The following is a translation of St. Symeon’s prayer, literal and from the original Greek.
St. Symeon the New Theologian Come, true light! Come, Thou Eternal Life! Come, Hidden Mystery! Come, Thou Nameless Treasure! Come, Ineffable Thing![1] Come, O Incomprehensible Person! Come, Thou Eternal Exultation! Come, Unfading Light! Come, True Expectation of all those who are to be saved. Come, Thou that raisest up all those who are laid low. Come, Resurrection from the dead. Come, O Mighty One that acteth always, changing and altering all things by Thy will alone. Come, Thou who art invisible, impalpable, and in every way intangible! Come, Thou who remainest ever unchanged and at every hour art transported, coming unto us who lie in Hades, though Thou art beyond all the heavens. Come, dearly Beloved Name ever repeated, which can in no wise be uttered so as to know what Thou art! Come, Joy Eternal! O come, Imperishable Crown! Come, Porphyry of the great God and our King. Come, Crystalline Belt adorned with gemstones. Come, Sandal Unapproachable! Come, O Regal and Purple Robe and truly Imperial Right Hand! Come, Thou for Whom my miserable soul hath longed with great yearning! Come, Thou who art alone to the alone, since I am alone as Thou seest. Come, Thou who hast set me apart from all things and made me to be alone upon the earth. Come, Thou hast become longing itself in me and hast caused me to long for Thee who art altogether inaccessible! Come, my breath and my life! Come, O Consolation of my lowly soul! Come, my joy, glory, and perpetual delight!
I give Thee thanks that Thou, God over all things, hast become one spirit with me without confusion, change, or alteration, and Thou hast become all in all to me—inexpressible nourishment without any charge at all, endlessly overflowing to the lips of my soul and gushing out into the fount of my heart; a garment flashing forth and burning up the demons; purification, washing me clean by incorruptible and holy tears, which Thy presence giveth freely to those whom Thou visitest.
I thank Thee, for Thou hast become an unfading light and sun that setteth not. Thou hast no place to hide, seeing Thou fillest all things with Thy glory. For Thou hast never concealed Thyself from anyone, but we ever hide ourselves from Thee, not desiring to come unto Thee. For where shalt Thou hide Thyself, who hast no resting place? And why wouldst Thou hide Thyself, who hast never turned away from any man, nor been ashamed of anyone?
And so now, Master, dwell and make Thy abode within me. Abide in me, Thy servant, continuously and inseparably unto the end, O Good One, that upon my departure and thereafter I may be found in Thee, and reign with Thee, God over all!
Abide, Master, and leave me not alone, that when mine enemies come, who ever seek to devour my soul, and finding Thee abiding within me, they may flee completely and overpower me not, seeing Thee, who art mightier than all, seated within the mansion of my humble soul.
Verily, just as Thou wast mindful of me, Master, when I was in the world, unbeknownst to me Thou didst choose me Thyself and separate me from the world and set me before the face of Thy glory, so now also keep me ever standing upright interiorly and immovable within myself, Thy dwelling place, that I, gazing upon Thee continually, though I be dead, might live; and possessing Thee, I, a poor man, may be rich. Thereby I shall be richer than all kings. And eating and drinking Thee, and at every hour being clothed with Thee, I shall delight in the good things of which cannot be spoken. For Thou art every good, and every glory, and every delight; and glory becometh Thee, the Holy, Consubstantial and Life-giving Trinity, honored, known, worshiped, and adored by all, in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
