Friday Ramsho

Friday Ramsho is, as most Ramsho offices, concerned with judgment, the eschaton and obtaining mercy. The particular bit I would like to focus on, however, is the mazmooro which does not directly deal with the main theme of judgment.

To access the office, click here.

On Friday, Lord, You formed me and clothed me in Your glory. The Evil One envied me and led me astray. Lord, have pity on me.

You formed me, placed Your hand upon me and clothed me in Your glory. The Evil One envied me and led me astray. Lord, have pity on me.

Make us worthy, Lord, in Your mercy that we may hear the phrase, “Come, enter, blessed ones of my Father, and inherit the kingdom.”

The mention of Friday in the first verse is more relevant than the simple fact that the individual believer is praying this prayer on a Friday. Friday, the 6th day, is the day God formed man (Genesis 1:26-31). The frequent trope in Syriac texts is the robe of glory. God made man in His image, which is man's very essence. The Syriac Fathers taught that even after the expulsion of Adam he retained the image of God. Furthermore, when God created man he conferred on him the robe of glory (and although Adam was physically naked, he wasn't truly naked because he was clothed in glory whereas the irony lies in the fact that he was most naked when he later needed to be clothed) - this was lost by man when Adam fell. The qualitative difference was the loss of the robe of glory.

Friday is also the day we commemorate the crucifixion since, as is commonly known, it was on Friday Christ was crucified. Although Christ was stripped before His crucifixion, Syriac iconography commonly depicts Christ wearing a purple cloak. If one recalls, when the soldiers wanted to mock Jesus they dressed him in purple (John 19:1-3). This is not the depicted robe (as the soldiers later strip him to cast lots over his garments - John 19:23), but it helps illustrate the point that purple, in Roman antiquity, was a sign of power - only a noble or rich man would be clothed in purple. The purple robe on Christ is the robe of glory; despite all the mockery of His enemies and His condemnation, He is the only justified being and without sin. It is through His death that He brought the robe of glory to Adam, and then by His rising brought Adam back to Paradise. In typical Syriac fashion, there is the common type drawn between the Friday of creating man and this kind of recreation of man, once again conferring on him the robe of glory.

Satan did all he did out of enemy for the high place man occupied in creation, since man is the highest and most excellent created being since no other being is formed in the resemblance of God like man. Our bearing of the image of God is a testimony to man's inherent intimacy with God - man's existence and purpose is God, for he was formed to "sing praise to Your [i.e. God's] name" (so says Friday Safro's sooghito). Satan, therefore, looked to undermine man and he did by having Adam eat of the fruit which Eve brought him. However, Satan's victory was not absolute. By Christ's merciful dispensation He renewed creation and defeated greedy Death and Satan. Because of this, we have been given a chance that the Law did not give - the ability to retake the robe of glory. Those who repent and do the will of God will participate in theosis and, therefore, be able to inherit the kingdom.

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