Early Christian Music:Syriac

Odes of Solomon (c. 100 CE)

• Ode 11• My heart was pruned and its flower appeared, /

then grace sprang up in it, / and it produced fruits for the Lord.

• For the Most High circumcised me by his Holy Spirit, / then he uncovered my inward being toward him, / and filled me with his love.

• And his circumcising became my salvation, / and I ran in the Way in his peace, / in the Way of truth.

• From the beginning until the end / I received his knowledge.

• And I was established upon the rock of truth, / where he had set me.

• And speaking waters touched my lips / from the spring of the Lord generously.

• And so I drank and became intoxicated, / from the living water that does not die.

• And my intoxication was not with ignorance, / but I abandoned vanity;

• And turned toward the Most High, my God, / and was enriched by his favors.

• And I abandoned the folly cast upon the earth, / and stripped it off and cast it from me.

• And the Lord renewed me with his garment, / and possessed me by his light.

• And from above he gave me immortal rest; / and I became like the land which blossoms and rejoices in its fruits.

• And the Lord [is] like the sun / upon the face of the land.

• My eyes were enlightened, / and my face received the dew;

• And my breath was refreshed / by the pleasant fragrance of the Lord.

• And he took me to his Paradise, / wherein is the wealth of the Lord’s pleasure.

• (I contemplated blooming and fruit-bearing trees, / and self-grown was their crown.

• Their branches were flourishing / and their fruits were shining; / their roots [were] from an immortal land.

• And a river of gladness was irrigating them, / and the region around them in the land of eternal life.)

• Then I adored the Lord because of his magnificence.

• And I said: “Blessed, O Lord, are they / who are planted in your land, / and who have a place in your Paradise;

• And who grow in the growth of your trees, / and have passed from darkness into light.

• Behold, all your laborers are fair, / they who work good works, / and turn from wickedness to your kindness.

• For they turned away from themselves the bitterness of the trees, / when they were planted in your land.

• And everyone was like your remnant / (Blessed are the workers of your water!) / and the eternal memorial of your faithful servants.

• Indeed, there is much room in your Paradise. / And there is nothing in it which is barren, / but everything is filled with fruit.

• Praise be to you, O God, the delight of Paradise for ever.!

• Hallelujah!”

Syriac Acts of Thomas 27 (c. 250 CE)• Come, holy name of the Messiah;

• Come, power of grace, which is from on high;• Come, perfect mercy;• Come, exalted gift;• Come, sharer of the blessing;• Come, revealer of hidden mysteries;• Come, mother of the seven houses, whose rest was

in the eighth house;• Come, messenger of reconciliation, and

communicate with the minds of these youths.• Come, Spirit of holiness, and purify their reins and

hearts.

Syriac Acts of Thomas 133(c. 250 CE)

• Living bread, the eaters of which do not die!• Bread, that fills hungry souls with your blessing!• You are worthy to receive the gift and to be for the

remission of sins,• that those who eat you may not die!• We name the name of the Father over you!• We name the name of the Son over you!• We name the name of the Spirit over you,• the exalted name that is hidden from all!

Ephrem the Syrian (306?-373 CE): Hymn on the Nativity 8

• To the melody "Who is able to speak?"• 1. Blessed is the Messenger who came bearing• a great peace. By the mercy of His Father,• He lowered Himself to us. Our own debts• He did not take up to Him. He reconciled• [His] Lordship with His chattels.

• Refrain: Glory to Your Dawn, divine and human.

• 2. Glorious is the Wise One Who allied and joined• Divinity with humanity,• one from the height and the other from the depth.• He mingled the natures like pigments• and an image came into being: the God-man.

• 3. O Zealous One who saw Adam• who became dust and the accursed serpent• eating him. Reality dwelt• in what had lost its flavor. He made him salt• by which the cursed serpent would be blinded.

• 4. Blessed is the Compassionate One Who saw, next to paradise,

• the lance that barred the way• to the Tree of Life. He came to take up• the body that would be struck so that by the opening of

His side• He might break through the way into paradise.

• 5. Glorious is the Compassionate One Who did not use• violence, and without force,• by wisdom He was victorious. He gave a type• to human beings that by power• and wisdom they might conquer discerningly.

• 6. Blessed is Your flock for You are her gate,• and You are her staff, and You are her shepherd,• and You are her drink; You [are] her pilot• and her overseer. O praise to the Only-begotten• Who was fruitful and multiplied in all [His] benefits.

• 7. The farmers who cultivated life• came and worshipped before Him. They prophesied to

Him• bursting into song, "Blessed is the Farmer• by Whom is worked the earth of the heart;• He gathers His grains of wheat into the storehouse of

life."

• 8. The laborers came to give glory• to the offshoot that sprang forth from the root• and the stem of Jesse, the virgin cluster• of a parched vine. "Let us be the vessels• for Your new wine that renews all."

• 9. "In You may my friend's vineyard that gives sour grapes

• find peace. Graft its vines• with Your slips. Let it be laden entirely• with Your blessings. Let its fruit appease• the Lord of the vineyard who threatened him."

• 10. Carpenters came because of Joseph• to the son of Joseph. "Blessed is your offspring,• the Chief of carpenters, by Whom was drawn• even the Ark. By Him was constructed• the temporal Tabernacle that was [only] for a time.

• 11. "Confess in the name of our craft• that You are our pride. May You make the yoke• that is light and easy upon those who bear it.• May You make the measure in which deceit• cannot be, for it is full of truth.

• 12. "Also may You construct and make a balance• for justice, so that whoever steps• onto it will be judged, and whoever is perfect• will be celebrated on it. O Just One, may You weigh• mercy and sins in it, as a judge."

• 13. When Sarah sang lullabyes to Isaac• as to a servant who bore the image• of the King, his Lord: upon his shoulders [was]• the sign of the cross, also upon his hands• bonds and pains, a symbol of the nails.

• 14. Rachel cried out to her husband; she said,• "Give me sons!" Blessed is Mary• for, without her asking, You dwelt in her womb• chastely, O Gift• Who pours Himself out upon His recipients.

• 15. Anna with bitter sobs• asked for a child; Sarah and Rebekah• with vows and words, and even Elizabeth,• again, with her prayer [asked] for a long time.• Although they suffered, afterward they were consoled.

• 16. Blessed is Mary, who without vows• and without prayer, in her virginity• conceived and brought forth the Lord of all• the sons of her companions who were and will be• pure and just men, priests and kings.

• 17. Who will sing a lullabye to the child of her womb• as Mary [did]? Who will dare• to call her son, Son of the Maker,• Son of the Creator? Who has ever existed• who called her son, Son of the Most High?

• 18. Bridegrooms shouted joyfully with [their] brides,• "Blessed is the Babe whose mother was• bride of the Holy one. Blessed [was] the marriage feast• at which You were present: even though its wine• suddenly was depleted, by You it became plentiful

again."

• 19. The children cried out, "Blessed [is] He Who was for us

• a brother and companion in the streets.• Blessed is the day that with branches• glorified the Tree of Life• Who inclined His height toward our childishness."

• 20. Women heard that behold a virgin indeed• would conceive and bring forth. Well-born women

hoped• that He would shine forth from them, and elegant women• that He would appear from them. Blessed is Your height• that bent down and shone forth from the poor.

• 21. Even little girls taken by Him [as brides]• spoke prophetically, "Yours, Lord, let me be,• for if I am ugly, to You I am fair,• and if I am lowly, to You I am noble.• The bridal chamber that passes away I have exchanged

for You."

• 22. Since youth is both bold• and talkative, the young girls gathered,• daughters of the Hebrews, wise women,• and the mourners, and with their soft words• changed dirges into prophecy.

Narsai

Jacob of Serug