Fortunatus
posted on Jul 08, 2004 - 02:42 AM
+Iryny nem `hmot
A name of pride is your name, O cousin of Emmanuel. You are great among all the saints, O John the Baptist.
You are exalted more than the patriarchs, and honored more than the prophets, for there are none born among women who are greater than you.
Come and listen to the wise, golden-mouthed Theodosius speak of the honour of John the Baptist.
What do I call you, with what kind do I honor you, with what likeness do I liken you, O you who deserves all honor?
You are the sweetness of the fruits, you are the movement of the branches, you are the flower of the fruitful trees on the land of the lilies.
Intercede on our behalf, O forerunner and baptizer, John the Baptist, that He may forgive us our sins.
Pray to the Lord on our behalf, O beholder of God the Evangelist, Mark the Apostle, that He may forgive us our sins.
The Lord of Hosts Himself honoured, you that it behooves us to do the same!
Why, though, are you worthy of praise?
Perhaps, because you made the Lord your first and last. Even in the womb of your mother, you leaped when you knew your Saviour drew near. You knew that it was appropriate to praise Him. You even knew him during your life! It was you who said, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. (John 1:15) Even though nobody around you understood this saying - even though it would be easy to doubt such a thing. You knew that Him Who came to be baptized of you, was your God.
I also sit in wonder, at your humility for this also is worthy of praise. The people loved you if they did not, there would not be thousands who came to be baptized by you. They would not have declared that you were a prophet even the Messiah. Yet, you never forgot who you were before God. You held before yourself that knowledge, and were not swayed then by the love of the people. You still knew the reverence due the Lord of Lords, you still knew you were before Him, you still knew to say, He must increase, but I must decrease. (John 3:30)
Perhaps it is for your modeling of true service that you are worthy of praise! When you served, you were never pointing at yourself and how you would help people rather, you were pointing eternally at the Saviour, teaching people to recognize Him so that they might follow Him, never you! When those who felt attachment to you questioned Him, you were mindful to have them also follow Him. He was again, your first and last.
You are worthy of praise for your strength of character! Despite how much they loved you, you kept a distance from them and you held your ground ever mindful of saving yourself also. You were not one to compromise your morals, nor your relationship to anyone, based on position, status, authority or wealth all were equal before you. You had firmness with love, perhaps
for you certainly did not hold back any message from any who came to you and yet they kept coming back.
O Great forerunner, intercede on our behalf and pray for us, that might attain even but a fraction of your virtue, which you attained even before the Gospel was preached,
_________________
Agapy,
Vortounatoc
Amyn, Maren a;a!
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