Kontakion of St. Romanos: On the Nativity of the Virgin Mary

From the Editor: The celebration following the Nativity of the Theotokos is the Synaxis of Saints Joachim and Anna. On this occasion, we post a rare translation of one of St. Romanos the Melodist’s Kontakion: “On the Nativity of the Virgin Mary.” This kontakion was intended for September eighth and for Mary festivals. It is taken from a translation by Marjorie Carpenter and has been unavailable and out of print since 1973.

This kontakion is found in manuscripts all over the world, including Mt. Athos, Moscow, Sinai among others. The chief source is the apocryphal gospel of the Protevangelium of James from the 2^nd century, which is the basis of the Infancy Gospels, especially for the birth of Mary. There are, of course, also references to various passages from both the Old and the New Testaments.

From the translator: “The first strophe and the prooimion refer to the story of Joachim and Anna; Strophe 2 refers to Mary; the poet returns in Strophes 3 and 4 to Joachim and Anna and the answer to their prayers. There is a distinct break here as the story moves to Mary in the Temple; then Anna speaks in Strophes 6 and 7 with allusions to Hannah. She ends with the promise to dedicate the Virgin. Strophes 8 and 9 give the stories of Hannah and of Zaccharias and the choice of Joseph as Mary’s fiancé. The last two strophes pay honor first to Mary and then to God and Christ.”

On the Nativity of the Virgin Mary

Tone: ἦχος δ΄

Acrostic: Ἡ ὠδὴ ‘Ρωμανοῦ

Refrain: Ἡ στεῖρα τίκτει     τὴν θεοτόκον καὶ τροφὸν τῆς ζωῆς ἡμῶν

Prooimion:

O Undefiled, in your birth Joachim and Anna

Were freed from the reproach of childlessness,

And Adam and Eve from the corruption of death.

Indeed your people celebrate

Being redeemed from the penalty of sins, and they cry to you:

“The barren woman gives birth to the Mother of God,

And the nurse of our life.”

Strophe 1:

The prayer, along with the lamentation

of the barren and the childless

Joachim and Anna, was acceptable

As it came to the ears of the Lord and bore fruit

that was life-bearing for the world.

For Joachim completed his prayer on the mountain,

While Anna bears her reproach. After a miracle, but with joy,

The barren woman gives birth to the Mother of God,

And the nurse of our life.

Strophe 2:

O good child of Anna,

how shall I hymn you, how praise you,

Since you were born as a holy temple?

Joachim on the mountain prayed to receive fruit

from the womb of Anna;

And the prayer of the holy man was accepted.

After the pregnancy, bliss,

Joy in the world.

The barren woman gives birth to the Mother of God,

And the nurse of our life.

Strophe 3:

Formerly, he brought gifts to the Temple,

but they were not received;

The priests did not wish to accept them,

Since they were from a childless man who had no seed, and Joachim

was scorned by the sons of Israel.

But at the proper time, along with Anna, he brought in the Virgin

With gifts of thanksgiving;

Anna is now rejoicing.

The barren woman gives birth to the Mother of God,

And the nurse of our life.

Strophe 4:

Consequently the tribes of Israel heard

that Anna had given birth to the pure Virgin,

And they all rejoiced with great gladness.

Joachim held a great feast and celebrated splendidly

the miraculous birth.

And when he had summoned to prayer the priests and the Levites,

He placed Mary in the midst of all

In order that she be magnified.

The barren woman gives birth to the Mother of God,

And the nurse of our life.

Strophe 5:

She who caused the stream of life to gush forth for us

was given over to the Temple to be reared;

And she received nourishment from the angels.

She became a saint among saints, and just as she was dedicated,

she became the temple and the tabernacle of the Lord.

Virgins with torches led in the Virgin;

They were prototypes of the sun that she was to bear

For the faithful.

The barren woman gives birth to the Mother of God,

And the nurse of our life.

Strophe 6 (Anna):

“O mystery brought about on earth!”

After the birth Anna prayed

To our God and Maker who knows all in advance:

“Thou hast heard me, O Lord, as Thou hast heard Hannah

who was accused by Eli of being drunk.

She promised Samuel after his birth to the Lord

To become a priest. Just as formerly,

Thou hast given me, too, a gift,

The barren woman gives birth to the Mother of God,

And the nurse of our life.

Strophe 7 (Anna):

“It is a great thing for me, good Lord,

that I have given birth to one who will produce

Thee, the Master and Lord before all time.

Thou wilt guard Thy mother as a virgin

after Thy birth.

I present her to Thee, O Merciful One, in the Temple.

She will be the gate of the One from on high

Whom with joy

The barren woman gives birth to, the Mother of God

And the nurse of our life.”

Strophe 8:

Did not the faithful Sarah, long ago, before her son

Isaac was born,

Desire to give birth, even though she was sterile?

She received the Lord in human form,

along with two archangels;

And His word to her on this occasion was:

“You, Sarah, will have a child.” Now, rejoicing, she

Cries to the world:

(Sarah) “The barren woman gives birth to the Mother of God,

And the nurse of our life.”

Strophe 9:

Now, at the proper time, Mary becomes radiant,

and she did not leave the temple of the saints;

Zaccharias observed that she was past the bloom of girlhood,

And he submitted to lot the choice of bridegroom for her;

and Joseph was betrothed to her from God;

For she was given to him when it was revealed in the rod

From the Holy Spirit; and Anna, rejoicing

For her, cried out:

(Anna) “The barren woman gives birth to the Mother of God,

And the nurse of our life.”

Strophe 10:

Revered one, your child is entirely holy;

you have produced the boast of the world,

Acceptable in her right to honor among men,

For she is a strength, and support, and refuge for those

who trust in her.

Every Christian has her as protection,

And shelter, and hope of safety

Even if she is from your womb, as

The barren woman gives birth to the Mother of God,

And the nurse of our life.

Strophe 11:

O exalted God, Creator of all, Thou who didst

create the universe at a word,

And Thou who didst equip man with wisdom,

As the only lover of man, grant as Merciful One,

peace to Thy people.

As Thou dost guard the faithful rulers, along with the shepherd

Watch over and keep steady the flock, also,

In order that everyone may cry out:

“The barren woman gives birth to the Mother of God,

And the nurse of our life.”

Romanos the Melodist, Saint, translated by Marjorie Carpenter, Kontakia of Romanos, Byzantine Melodist, II: On Christian Life. (Columbia, MO: University of Missouri Press, 1973), pp. 1-5.