On the Dedication of the Church as Qenneshrin

The metrical homilies of Mār Balai, the chaste bishop, on the renovation of the church which was newly built in the city of Qenneshrin. That which is in your house is one, for a dwelling was established for the Lord of creation, and it gives blessedness to itself. That which by the work of his hands makes the Spirit to dwell, hence it is a house of divinity; all aids are found in it. It is a dwelling on earth in which that grace is arrayed to pour forth mercies. In his house he sits and shelters the poor, so that the poor man may enter and ask from him a need. It does not hinder the one who is not able to pay a debt, for from within his dwelling he is a debtor to the poor. For it is not a lowly dwelling; it is heaven on earth, for its Lord is within it. And instead of the watchers, the pure priests who cause the divinity to be heard in it. A dwelling in height, a house in depth, and it is not divided, and suffices for all. If you look at it entirely, it is in height; and if you seek it entirely, it is in depth. If you wish to be exalted, it is high above you; and if you wish to be lowly, it is near to you. If you pursue, behold, it is in heaven; and if you are amazed, behold, it is in the sanctuary. If you seek as though to ascend, in its height it measures with your steps; and if you weary as though to see, in its love it is near to your simplicity. It strengthens your strength with the angels, and it adorns your rank for the spirits. For them the service is fearful, and for you the measure is simple for you, so that it may be found for you among the earthly ones. It entered for him into the house among the bodies. Altars and thrones were established, in which the church consumes the living. Not a man, but a king is its priest; within the sanctuary the poor man enters and sees him, where it is simple for sickness. The physician stands and shelters her. The stone is hidden and the body is revealed, so that the hand of a man may not hinder her. It is powerful in heaven and pleasant on earth, so that whoever approaches it is not cut off. The holy foundations are, and in your name the living placed their stones.

Enter through the gates of righteousness, whose bolts are pressed in your name. Generations fill the sound of the salvations, and the dwelling resounds with all praises. From within and from without, there is no glory like the stones. The land is adorned with glory, for it is a day of festival and banquet. A new covenant, Christ has sealed; the watchers rejoice, the people give thanks. The altar is set, truth adorns; the priest stands, a great labor. He takes the bread, gives the body; he receives the wine, distributes the blood. The altar of stones and the hope of the erring; the pure priest calls to the spirit. The people, pressed together, cry out holy; the king who hears, mercy intercedes. A call of love on earth, honor; hasten your walls for the honor of the house. He who summoned you gives reward; in the new house, new life. Whoever brings rest receives; whoever labors finds life. Whoever offers his treasures abundantly; whoever completes his dawns multiplies. Who brings with his strength, his body remains; who offers with his hand, his treasure increases. Who brings a gift, hope finds; and the people who press together share with them. These who labored because they came; and these who came because they sought. These who came and these who labored; in one reward, the Lord shares. Three in your name, the church is built; thousands in your house, guard the building. For the church of the heart labored and brought it; to the temple of holiness that seeks in your name. Let the inner church be beautiful, as the outer church is adorned. Let it be loosed within and guard without; that it be sealed in the skin of the heart and the house. The priests who were the temple of your spirit; they were prepared in this your house. Bless the building of the heart and the house; with labor and love, they completed for your name. The priest who seeks his standing, he strips the hours; he labors in the dwelling he completed; and he enters his soul in hidden beauty. For the manifest completion that the house bears; that bears his heart, the temple of his Lord.

Enter pure into the house of saints. And when you are opened upon the threshold, you shall give the reward of the sought-for healings. This house is manifestly proclaimed, concerning its shepherd who sought it, that it is bright and fitting for the heart within. Let his love be distinct in this manifest house. To all this, hear the spirit of holiness. For the father and for the son, a dwelling was established. Accept vows with offerings, for the house and vows because of you. It was for David with the house. For you, however, you hastened and were perfected. David the chosen one remained with the house. Rejoice in your house and that you have completed it. Solomon who built the house, his lord spared him from the disturbance. The priests who built the house for Jesus, guard you from disturbance. For the whole earth, my lord extended, in the days of Solomon from the disturbance. As in your days, my lord spared, for the whole church from the swords. The power of the house was able to seek, like the creatures that sought its sign. It sought for men, and men sought it. Glory to the mercies of how many loved you. He who is without limit and found a limit, sought for the world and found a house. Great is the man who sought the house, for the extended power that passes over all. The beginning, however, is with you like a sweet thing, and like a beloved, his righteousness proceeds. He dwells with you and draws you, that you may ascend all and dwell with him. He departed from his place and chose for himself a church, which left its place and chose a church. He was God among men, that men might be with God. His altar is established and set with you. His glory is equal and mixed with men. You eat with him upon the table; he eats with you upon his table. Worship his honor and his greatness, that here is his body and there his reward. The altar on earth is full of his body, and life and glory in the house of the kingdom. The disciples took the bread of his blessing, and called it body and his blood wine. You have eaten with you the mystery in the church.

Again you eat with me in the house of the kingdom which is yours, O Lord of humility. The belly and the air, the cross and the abyss, which are healed by your rich love. Height and glory, crown and church, the living of the earth have called it the church. In the height your power, and in the earth your word. The upper body which took glory, the lower of your glory which is raised up, a small one to you the kingdom, and to you, O Lord of the house. They sought the house, they took the kingdom. The priest offers bread in your name, and the body is cast for your church. Where are you, O Lord? Behold, in the Messiah. And where is your desire? Behold, in the house of holiness. It has no height, and sin does not reach. In your church you are seen, for it is easy for you. Your throne above is established in fire, and they stretch out to approach him. Your power lives in the bread of the flock. And he who loves him, let him approach and taste. The faithful in your air see you sitting, and your glory which is proclaimed over the helpers. The sick are healed by your sprinklings, and it is easy for the hand to touch your body. Oh, how strong and how sweet! Oh, how firm and how humble! Oh, how it burns and how it preserves! Oh, how it hears and how it tastes! He is mixed, however, with the people like a humble one, and he gives his body like a sweet one, and he turns and sits like a judge, and against the labors he decrees judgment. In the height strong, in the earth humble. He dwells in the firmament, he descends into the cave. The mountain hides his brothers, he preserves the moisture. The moisture hears, his love endures. The upper firmament did not hold him, and he dwelt in the house and endured. His gaze is bold toward the house of Gabriel, and he raises his burden, and it was mighty. He placed his greatness in the belly of his mother. For his burden, power to bear the weight. And the flame kindles the helpers, and he preserves the signs from the burning. He dwelt in the air like a humble one, he confounded Babylon like a strong one. The pastors saw the child.

The Magi sought the King of kings, and also Mary, the wonder and the sign, that all new things and desires might surround her. No partner was born for her, as for a king his offerings desired. The cave of peace and the city of fullness. Zion sleeping and Babylon awake. She whose light was darkened by her pride. The Church loved her son and was enlightened. A son was born to her, a daughter of the Levites. The gifts of abundance were taken from her. For her drunkenness was that which gave birth to her, and her recognition was that which took her. Her pride was a mother to her concerning her drunkenness, for when she gave birth to her she did not love her. She loved the Church when she received her. In her shame she erred also in her love. Babylon sent good news to Judah. Zion heard and rose up for slaughter. By the offerings she sent to Babylon, envy trod a path in Zion. Hebrews on the road and they ascended to her. At their feet they broke her heart, and she opened books and her heart trembled. Books wrote her in histories. The books they read gave interpretation, that in Bethlehem the Messiah was born. And she prepared herself to call him Lord, that what she had done they commanded her. A star came to the Magi, that they might learn its mystery from the Hebrews. The book she opened for the son of the virgin. Truth taught the Magi. In Judah they learned from those who reached her. That the labor of the road was not in vain. That what they had ground in their thoughts, they heard its interpretation and were confirmed in it. A star from above hid itself, that it might show the called ones and they spoke its substitutes. It was silent in heaven that saw the books, that its mysteries were revealed to the seekers of Babylon. They opened their books and her light was hidden. It descended and grew in their writings. They closed their books and showed its growths. To the Magi who learned it from them. It was pursued on the road and it was in heaven. It was read in books and it was in writings. It reached Bethlehem and it was in the cave.

And they placed the sign in the east, and it was with rays. Its star became for his divinity. And that which is hidden and not known, it reveals. It shows the way like a god. And a magus in the east, like a son of man. His error: the heavens until now have testified to his thirst. That he worshipped him in the books in the fortress of Judah. He is in the scriptures and he is in the Messiah. Of the upper and the lower, he is the Lord. The Magi pressed her that she might establish a teaching. From within her books, something that erred. And where Michael revealed himself to her, the Magi for the sake of correcting her way. The way by which they came because of her. When she is called, the Magi learned her. They went then in confidence. That they attained the truth from their books. So that denial could not now be possible. Her own books revealed the mystery to her. Her reader became a witness and an accuser. For the division of her mind. In all that is written, praise to your name. The Messiah who revealed mysteries to his church. That if he who errs calls out in the prophets, he turned onto the path of faith. Also concerning your house, the prophets spoke. That it would be established on the top of the mountain. And as they learned because of her, behold, the physicians have completed the healing of your praise.