Malkǝʾ -hymn to Takla Hāymānot

Salutation to your conception and to your birth from the womb, on the twentieth and the third day of the month of Taḫśāś. Takla Hāymānot, beloved in all and within all. Now I have begun and I speak from your praises anew, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Salutation to the remembrance of your name, whose beginning is the letter *Mesqel*. A glorious name and a lofty name. Takla Hāymānot, Matthew, master of the first Gospel. As I praise you to the extent of the harvest of the field, may Mary the Virgin loosen the bond of my tongue. Salutation to the hair of your head, by the thought of God, which was chosen. For there is a curl like the three children of Judah. Takla Hāymānot, Mark, writer of miracles on the tablet. I will bring forth to you, O my Lord, a garment of praise, of gold and pure white silver. Salutation to your head, of refined gold, which the bride adorned with a beautiful garland. Takla Hāymānot, Luke, keeper of the mystery. As you remove me from the midst of fire and water, O father, I trust in you, your needy son.

Salutation to your face, in the glorious glory of Christ, whose beauty surpasses the beauty of the sun and the moon. Takla Hāymānot, John of your abundant annunciation, may your pure word deliver me from the work of fasting. For the world, its work is abundant. Salutation to your eyebrows, which resemble a cloud, for God has placed them near your eyes as a veil. Takla Hāymānot, Peter of your authority, lofty, for you have died as a combatant, your cross having been rolled, and you have been suckled by the word of the Gospel. Salutation to your eyes, whose appearance is gentle, for they are pure, like the secret of a bez. Takla Hāymānot, hide me from the death of grievous error. It is not for you like this; may death not find you again after this. Salutation to your ears, which have been made to listen in the likeness of the blessed apostles and of the prophets, men of the covenant. Takla Hāymānot, fleshly and angelic, of the lofty, hide me within your house, where your resting places are set, so that I may rest there from weeping and woe.

Salutation to your cheeks, which are painted with the blush of the one who is ashamed for the Son of Mary, when he is remembered. Takla Hāymānot, Manas of the free heaven, all envy is far off, and all sorrow. May you cause the word of righteousness to be forgotten from my mouth for the perfected one. Salutation to your nostrils, which have the scent of the fragrance of Mary the Virgin and the fragrance of the anointing of Christ. Takla Hāymānot, Elijah of your pure nature, the power of your prayer is like a flame of fire that has consumed. May you cause my sins to cease and not leave a trace. Salutation to your lips, which have recited the truth without error or distortion. Takla Hāymānot, sun that dispels darkness, it is you who opens the fragrance of Dabra Karbē, and the water of Dabra Ṣǝgē, which is adorned with plants. Salutation to your mouth, which proclaimed the righteousness of the Son of Mary through preaching. Takla Hāymānot, apostle Paul of Damascus, like Asaph and Edom who were known before, I will praise you with the harp and sing to you with the harp.

Salutation to your teeth, from within the mouth, which gleam, while they are polished. Takla Hāymānot, Basil for the Church, a subtle father. My prayer, which I have sent to the place of your abode, a gift, without hope of return, a covering. Salutation to your tongue, which on the third day was given, to offer praise to the Son of Mary, king of the people. Takla Hāymānot, the ascetic John of the house of Rābā, my tongue will praise you with the measure of all speech, as Jacob praised Laban. Salutation to your word, which made the people believe, in the name of Jesus Christ, before the word of the Father. Takla Hāymānot, my father, the eastern star. Takla Hāymānot, the sun, the ardent one. Takla Hāymānot, the wise and gentle dove. Salutation to your breath, healer of the sick by its blowing, and destroyer of sins by its power. Takla Hāymānot, Isaac, sacrifice to God. And I have given a word of praise in this hymn of your name; it is a gift from a poor man.

Salutation to your throat, which was parched by thirst, when you tasted water after forty years. Takla Hāymānot, a good one for your visitor, a sinner. As a good hunter seeks, having lain in ambush. If in the wilderness he is laid waste, one sheep. Salutation to your neck, which bore a yoke, like a mule and a camel. Takla Hāymānot, a beauty for the world, which you adorn. A son is distinguished from his mother by the taste of your teaching, and a daughter is weaned from her mother. Salutation to your shoulders, sinews which are strong. The staff of the Gospel is straight, and the cross is a bow for seeing. Takla Hāymānot, a sharp one, Gregory of Armenia. The sufferings of your children your eyes see, for the evil time has imprisoned them. I say salutation to your six wings, three on the right side and three on the left side. Takla Hāymānot, your son seeks your blessing. When he desired you, the day abandoned him. For his salvation, hasten your wing to him.

Salutation to your tongue, which was a rope of the hunter’s snare that was set, like the hunter’s snare for Christ on the day of Friday that was set. Takla Hāymānot, a Levite, you who offer the oblation. For my salvation, rise quickly, for I have known you, and you know me. Salutation to your side, which is a storehouse of wisdom, and a treasury of the Holy Spirit. Takla Hāymānot, Jacob, your foot is hidden. The heavenly hosts marvel at you, those who kindle fire with their hand. I say salutation to your honored bosom, wherein you have hidden the grace of the second birth. Takla Hāymānot, listen, for you have become a son of Mary, while you say, “When I was with him, I praised him.” God of all, for all is for you, and all is in you, and what exists is for you. Salutation to your hands, which have woven a hymn, for Jesus Christ, the praise of the angels, which they proclaim. Takla Hāymānot, Abraham, you who have fasted in asceticism. Save me from the cup of wine when the measure is raised, for to the Father it is established, as a son saves.

Salutation to your tongue, which was like the wings of a just judge when you drove away falsehood. Takla Hāymānot, my father, O you who are a Levite, may you save me from sin. One prayer of yours will drive away forever the thousands of my sins that have been. Salutation I say to your neck, which was adorned with a yoke, which was stretched on the ground in suffering and in persecution. Takla Hāymānot, Enoch, the scribe of wisdom and knowledge, hide me in your shadow and conceal me with your covering, when all is scattered and the threshing-floor is winnowed. Salutation to your breast, which was spread with faith, a house of patience and a dwelling of ascetic struggle. Takla Hāymānot, your righteousness has been planted in me without a root. How did you cross the sea? And how did you ascend the mountain without a rope? Salutation to your shoulders, which are a gift of abundant grace, which are broad, which are like two wings. Takla Hāymānot, Abel, whose offering is established. Raise up your power, O my lord, at your departure which is eternal, and may you be anointed in your house with myriads.

Salutation to your fingers, which are from the flesh of divinity, that have been wounded; and to your blood, precious in the flight of the cross that has been sanctified. Takla Hāymānot, guide for my soul into repentance. What suffices for a person when it is said, "Amen"? If only all worlds had increased. Salutation I say to your fingernails, which are sharp, from which the mouths of serpents are driven away. Takla Hāymānot, you who were among the ascetics. The fruit of what they saw for your children, the brothers, is not bitter. Wild beasts of the desert are bound by your word. Salutation to your chest, with the wounds of the thornbush, which were pierced. To the mouth and the tongue when they were silenced. Takla Hāymānot, Joseph, steward of Christ for the people. Be with me, your prayers, for my transgressions, in the hour of judgment. May the seven paths not lead me astray. Salutation to your belly, which the affliction of hunger did not subdue, and the sin of satiety did not delight. Takla Hāymānot, David, who blesses the Lord. Save me from the wicked, whose custom is deception. And before my face, send the angel of peace for the world.

Salutation to your heart, holy and blessed, which preserved the law of the Lord God. Takla Hāymānot, one of the ascetics who was bound; from that which is the reward of your fasting, which you did not neglect in its due time. May the pure angel Michael cause me to drink. Salutation to your kidneys, which were tempted with patience. Jesus Christ, father of lights. Takla Hāymānot, worshipper like the angels. Your prayer which you made up to the age of one hundred years. May it be salvation for me from the terrible bow. Salutation to your mind, which became an intercessor. The chosen Trinity without limit. Takla Hāymānot, Cyril, who confutes the heretics who are my enemies. Bless me, father, for this your son, for it is the custom of the teacher to bless. Salutation to your innermost being, which is with the fire of his love. For the Son of Mary, Christ, who dwells in heaven. Takla Hāymānot, counsel in that which saves my soul. Is not your God, when he sought the salvation of man, by ignorance of error, bent toward death?

Salutation, I say, with praise and eulogy, to the vessel of your inner self, near to the second; Takla Hāymānot, a proclaimer who preaches in the name of the Trinity, for you gave birth by grace to a woman and a man, those who hunt the lion and the huntress. Salutation to your liver, which is in the midst of the belly, where the blood of the son of Mary the Nazirite was mingled; Takla Hāymānot, a flower which you planted from the gardener; the priests of Judah and Levi said concerning you, "Is he a heavenly angel or an earthly one?" Salutation, salutation to your loins, which are worthy, which girded righteousness for the prophet as they say; Takla Hāymānot, release for the sinner from the chains, for what you loosened upon the earth is loose above, and what you bound is bound in all. Salutation to your shoulders, like pillars of marble, which are supports, not for the throne of your flesh of gold; Takla Hāymānot, Jacob, father of the children of Israel, place me like a creation within your deep heart, when the righteous one is saved from wonder.

Salutation to your knees, which bowed in prostration to the Lord God who was born of Mary; Takla Hāymānot, a calf whose burden is heavy for me, for I transgressed one of your commands; only by your mercy, O son, accept me. Salutation to your legs, which were worn and reached the midst of the Red Sea, where Jesus died; Takla Hāymānot, a cherub who kept the altar; remembering you, a prayer from my tongue has gone forth; without repentance, do not cut me off, a sinner. Salutation to your shins, which were marked with blood when your foot was broken from much standing; Takla Hāymānot, Job, whose patience is perfect; bless your children who are in the whole world, as Noah blessed Yaphet and Shem. Salutation to your elbows, in the monastery of Dabra Amān, which scraped the face of Mary while she was nursing her child; Takla Hāymānot, an eagle and a lion who embraced the wilderness; before the tunic, O my lord, clothe my soul with its grace, as before Elijah the glory of the heads of the fifty.

Salutation to the fingers of your feet, ten in number, as I said before, and I confess: Takla Hāymānot, Titus, helper of Paul the teacher; my hand is empty, O Lord, and have mercy on me with love, that your goodness may not be lacking in deed. Salutation, salutation, while I speak, I bend down: to the nails of your feet, ten, and I have not heard; Takla Hāymānot, Joshua and Caleb, son of Jephunneh; from my journey from the world of the flesh, lead me, O Lord, into your city. Salutation to your stature, which wears the sky as a garment; tongues are with you that are sanctified; Takla Hāymānot, Balaam for Christ, pillar of his sanctuary; call me, I will go, O Lord, to the place of your feet, the little ones, as Joshua followed Moses. Salutation to your form, in the image of Christ, which is depicted, while it does not lack beauty and is not changed; Takla Hāymānot, zealous Nathanael of Galilee; for your faith, which is renowned everywhere, I have set it upon my head; may it be for me a crown.

Salutation to the departure of your soul with the praise of thousands of angels, for this world from its deeds and its dissolution: Takla Hāymānot, Thomas, for Merʿas, the lawgiver Serāʾē; for those who perform your commemoration while they are in the flesh, grant them, O Lord, favor and grace. Salutation to the burial of your flesh: Elisha, teacher of Genazā, with good fragrance and scent: Takla Hāymānot, preacher Philip, of the region of Gaza; for my earthly flesh, when it passes away, may the breaking of your bones be for me a ransom. Salutation to the preparation of your flesh while it was being embalmed, the good kings of Israel who anointed it each season: Takla Hāymānot, the priest who serves God, save me from the horn of the beast of ten horns and from the man of two tongues. Salutation to your tomb before you sleep within it: the ark of Mary the virgin, which you placed within its interior: Takla Hāymānot, my father, for your son, the child of death, may your blessing cover me with its help, and may the abundance of your righteousness come to me.

When he reposed, Takla Hāymānot, he stood upright in his fasting, being both moist and dry. The envoys of Mary came at that time for his translation; they spoke with the organ and sang to him. Amen, to the righteous, honored one, his death. Salutation to the translation of your body from within the wilderness of Elām, and from Elām also, Mount Lebanon again. Takla Hāymānot said, as the evangelist earlier: “If your children find in the world of suffering, from your place they will find peace.” Not, not by abundant speech and loquacity, but briefly and succinctly, with sweetness. Takla Hāymānot, having heard this before the assembly, said to me: “May the Lord give you the resurrection of the little one, and may blessed Mary be your refuge.” While I beseech your blessing, the hands of my heart are raised. Those whom Christ and Peter led, as they sought in supplication: Takla Hāymānot, humble one, I asked you with prostration. For the brief word suffices for the short one. Grant me, O my Lord, O my Lord.

Praise is due to Mary, in prostration and wonder. She who granted me the word, as you wished, in a hymn. Takla Hāymānot, make for my heart what is fitting, for I have spoken in his wisdom of your image, peace, and the work you gave me; I have completed it fully. Salutation to your tunic and to your holy vestments, to your glorious fringe and to the crown of your head. Takla Hāymānot, planted in the sea, Takla Hāymānot, planted on dry land. To all the monks, the children of Anthony and Macarius, you are the judge and you are the king. Salutation to you, Takla Hāymānot, my refuge, the chain of the Gospel, my shelter. Your offering, Father, surpasses the offering of Abel. Father, Father, hear me, for I have asked you. Father, in the heavens, call me your son. A new apostle, companion of Thomas the martyr, who stood on the breaking of his foot for the measure of seven years. The desert embraced him and prayer clothed him. Holy one, who says in the name of the Holy Trinity, flower of the garden planted by Takla Hāymānot, upon the incense, his garment is humble, like the seraphic priests.