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Oration Concerning Simeon and Anna

Methodius of Olympus

Section 6

About this work

Author: Methodius of Olympus

VI. Hence the aged Simeon, putting off the weakness

‹ Section 5 Section 7 ›

of

the

flesh

,

and

putting

on

the

strength

of

hope

,

in

the

face

of

the

law

hastened

to

receive

the

Minister

of

the

law

,

the

Teacher

with

authority

,

the

God

of

Abraham

,

the

Protector

of

Isaac

,

the

Holy

One

of

Israel

,

the

Instructor

of

Moses

;

Him

,

I

say

,

who

promised

to

show

him

His

divine

incarnation

,

as

it

were

His

hinder

parts

;

Him

who

,

in

the

midst

of

poverty

,

was

rich

;

Him

who

in

infancy

was

before

the

ages

;

Him

who

,

though

seen

,

was

invisible

;

Him

who

in

comprehension

was

incomprehensible

;

Him

who

,

though

in

littleness

,

yet

surpassed

all

magnitude

—

at

one

and

the

same

time

in

the

temple

and

in

the

highest

heavens

—

on

a

royal

throne

,

and

on

the

chariot

of

the

cherubim

Him

who

is

both

above

and

below

continuously

;

Him

who

is

in

the

form

of

a

servant

,

and

in

the

form

of

God

the

Father

;

a

subject

,

and

yet

King

of

all

.

He

was

entirely

given

up

to

desire

,

to

hope

,

to

joy

;

he

was

no

longer

his

own

,

but

His

who

had

been

looked

for

.

The

Holy

Spirit

had

announced

to

him

the

joyful

tidings

,

and

before

he

reached

the

temple

,

carried

aloft

by

the

eyes

of

his

understanding

,

as

if

even

now

he

possessed

what

he

had

longed

for

,

he

exulted

with

joy

.

Being

thus

led

on

,

and

in

his

haste

treading

the

air

with

his

steps

,

he

reaches

the

shrine

hitherto

held

sacred

;

but

,

not

heeding

the

temple

,

he

stretches

out

his

holy

arms

to

the

Ruler

of

the

temple

,

chanting

forth

in

song

such

strains

as

become

the

joyous

occasion

:

I

long

for

Thee

,

O

Lord

God

of

my

fathers

,

and

Lord

of

mercy

,

who

hast

deigned

,

of

Thine

own

glory

and

goodness

,

which

provides

for

all

,

of

Thy

gracious

condescension

,

with

which

Thou

inclinest

towards

us

,

as

a

Mediator

bringing

peace

,

to

establish

harmony

between

earth

and

heaven

.

I

seek

Thee

,

the

Great

Author

of

all

.

With

longing

I

expect

Thee

who

,

with

Thy

word

,

embracest

all

things

.

I

wait

for

Thee

,

the

Lord

of

life

and

death

.

For

Thee

I

look

,

the

Giver

of

the

law

,

and

the

Successor

of

the

law

.

I

hunger

for

Thee

,

who

quickenest

the

dead

;

I

thirst

for

Thee

,

who

refreshest

the

weary

;

I

desire

Thee

,

the

Creator

and

Redeemer

of

the

world

.

Thou

art

our

God

,

and

Thee

we

adore

;

Thou

art

our

holy

Temple

,

and

in

Thee

we

pray

;

Thou

art

our

Lawgiver

,

and

Thee

we

obey

;

Thou

art

God

of

all

things

the

First

.

Before

Thee

was

no

other

god

begotten

of

God

the

Father

;

neither

after

Thee

shall

there

be

any

other

son

consubstantial

and

of

one

glory

with

the

Father

.

And

to

know

Thee

is

perfect

righteousness

,

and

to

know

Thy

power

is

the

root

of

immortality

.

Thou

art

He

who

,

for

our

salvation

,

was

made

the

head

stone

of

the

corner

,

precious

and

honourable

,

declared

before

to

Sion

.

For

all

things

are

placed

under

Thee

as

their

Cause

and

Author

,

as

He

who

brought

all

things

into

being

out

of

nothing

,

and

gave

to

what

was

unstable

a

firm

coherence

;

as

the

connecting

Band

and

Preserver

of

that

which

has

been

brought

into

being

;

as

the

Framer

of

things

by

nature

different

;

as

He

who

,

with

wise

and

steady

hand

,

holds

the

helm

of

the

universe

;

as

the

very

Principle

of

all

good

order

;

as

the

irrefragable

Bond

of

concord

and

peace

.

For

in

Thee

we

live

,

and

move

,

and

have

our

being

.

Wherefore

,

O

Lord

my

God

,

I

will

glorify

Thee

,

I

will

praise

Thy

name

;

for

Thou

hast

done

wonderful

things

;

Thy

counsels

of

old

are

faithfulness

and

truth

;

Thou

art

clothed

with

majesty

and

honour

.

For

what

is

more

splendid

for

a

king

than

a

purple

robe

embroidered

around

with

flowers

,

and

a

shining

diadem

?

Or

what

for

God

,

who

delights

in

man

,

is

more

magnificent

than

this

merciful

assumption

of

the

manhood

,

illuminating

with

its

resplendent

rays

those

who

sit

in

darkness

and

the

shadow

of

death

?

Fitly

did

that

temporal

king

and

Thy

servant

once

sing

of

Thee

as

the

King

Eternal

,

saying

,

Thou

art

fairer

than

the

children

of

men

,

who

amongst

men

art

very

God

and

man

.

For

Thou

hast

girt

,

by

Thy

incarnation

,

Thy

loins

with

righteousness

,

and

anointed

Thy

veins

with

faithfulness

,

who

Thyself

art

very

righteousness

and

truth

,

the

joy

and

exultation

of

all

.

Therefore

rejoice

with

me

this

day

,

ye

heavens

,

for

the

Lord

hath

showed

mercy

to

His

people

.

Yea

,

let

the

clouds

drop

the

dew

of

righteousness

upon

the

world

;

let

the

foundations

of

the

earth

sound

a

trumpet

-

blast

to

those

in

Hades

,

for

the

resurrection

of

them

that

sleep

is

come

.

Let

the

earth

also

cause

compassion

to

spring

up

to

its

inhabitants

;

for

I

am

filled

with

comfort

;

I

am

exceeding

joyful

since

I

have

seen

Thee

,

the

Saviour

of

men

.

Notes

47
τὸν αὐθέντην διδάσκαλον. The allusion is to Mark i. 22.
48
Exod. iii. 23.
49
Isa. xliii. 10.
50
Wisd. xv. 3.
51
Ps. cxviii. 22; Isa. xxviii. 16; 1 Pet. ii. 6.
52
Acts xviii. 28.
53
Exod. xv. 2; Isa. xxv. 1; Ps. civ. 1.
54
Isa. xlii. 7; Luke i. 79.
55
1 Tim. i. 17; Ps. xlv. 2.
56
Isa. xi. 5.
57
Isa. xlv. 8.
58
2 Cor. vii. 4.