Safro of Sunday finally completed and uploaded!!!

So with great joy, I'm happy to announce I've completed a translation of Sunday's Safro. I've been reflecting on individual parts progressively since I've started, so I think I will just use this reflection to analyze one of the lines in the Bo'oto.

Before I begin, just to make it easily accessible, the office text can be found here or by clicking on the 'Office Texts' tab at the top of this screen.

The office is beautiful and extensive, so let everyone reflect on its words in prayer. I will be just giving a quick insight into one of the lines of the Bo'oto.

We remember the prophets, the apostles and the martyrs. We remember those who have

diligently cultivated the vineyard of our Lord. We remember Mor Yaqoob, Mor Moroon, His  companions and Mor Ephrem, the Harp of the Holy Spirit. Through their prayers have pity on the weak, visit the sick, forgive the dead and to us sinners, remit our debts.

It is a very common grouping to venerate the prophets, apostles and martyrs - these three are three of the pillars of the Church (I would say the fourth is Mary). The prophets are those who taught of God's mercy and foretold the ultimate mercy (i.e. the abasement of God to enter into human form). The apostles are the new prophets, who went out to serve as lamps to the darkened world as per instruction of the God who redeemed mankind. The martyrs, of old and new, were slaughtered for the sake of their God and their slain bodies are the bricks of the Church.

The next three individuals mentioned are three very holy men of the Syriac Church. Mor Yaqoob here is probably referential to St. Jacob of Serug, the Flute of the Holy Spirit, who has this Bo'oto as well as many other hymns and great homilies attributed to his name. However, some might contest that it refers to St. James, author of the Syriac liturgy. Mor Moroon (i.e. St. Maron) is the great monk who is the spiritual father to all Maronites (there's a vowel shift from 'a' to 'o' in Syriac) - I could not do him any justice in a mere sentence. Last, but certainly not least, holy Mor Ephrem, Harp of the Holy Spirit, perhaps the greatest Syriac Father writer of the most beautiful and abundant homilies and hymns (and a favorite saint of mine!). May we implore the Lord through the prayers of these holy men, and all holy men and women who reside in the abodes of God.

Our Lord, accept our service, our prayers, come to our aid and have mercy on us!