Ramsho of St. Shmooni

In the current age of the Maronite Church, the old Syriac saints have been abandoned in almost exclusive adoption of solely Lebanese saints. Among the old saints is the venerable and holy example given to us by St. Shmooni and her seven sons.

The veneration of St. Shmooni and her seven sons is an ancient practice received by Syriac Christians from the Jews of Syria (although Seraphic Jews today generally call her Hannah). While Maccabees is considered non-canonical by contemporary Jews, the account is taken from 2 Maccabees 7. They are venerated as ancient martyrs who set an example for all to come by demonstrating how the perfect worshipper of God should act. When faced with adversity and the option to apostatize and save themselves by King Antiochus, Shmooni encourages her sons rather to die than be disobedient to God. Antiochus thinks of the most gruesome ends for all of Shmooni's sons, and she must watch, but she does not falter and is eventually killed herself. So much can be said about her pure faith, but anything said would be inarticulate.

In honor of the great St. Shmooni and her sons, I am translating the Ramsho of her office. While the few Maronites who know her today generally mock her for the name given to her in Syriac tradition, she is an example to us all and her intercession is strong before God because of the strong faith she demonstrated in her lifetime. Let us ask her that she may give her prayers to us as a rampart.

Lord, I called to You – answer me. Give heed to my words and accept them.

Shmooni, the triumphant woman from the line of the house of Abraham, the mother of the seven splendid sons entered before Antiochus and joyously cried out, saying, “I and my children worship the Lord. We do not fear your torment for He sends His power to us and strengthens us in all our tribulations. Not fire nor sword are able to separate us from His love.” Hallelujah, may their prayers assist us.

My prayer is like incense before You; an offering of my hands like an offering of the evening. Establish, Lord, a guard at my mouth and a guard at my lips so that my heart will not turn to the evil word and doing iniquitous deeds.

The heathen king commanded immediately and a weapon of torture was prepared. He mercilessly dispensed their lives. One by one they were entering excellence and they received crowns on their heads in exchange for the tribulations their bodies suffered. In the end, they all died – the mother arrayed in victory and Eleazar the True Priest, and they all drank equally from the heavenly kingdom. Hallelujah, may their prayers assist us.

I shall not eat salt with ungodly men.  May the righteous cast me down and rebuke me. The oil of the ungodly will not anoint my head.

The mother bore the seven splendid sons wondrously and offered them as sacrifices to God. In the end, they all died and she received the crown of victory. Behold! Today their remembrance resounds and together watchers and men sing glory and thanksgiving, hallelujah! To the Lord who made them triumph.

For my prayer is against their evilness. Their judges were restrained by the hand of stone and they heard my pleasing words.

O beloved company of brothers, how beautiful and pleasing you are. Who is able to praise your story? For God accepted you like a wedding gift and washed your limbs with the blood of your necks. The Holy Spirit was a teacher and by Him, your minds were made wise. Hallelujah! And they shone like the sun.

Like a ploughshare breaks open the land, their bones are scattered at the mouth of Sheol. I have lifted up my eyes to You, Lord, and I have placed my confidence in You. Do not cast out my soul.

The watchers soared by their ranks and descended, standing at the contest of faithful, triumphant Shmooni. The burning legions looked and saw her sons standing and as she joyously encouraged them and said, “Be strengthened, my beloved, and do not let your minds be weakened by the threats of the impious king for, behold! Your crowns are in heaven and the Father on high rejoices in you. Hallelujah! The Spirit crowns you.”

Guard me from the hand of the vainglorious who have hid snares for me. The iniquitous will fall together into their nets while I pass by.

Who would not be amazed, my brothers, at the mother arrayed in victory as she stood before Antiochus? She joyously brought her dear sons to the house of judgment because of the love of the living God. As their bodies were being cut up, she joyfully encouraged them, “Do not let your love be weakened, my beloveds, for behold! The bridal chamber on high is kept for you and the kingdom opens its doors. Hallelujah, enter and delight!”

With my voice I called out to the Lord and with my voice I supplicated to the Lord. I have placed before Him my supplications and my tribulation before Him I have shown. When my spirit was afflicted, You knew my paths.

O mother arrayed in light and full of spiritual graces, as I will honor you – an end I do not know. Indeed, woman I venture to say higher is your story than above all women who were in the world full of harm. A man would call to you, even a powerful man, likewise, concerning all our tribulations. Higher is your story than all comparisons. Watchers and men equally, hallelujah! Bless you.

In the way of my footsteps they have hid snares. I looked to the right and saw and there was no one to instruct me. I lost a house of refuge and there was no avenger for my soul. I cried out to You, Lord and said, “You are my hope and my portion in the land of the living.”

Wicked Antiochus prepared cruel scourges for faithful and triumphant Shmooni. He saw the blessed one who professed in the Trinitarian Mystery of the Father, and of the Son and of the Spirit the Paraclete. Then she with the company of her sons courageously entered the chamber, raised their voices and said to the king, “We do not worship idols made by the hands of the wicked, hallelujah! Haters of the truth.”

Heed my petition for I have been humbled very much.  Deliver me from my perseuctors for they prevail over me. Rescue my soul from prison for I shall profess Your name. Your righteous ones will surround me while You requite me.

Moses had established the lampstand and placed on it seven lamps in the tabernacle which he constructed for Israel. A type of seven radiant, beloved and dear sons were reared by Shmooni, the faithful woman and light shone forth from their graces in the four corners of creation. They endured scourges, torments and tribulations. Glory be to the Hidden Power who strengthened them in the contest, hallelujah! He made their feast renowned.

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I have sworn and have been firm that I will keep the judgments of Your righteousness. I have been humbled greatly. Lord, give me life according to Your word. Be pleased in the words of my mouth and teach me Your judgments.

The wicked king had picked seven speaking bushels from the people of the house of Israel and squeezed them for they did not sacrifice like him to mute and blind idols made by the hands of human crafters. In the end, they all died – their mother with them in the same manner. They departed together to the bridal chamber of joys. They delight in the place on life with the just and the righteous, hallelujah! Who pleased God.

My soul is in Your hands at all times and I have not strayed from Your law. Sinners have placed snares for me and I have not turn from Your commandments. I have inherited Your witness for eternity for it is the delight of my heart. I have turned my heart to do Your commandments in truth for eternity.

Glory be to You, Hidden Power who made His servants triumph in the contest over tribulations and cruel scourges for in Your hope and trust they strove. Holy Shmooni the Venerable entered an intense judgment. She saw the sword and her heart did not quake. She saw the scourges and was not alarmed. She saw the threats and her mind did not shrink in fear. God saw her perseverance and abundantly blessed her, hallelujah! May her prayers assist us.

Glorify the Lord, all you peoples. Glorify Him, all you nations, for His goodness has prevailed upon us. Truly, the Lord is to eternity!

The Church that celebrated…

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit

The bones of Joseph…

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