Ephraim Syrus:  Fifteen Hymns For the Feast of the Epiphany.

” 39. “The scribes and the priests will be unable—to hurt thy son in their envy;—for by Him their priesthood shall be dissolved,—and their festivals brought to nought. ” 40. “A Watcher revealed to me, when I received—conception of the Babe, that my Son is a King;—that His diadem is from on high and is not dissolved,—he declared to me even as ye do . ” 41. “The Watcher, therefore, of whom thou hast spoken—is he who came as a star,—and was shown to us and brought us good tidings—that He is great and glorious above the stars. ” 42. “That Angel declared to me—in his good tidings, when he appeared to me,—that to His Kingdom no end shall be—and the mystery is kept and shall not be revealed. ” 43. “The Star also declared again to us—that thy Son is He that shall keep the diadem. —His aspect was something changed,—and he was the Angel and made it not known to us. ” 44. “Before me when the Watcher showed himself,—he called Him his Lord before He was conceived;—and as the Son of the Highest announced Him to me:—but where His Father is he made not known to me. ” 45. “Before us he proclaimed in the form of a star—that the Lord of the Highest is He Who is born;—and over the stars of light thy Son is ruler,—and unless He commands they rise not. ” 46. “In your presence, lo! there are revealed—other mysteries, that ye may learn the truth;—how in virginity I bare my Son,—and He is Son of God; go ye, proclaim Him! ” 47. “In our presence the Star taught us —that His Birth is exalted above the world and above all beings is thy Son,—and is Son of God according to thy saying. ” 48. “The world on high and the world below bear witness to Him,—all the Watchers and the stars,—that He is Son of God and Lord. —Bear ye His fame to your lands! ” 49. “All the world on high, in one star,—has stirred up Persia and she has learnt the truth,—that thy Son is Son of God,—and to Him shall all peoples be subject. ” 50. “Peace bear ye to your lands:—peace be multiplied in your borders! —As apostles of truth may ye be believed—in all the way that ye shall pass through. ” 51. “The peace of thy Son, it shall bear us—in tranquillity to our land, as it has led us hither ;—and when His power shall have grasped the worlds,—may He visit our land and bless it! 52. “May Persia rejoice in your glad tidings! —may Assyria exult in your coming—And when my Son’s Kingdom shall arise,—may He plant His standard in your country! ” 53. Let the Church sing with rejoicing,—“Glory in the Birth of the Highest,—by Whom the world above and the world below are illumined! ”—Blessed be He in Whose Birth all are made glad!