Let us give thanks

at the holiday,

let us rejoice

at the longed-for

proclamation of John;

Thus let praise

pour forth from the mouth,

so that the heart may not be

robbed of the flavor

by means of which it may taste joy.

He is Christ’s favorite, reclining upon whose breast

he drank wisdom; Christ on the cross commended

his mother to him, who, a virgin,

protected her whom no man had touched.

Burning inwardly with love,

shining outwardly with purity,

and famous for his eloquence,

so that he escaped safely

from sinful passion,

from the penal vessel.

He overcome the power of poison,

he had power over death

and devils as well;

but a man of such power

did not behave with less piety

among the oppressed

He collected the broken pieces

of jewels, gave the pieces

to the poor;

he who has made gold out of branches,

gems out of stones,

carries an inexhaustible treasure.

He was invited to dine

with his friend Christ,

who was not seen by the disciples;

from the tomb into which he descends

he returns alive; thus he ascends

to enjoy the loftiest meals.

You have the people as witness,

as well as, if you wish, the eye,

that manna, food for

Christ’s banquet,

flows at his tomb.

When he wrote the gospel

he wore the eagle’s power,

discerning the ray of the sun,

indeed the beginning,

the word that was in the beginning.

By his miracles the pagans,

perverse people, the entire people of Asia

were converted;

the unity of the church

was clearly shown and confirmed

by his writings.

Hail, vessel of redeeming modesty,

vessel filled with celestial dew,

pure without, bright within,

noble in all things;

compel us to follow virtue,

make us, through purity of mind,

contemplate the single

substance of the trinity.