
To man she turns, but man may not deliver,
Nor angels save from crossing the dark river.
Then pray we, Brothers, heeding
life s brief space,
For rest to him who now has run his race,
And for our own souls Jesu s boundless grace.
ill.
Vain, vain is all, if not the grave surviving :
Nor fame nor riches aid us in our striving.
Companions false they flee at Death s arriving.
!
Therefore to Christ th eternal let us pray
For rest to him who now has pass d away,
In yonder realms of joy and endless day.
Where now the world, with all its fitful passion ?
Where now its changing scene,
Where now the hoarded gold, the silver gleaming,
The hum of slaves thro lordly mansions streaming?
All dust and ashes, all a fleeting cloud
Then to the King eternal cry aloud :
IV.
its transient fashion ?
Vouchsafe, O Lord, to him who now has pass d
Thine endless bliss, and rest with Thee at last.
Methinks I hear the voice prophetic crying
/ am but dust and ashes ! and see lying
The fleshless tenants of the tomb : and sighing
"Who now is king?"
I ask, warrior here ?
Who saint, who sinner? all alike appear. "-
Then from his toils Thy servant, Lord, release ;
And grant him, with the blest, eternal peace.
VI.
Of things unseen and seen, at Thy decreeing,
Beneath Thy moulding hand I took my being :
Earth gave me body, but the soul immortal
Came at Thy breathing through no earthly portal.
Ev n so,
O Lord, in tents of righteousness,
Among the living, this Thy servant bless.