Wednesday, January 14, 2009

"You came and shone forth, O Light unapproachable."

Icon of the Holy Feast of Theophany (Icon courtesy of www.eikonografos.com used with permission)

Kontakion for the Holy Feast of Theophany. Mode 4. Original Melody.
You appeared to us on earth* today, O Master,* and Your light was signed on us * who cry aloud to You and say * with understanding, O Christ our God: You came and shone forth, O Light unapproachable.

The Oikos for the Feast
On Galilee of the Gentiles, on the region of Zebulòn and the land of NephthalĂ­m, as the Prophet declared, a great light has shone, which is the Christ. Dark-dwellers have seen a radiant dawn shining out of Bethlehem, rather out of Mary, as the Lord—the Sun of Justice—breaks His rays o’er the whole of civilization. Come then, all unclothed offspring of Adam: let us put on Christ and thus keep warm. For, as a mantle for the denuded and a beacon to the be-darkened, You came and shone forth, O Light unapproachable.
(text from:http://sgpm.goarch.org/ematins/bilingual/Jan06.pdf)
  
Holy Theophany, fresco by Manuel Panselinos, Protaton, Mount Athos (source)
  
Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

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