Romanos the Melodist

In his own words on John

• John 1:29

  Now the the garment of mourning is rent; we have put on the white robe Which the spirit has woven for us from the lamb's fleece of our Lamb and our God; Sin is taken away, and immortality is given us, our restoration is clear. The Forerunner has proclaimed it.… O, the message of the Baptist, and the mystery in it! He calls the shepherd lamb, and not only a lamb, but one to free from mistakes. He showed the lawless that the goat which they sent into the desert was ineffective. "Lo," he said, "the lamb; there is no longer need of the goat; Put your hands on him, All of you who confess your sins, For He has come to take them away, those of the people, and of the whole world. For lo, the One whom the Father has sent to us is the One who carries away evil, Who appeared and illumined all things."

  KONTAKION ON THE EPIPHANY 6.12-13

• John 2:3

  When Christ was present at the marriage feast, and the crowd of guests were faring sumptuously, The supply of wine failed them, and their joy was turned into distress; The bridegroom was upset; the cupbearers muttered unceasingly; There was this one sad display of penury, And there was no small clamor in the room. Recognizing it, the all-holy Mary Came at once and said to her son: "They have no wine, But I beg you, my son, show that you can do all things, Thou who has in wisdom created all things." We beg of you, holy Virgin, from what sort of miracles did you know How your son would be able to offer wine when He had not harvested the grapes And had never before worked wonders, as John, inspired of God wrote? Teach us, how, when you had never gazed upon And never made trial of His miracles, How did you summon Him to this miracle? For the question now posed to us in this matter is not simple, As to how you said to your son: "Give them wine," He who has in wisdom created all things. Let us learn the word which the mother of the God of all said to us: "Listen," she said, "my friends, instruct yourselves and know the mystery; I have seen my son working miracles even before this miracle. … "For I know that I did not know a husband, And I bore a son—beyond natural law and reason, And I know that I remained a virgin as I had been. Do you, O man, ask for a miracle greater than this birth? Gabriel came to me saying how this one would be born, He who has in wisdom created all things. "After my conception, I myself saw Elizabeth call me Mother of God before the actual birth; after the birth, Simeon praised me in song; Anna greeted me with joy; the Magi from Persia hastened to the manger, For a heavenly star proclaimed the birth in advance; Shepherds with angels heralded joy, And creation rejoiced with them. What would I be able to ask for greater than these miracles? Indeed from them I have faith that it is my son Who has in wisdom created all things."

  KONTAKION ON THE MARRIAGE AT CANA 7.5-9

• John 2:4

  But Christ seeing His mother saying, "Grant me this request," At once said to her: "What do you wish, woman, my hour has not come." Certain men made use of this saying as a pretext for impiety; They said that Christ, submitted to necessity, They said that He was a slave to periods of time. … "Now answer, my child," said the all-holy mother of Christ, "Thou who dost control with measurement the periods of time, how, my son and Lord, dost Thou await a time? Thou who hast regulated the division of the seasons, how dost thou await a season? Thou who art the creator of the visible and the invisible, Thou who, as master, dost day and night regulate The ceaseless revolutions, as Thou dost will them— Thou who hast defined the years in beautifully ordered cycles— How, then, dost Thou await a time for the miracle which I ask of Thee Who hast in wisdom created all things?" "I knew before you told me, revered Virgin, that the wine was just beginning to give out for them," The Ineffable and Merciful straightway answered His holy mother. "I know all the concerns of your heart which you set in motion in this matter; For within yourself you reasoned as follows: 'Necessity now summons my son to a miracle, And He puts it off under the pretext of "the time." ' Holy mother, learn now the meaning of the delay, For when you know it, I shall grant you this favor, I, who in wisdom have created all things.

  KONTAKION ON THE MARRIAGE AT CANA 7.10-12

• John 2:4

  "At the time when I brought forward Heavens and the Earth and all things from a state of nonexistence, I would have been quite able at that time to arrange in order at once all that I had produced; But I introduced a certain well-regulated order. Creation was accomplished in six days— Not that I did not have the power, But in order that the chorus of angels, seeing what I did, each deed in turn, Would deify me, singing a hymn: 'Glory to Thee, Powerful One, Who hast in wisdom created all things.' … "Mark what I say, holy one; for at this time I was willing first To announce to the Israelites and to teach them the hope of faith, In order that in the presence of miracles they might learn thoroughly who has sent me, And that they might know with certainty the glory of my Father, And his will, for He desires that in every way I be glorified along with Him by all. For what He who engendered me has done, these things I also do, Since I am consubstantial with Him and His Spirit, I, who have in wisdom created all things. "For if they had understood all these things at the time when they saw the awesome miracles, They would understand that I am God before time, even though I have become man. But now, contrary to order, before the teaching, you have asked for miracles; And it is for this reason that I delayed a short time in answer to you: If I was waiting for the time to perform miracles, It was for this reason alone. But, since it is necessary that parents be honored by their children, I shall pay observance to you, Mother, for I am able to do all things, I, who have in wisdom created all things."

  KONTAKION ON THE MARRIAGE AT CANA 7.13-16

• John 2:11

  When Christ, as a sign of His power, clearly changed the water into wine All the crowd rejoiced, for they considered the taste marvelous. Now we all partake at the banquet in the church For Christ's blood is changed into wine And we drink it with holy joy, Praising the great bridegroom, For he is the true bridegroom, the Son of Mary, The Word before all time who took the form of a servant, He who has in wisdom created all things.

  KONTAKION ON THE MARRIAGE AT CANA 7.20

• John 4:6

  Christ, … the source of the breath of life for all, when He was Weary from a journey, sat down near a spring of Samaria. And it was the season of burning heat. It was the sixth hour, as the Scripture says, It was the middle of the day when the Messiah came to illumine those in darkness. The Spring came upon the spring, not to drink but to cleanse. The fountain of immortality was near the stream of the wretched woman as though it were in need. He is tired from walking, He who tirelessly walked on the sea, He who furnishes Exceeding great joy and redemption.

  KONTAKION ON THE WOMAN OF SAMARIA 9.4

• John 4:17-18

  [Jesus says] "If you wish that I give you the streams of pure water, Go, and call your husband; I shall not imitate your reproach; I shall not say: 'You are a woman of Samaria, and how is it that you ask for water?' I do not increase your thirst; for I have brought you to thirst through thirst. I exaggerated being thirsty and I was tormented by thirst in order that I might reveal you as thirsty. Go, then, and call your husband and return." The woman said, "I think that I have no husband," and the Creator said to her: "Truly do you have none? You have five, the sixth you do not possess, So that you may receive Exceeding great joy and redemption." O wise enigmas! O wise characteristics! In the faith of the holy woman is pictured All the features of the church in true colors which do not grow old; For the way in which the woman denied a husband when she had many, Is just the way the church denied many gods, like husbands, And left them and became betrothed to one Master in coming forth from the water. She had five husbands and the sixth she did not have; and leaving the five Husbands of impiety, she now takes Thee, as the sixth, as she comes From the water, Exceeding great joy and redemption.… The espoused church of the nations, then, left these things, And she hurries here to the well of the baptismal font And denies the things of the past, just as the woman of Samaria did; For she did not conceal what had formerly been true from Him who knows all in advance, But she said, "… Even if I formerly had husbands, I do not now wish to have These husbands which I did have; for I now possess Thee who hast now taken me in Thy net; And I am by faith rescued from the filth of my sins That I may receive Exceeding great joy and redemption."

  KONTAKION ON THE WOMAN OF SAMARIA 9.11-12, 14

• John 4:28

  But when the Merciful One was near the spring, … Then the woman of Samaria, coming from her native village, Sichar, arrived, and she had her urn on her shoulders; And who would not call blessed the arrival and departure of this woman? For she departed in filth; she entered into the figure of the church as blameless; She departed, and she drew out life like a sponge. She departed bearing water; she became a bearer of God; And who does not bless This woman; or rather who does not revere her, the type of the nations As she brings Exceeding great joy and redemption?

  KONTAKION ON THE WOMAN OF SAMARIA 9.5

• John 6:7-9

  "Master, we can find only five barley loaves; No one of us brought anything into the desert, But a child is here who has them. O Lover of man, no other resource is possible for us. For an enormous and boundless number of people, O Man of pity, How can these five loaves be sufficient? In addition, he has two fishes. But hurry and nourish them, since Thou art The heavenly bread of immortality." When Christ heard these words of His disciples, He answered them in this way: "You are mistaken if you do not know That I am the Creator of the universe; I provide for the world; I now know clearly what these people need. I see the desert and that the sun is setting; Indeed I arranged the setting of the sun; I understand the distress of the crowd which is here; I know what I have in mind to do for them. I myself shall cure their hunger, for I am The heavenly bread of immortality.… "Even though you consider carefully, can you as mere men secure nourishment, Or can you, though you are worried, feed the people? Or, Life' you cannot feed them, have you the power to keep silent? I, alone, as Creator take thought for all. I exist as good, God before the centuries. And I provide every kind of food for all people; But you, on beholding the multitude, are worried, And you do not consider the One who provides abundantly, As I am set before all, offering The heavenly bread of immortality. "I know in advance what you are thinking and what you are saying to each other, As you see the people, the means of provision, and the hour. You are reasoning, 'Who will feed the entire crowd in the desert?' Well, know clearly, friends, who I am. I fed Israel in the desert; I gave them bread from Heaven; In a region without water, I made water to flow from a rock; … Since I am The heavenly bread of immortality.

  KONTAKION ON THE MULTIPLICATION OF LOAVES 13.12-17

• John 6:11

  Christ had brought to Him the five loaves of bread, And straightway, lifting His eyes to the Father, He said: "I am doing Thy deeds; for I am Thy Son; For in the beginning, I created the whole world Together with Thee and the Holy Spirit; for I am The heavenly bread of immortality." Behold how the masters, the servants of Christ, were arranged and attended The Servant, Jesus; and they found Him at once. For the Lord blessed the five loaves of bread, Speaking to them as follows in spiritual fashion: "Grow and multiply perceptibly, And nourish now all who are assembled here." And immediately the loaves obeyed the Lord; They multiplied invisibly As Christ spoke to them, for He is The heavenly bread of immortality.

  KONTAKION ON THE MULTIPLICATION OF LOAVES 13.19-20

• John 6:58-59

  All the angels on high marvel at the affairs of earth For earth-born men dwelling here below Are exalted in spirit and reach what is on high As they share in Christ, crucified. For all together partake of His body, As they eagerly come to the bread of life, They hope for eternal salvation from it. Even though visibly, to all appearances, it is bread It sanctifies them spiritually because it is The heavenly bread of immortality. That the bread which we take is the flesh of the Immanuel, The Master Himself was the first to teach us; For when He voluntarily went to His Passion, Christ broke the bread of salvation, And said to His apostles, as it is written: "Now draw near; eat of this, And eating, you will receive eternal life, For this is my flesh, this food, Since really, I whom you behold, am The heavenly bread of immortality. We all know, we who possess complete faith in Christ, That as we approach, eager for the mystic bread And in addition take the cup of salvation, If we are of pure heart and without dissimulation We are all participants of the flesh and blood Of Christ with faith in Him, and we hope From this a life like that of the angels; For, in very truth, the body of the One who suffered, The very holy body of Jesus Christ is The heavenly bread of immortality.

  KONTAKION ON THE MULTIPLICATION OF LOAVES 13.1-3

• John 11:1

  Let us all, with longing, run to Bethany to see Christ there, weeping for his friend. For desiring all things to be ordained by law, He accomplishes all things in the duality of his nature. He suffers as son of David. As Son of God, he redeems the whole world From all the evil of the serpent, And on the fourth day, he raises up Lazarus, Taking pity as the one who has compassion on The tears of Mary and Martha. Together sustained by faith, These women announced to Christ and to God the death of their sibling, saying, "Hurry, come, you who are always present in all places, For Lazarus whom you love is sick. Therefore if you come near, Death will run away, and your friend will be delivered from corruption, And the Jews will see that you, the Merciful One, have had compassion on The tears of Mary and Martha."

  KONTAKION ON THE RAISING OF LAZARUS 27.2-3

• John 11:12-13

  The Creator of all prophesied to the disciples, saying: "Friends and companions, our friend has fallen asleep." He was teaching them in advance, mystically, Because he knows all things as the creator of all things. "Let us go, then, let us advance and see the strange tomb, And let us cause the mourning of Mary and Martha to cease As I raise up Lazarus from the dead, And, as the Merciful One, have compassion on The tears of Mary and Martha." When they heard these words, all of the apostles as with one voice cried out to the Lord, "Sleep for human beings is always for their deliverance, not for their destruction." And so he spoke to them openly: "He is dead. As mortal I am away from him. But as God, I know all things. If we truly arrive at the opportune time, I will raise the dead, and stop now The tears of Mary and Martha."

  KONTAKION ON THE RAISING OF LAZARUS 27.4-5

• John 12:13

  With palms everyone came On the occasion of your arrival, Savior, Crying to you, "Hosanna!" Now all of us sing praises to you From our pitiful mouths, As we wave to you the branches of our souls and cry out: "O you, who are in the highest, save the world That you brought into being, Lord, And blot out our sins, Just as you previously dried The tears of Mary and Martha." The holy church holds a high festival, Faithfully calling together her children, O Lover of humanity; With palms she meets you and strews garments of joy So that you, along with your disciples and your friends, May establish your feet and grant deep peace for your servants, And release them from oppression, as previously you checked The tears of Mary and Martha. Incline your ear, O God of the universe, And hear our prayers, And snatch us from the bonds of death.… Let those of us who have died because of our sins, and who dwell in the tomb Because of our knowledge of evils, Imitate the sisters of faithful Lazarus as we cry to Christ with tears, and in faith and in love: "Save us, you who willed to become man. And raise us up from the tomb of our sins, You, alone who are immortal."

  KONTAKION ON THE RAISING OF LAZARUS 27.14-17

• John 13:5

  The sea washes the brick, The Abyss washes the clay And it does not destroy its composition, But keeps its substance intact And wipes clean its character. Notice the immensity of the maker, And yet see what sort of disposition he has for his creatures; They have reclined and he has stood, They are fed and he serves, They are washed and he wipes them clean; And the feet molded of clay are not cast by his hands into the fire. Have mercy, have mercy, have mercy on us, You who bear with all and receive all.… May sleep take me to death, If I allow you, the Immortal, To bend down before me, a mortal. The enemy would laugh at me, If you deal in this way with me. Is it not enough that I am considered as yours? Is it not more than enough that I am considered by you And called the first of your friends? But are you to wash my feet, vessels of clay, You, the Potter of the universe? And my perishable legs and feet You, O Redeemer, desire to wash them? Have mercy, have mercy, have mercy on us, You who bear with all and receive all.

  KONTAKION ON JUDAS 33.8, 10

• John 13:30

  And leaving the sheepfold, [Judas] hurried to the beasts of prey, leaving behind the lambs.

  KONTAKION ON JUDAS 33.12

• John 18:17

  O Good Shepherd, you who have placed his Spirit among the flocks, Hurry, save your sheep, O Holy One. Forgetful of the fearful waves And transformed by the remark of the maiden, Peter said, "Christ, God, when I was sinking into the depths of the surging wave, I was deservedly frightened. And yet, when asked a simple question, In my denial, I begin to sink. But in my tears, I cry to you: 'Hurry, save your Sheep, O Holy One.' " There is another kind of deep here on land —the maidservant; But at last, finding my captain, I flee for refuge to your safe harbor. O Lord, my tears I will pour out to you for your advocacy, And I will cry out to you because of this: "Hurry, save your sheep, O Holy One."

  KONTAKION ON PETER'S DENIAL 34, PROOIMION 1-3

• John 19:1

  Like a lion they roared to seize The life of the lamb, Christ. Pilate, fulfilling their plan, Flogged you, the meek One. So he set to work on your back.… The Redeemer endured the whip. The Deliverer was in chains, Stripped and stretched out on a pillar, He who in a pillar of cloud Previously spoke to Moses and Aaron. He who laid the pillars of the earth, as David said, is bound to a pillar. He who made known to the people the way in the desert—for the pillar of fire showed [the way] before them— is fastened to a pillar. The rock is on a pillar, and hewn for me is The church.

  KONTAKION ON THE PASSION OF CHRIST 36.13-14

• John 19:6

  The martyr Abel was envied by Cain and later murdered. This is what Christ also endured: Though he desired this envious people, He incited them to anger, while showing affection; He healed those who were sick, and instead of gratitude, he suffers and is crucified, In order that Adam might dance in celebration. The crowd of the lawless, feeling an antipathy towards the plethora of miracles Cried out: "Kill! Crucify him!" The One who sustains all things was delivered over to Pilate; They handed over to the court of justice Him who will judge both kings and paupers; The condemned judges the just Judge; The one who lives in obscurity Threatened to murder the Redeemer as a thief! Meanwhile he, in order to suffer, endures so long, in silence, standing speechless, In order that Adam might dance in celebration

  KONTAKION ON THE PASSION OF CHRIST 36.5-6

• John 19:9

  The Thunderer stood voiceless The Word, without a word; For if he had raised his voice He would not have been overcome, And, victorious, he would not have been crucified, and Adam would not have been saved: Therefore, in order that he might suffer He who captures the wise Conquered by keeping silent. But when the judge saw that he did not speak out, overcome with desperation, He said: "What am I to do with one who does not speak?" But they answered: "He is guilty of those things about which we ask: Thus, he keeps silent.…" "Death now is a debt I owe," said my Savior "To the lawless people"—as for Pilate, Jesus did not consider the unspeakable brute Worthy of a word

  KONTAKION ON THE PASSION OF CHRIST 20.7-8

• John 19:12

  "Crucify!" the murderer heard the impious crying out, And their will he fulfilled, Handing over, without being compelled to, The One whom he planned to have crucified. For having heard that he would be an enemy of Caesar, The coward was frightened. He would rather be the enemy of the Almighty Than the enemy of Caesar, Preferring his life over the Life. Therefore he will certainly not escape blame, Since, because of the lawless, He killed the Living One.

  KONTAKION ON THE PASSION OF CHRIST 36.16

• John 19:17

  "In you, Abraham, I foreshadow my plans, For indeed, O righteous one, You are clearly my figure in relief. Do you want to know what is to come after you as a result of your [actions]? For this is why I had you ascend here, to show you. For just as you did not spare Your son on account of me, So also I on account of all Will not spare my son; Instead I will give him to be slain for the sake of the world." … "In the same way that your Isaac carried The wood on his shoulders, My son will bear the cross upon his shoulders. Your great love has revealed Also what is about to happen. See now the ram [caught up] in the wood; When you see where its superior strength comes from, you will understand the mystery: It is by the horns that these bonds are overcome; The horns signify the hands of my son. Not only did they slaughter [my son] for me, But I also continue to protect your son for you."

  KONTAKION ON ABRAHAM AND ISAAC 3.22-23

• John 19:25

  The lamb, Mary, beholding her lamb advancing to the slaughter, Followed him wearily with the other women, saying, "Where are you going, O my son?… Is there another wedding again in Cana, And are you hurrying there now In order that you may make wine from water for them? Shall I go with you, my child, or should I wait for you instead? Give me some word, O Word, And do not pass me by in silence, You who have kept me pure, My son and my God.… "You go on, O child, to an unjust death, And no one shares in your suffering with you. Peter does not accompany you— He who said to you, 'I shall never deny you, even if I die.' Thomas has left you—the one who cried out, 'Let us all die with him.' And again the others, family and sons [of God], Destined to judge the twelve tribes, where are they now? Not one of all of them is here. But the one above all, You, alone, O Son, saved all who were opposed [to you]. You reconciled all who were against [you], My son and my God." … [Jesus replies] "O Mother, hold on for a little longer, and you will see how, like a healer, I strip down and come where they lie dead And heal their wounds, Cutting their callousness and hardness with the point of the spear. And when I receive the vinegar, I use it as an astringent on the wound; And when I have opened up the cut with the scalpel of the nails, I will use my tunic as a dressing, Having my cross as the remedy, I use it, O Mother, so that you may sing with understanding: 'By suffering he has redeemed suffering, My son and my God.' "Therefore leave behind your grief, O Mother And set out on your journey with joy. For I am already hurrying towards that for which I came, To fulfill the plan of him who sent me; For, this was from the beginning what was ordained for me Even by my Father, and it did not displease my spirit then that I should become incarnate And suffer on behalf of the fallen. Hurry then, O Mother, announce to all, 'By suffering he strikes down the one who hates Adam And, having conquered, he comes, My son and my God.' "

  KONTAKION ON MARY AT THE CROSS 35.1, 3, 13-14

• John 20:1

  To the Sun, before sun, once he had set in the tomb The young women bearing incense hastened at dawn, As though seeking the day and saying to one another, "O friends, come Let us anoint with spices The body, life-bearing and buried, The flesh which resurrects the fallen Adam That lies here in this tomb. Let us go, let us hurry like the magi, And let us kneel down and bring with us The myrrh as gifts— Not to him in swaddling clothes But to him wrapped in burial cloths. And let us weep and cry out: 'O Master! Arise! You who offer resurrection to the fallen.' " While these godly women were discussing These things among themselves, They considered another idea, which is full of wisdom, And they said to one another: "Women, why are we fooling ourselves? For surely the Lord is not in the tomb! Could it have held in subjection this long One who controls the breath of living beings? Would he still be lying there as a putrid corpse?… Let Mary go and see the tomb, And let us follow whatever she tells us, For most certainly, as he foretold, The immortal one has arisen, He who offers resurrection to the fallen." The wise women, giving due consideration to this idea, As planned, sent forward Mary Magdalene To the tomb, as the Theologian says. It was dark, but love lighted the way for her; And so she saw the great stone rolled away From the entrance to the tomb.

  KONTAKION ON THE RESURRECTION 40.1-3

• John 20:16

  He who searches the hearts And grabs them by the reins, Knowing that Mary would recognize his voice, Like a shepherd, called his crying lamb, Saying, "Mary." She at once recognized him and spoke: "Surely my good shepherd calls me In order that from this time forward he may number me among the ninety nine lambs; For I see behind the one who is calling me The bodies of the saints, the ranks of the just, Therefore, then, I do not say, 'Who are you who calls me?' For I clearly know who it is who is calling me; It is he, as he said ahead of time, My Lord, he Who offers resurrection to the fallen."

  KONTAKION ON THE RESURRECTION 40.10

• John 20:17

  Carried away by the warmth of her affection and by her fervent love, The maiden hurried, wanting to take hold of him, Who is not containable, who fills all creation. But the Creator did not fault her eagerness; Instead, he elevated her to the divine, saying, "Do not touch me; or do you consider me merely mortal? I am God, do not touch me. O holy woman, lift up your eyes and consider the heavens; Seek me there, For I am ascending to my Father, Whom I have not left. For I exist simultaneously with him And share the same throne and honor with him, I Who offer resurrection to the fallen."

  KONTAKION ON THE RESURRECTION 40.11

• John 20:27

  Who protected the hand of the disciple, then, That was not melted when he approached The fiery side of the Lord? Who gave it daring and strength to probe The flaming bone? Certainly the side was examined. For unless the side had supplied abundant power, How could a right hand of clay have touched The sufferings which had shaken What is above and what is below? It was grace itself that was given to Thomas By Christ to touch his side and to cry out, "You are our Lord and God." Truly the bramble bush which endured fire Was burned but not consumed. Because of the hand of Thomas I believe the story of Moses. For, though his hand was perishable and thorny, It was not burned When it touched the side that was like burning flame. Then fire came upon the bramble bush, But now, the thorny one raced to the fire; And God himself looked on, Guarding both. And so I believe. And so I will praise the one who is both God and man, as I cry, "You are our Lord and God." For truly the boundary line of faith Was circumscribed for me By the hand of Thomas. For when he touched Christ He became like the pen Of a rapid-writing scribe That writes for the faithful. Faith gushes forth from it. The robber drank and became sober again from it. The disciples watered their hearts from it. Thomas drained the knowledge that he sought from it, For he drank first and then offered a draught To many who have a little doubt. He persuades them to say, "You are our Lord and God."

  KONTAKION ON DOUBTING THOMAS 46.1-3

• John 21:15

  Look to me, Peter, on how you offer instruction. Remembering your own fall, sympathize with all. Mindful of that maiden who caused your own downfall, do not be harsh. If conceit attacks you, listen again to the sound of the rooster's crow, And remember the tears with whose streams I washed you, I who alone know what is in your heart. Peter, do you love me? Do what I say, feed my flock, and love those whom I love, Sympathizing with sinners and remembering the compassion I had for you, since I received you after you denied me three times. You have a thief as gatekeeper of paradise to give you courage. Send him those whom you wish. Because of you, Adam turned to me, Crying, "O Creator offer me The robber as gatekeeper, and Cephas as keeper of the keys. You who alone know what is in the heart."

  KONTAKION ON THE MISSION OF THE APOSTLES 47.5-6