Christmas Sooghito

Christmas is an extremely important feast in all of Christendom but especially in Syriac Christianity - why? Whereas the Latins emphasize the Passion and the Greeks the Glorious Resurrection (both of which are essential to the faith and should be properly commemorated), we Syriacs focus on the Incarnation which begins with the birth of Christ. Our theology is an "incarnational" one - God has become man so that man may become God, having assumed what is ours and giving us what is His. Volumes could be written on the subject, so I shall just leave a Sooghito from the Christmas office in which Mary praises her newly born Son. How amazing is the self-abasement of Christ in His Incarnation - the Sustainer of the Ages condescends to be fed by a woman, the Bearer of Worlds is borne by a virgin, He who moves all things crawls on the ground, He who governs all things is directed by a human, and He, before whom fiery angels shudder and hide their faces from His blaze, is embraced by a lady.

Let us pray for peace this Christmas for Christ has brought peace between heaven and earth - between whom can He not bring peace?

Sooghito

Glory be to You, Lord, for by Your coming watchers and men were filled with amazement for while the chariot is small for You, the bosom of Mary bore You.

I am amazed at Mary for she suckled the Sustainer of Nations who had become an infant – He who dwelt in the bosom of the Young Maiden and by whom all ages are filled.

Daughter of the poor became the Mother to the Rich One whose love placed fire in the womb of the Virgin and she did not fear His flame.

She embraced and caressed the Coal – she was not harmed when she nursed the Blaze made incarnate and through Mary was transmuted.

The Great Sun retracted and gathered Himself into a Luminous Cloud. A Young Lady became Mother to Him who begot Adam and the worlds.

She carried, embraced and sang lovely melodies while she gave thanks to her Infant. She bowed and said, “Command me, my Master, that I may embrace You.

“Indeed, You are my Son. I shall sing to You and, because I have become Your Mother, I shall embrace You, my Son to whom I have given birth and who is my elder, my Lord whom I have borne and who carries me.

“My mind causes me to wander from Your fear; gather my thoughts that I may glorify You. I marveled at You for how You sleep for a thundering of voices, behold, is hidden in You.

“Like a child You are carried and like a man You grow strong – You are a wonder as Isaiah called You, which he proclaimed concerning You.

“Now, Your entirety dwells in me and in Your Begetter Your entirety is concealed. All the heights are filled by You and the place at my breasts is not too small for You.

“You are dwelling in me and in heaven. Like it, my Lord, may I glorify You; the inhabitants on high shall marvel at me and all shall bless me.

“Heaven shall disregard me and it shall love You for I have been honored greater than it for it is not Your mother but You have made it a throne for You.[1]

“How honored and glorious is the Mother of the King by His throne! I give You thanks, my Lord, for You have been pleased in me that I should be Your Mother and sing to You.

“O Mighty One who bears the world and willed that I should bear Him, to You be praises. O Wealthy One who became the Son of a daughter of poor men, to You be thanks.

“O Most Ancient One who descended an infant by me, You magnify me. You dwelt upon my knees, and the exalted heights and all worlds are hung by You.

“You clung to my breasts and governed the world, the ages and all in them. Behold, Your throne is on high above and it carries You as You dwelt in me.

“While You are with me, behold, all the assemblies of fire worship You as You are enclosed by my arms. Behold, You are borne by the cherubim.

“Heaven above is full of You and an arm carries You below. Amongst the being above You dwelt in fire and You do not incinerate the beings below.

“The seraphim with ‘holies’ magnify You as I, my Lord, sing to You. The cherubim with trembling, behold, bless You and by my melodies You are honored.

“Now let Eve, the Ancient Mother, listen and come to me. Let her lift up her head, which was bowed by nakedness in the Garden.

“Let her show her face and sing to You for the shame of her face departed by You. Let her hear the Voice which became peace for, behold, the Son of her daughter paid her debt.

“Crushed is the Serpent who deceived her by You, the Root which dawned from my womb. The plough and the lance have been done away with by You so that Adam, who was expelled, may return.

“Eve and Adam foreshadowed You for from me they shall pluck the Fruit of Life. By You their palates shall be sweetened instead of the fruit that made them bitter.

“The expelled servants shall returned by You to the heritage from which they went out. May the robe of glory be theirs that by You they may conceal their nakedness.

“You shall dawn in Sheol upon their lowliness and chase away from them their darkness. Ancient Infant who dwelt in my womb, by You all infants shall be blessed.

“The fetters of Sheol shall be loosed by You and the dark ones shall go out by You. The poor, my Lord, shall be enriched by You and the needy shall acquire abundance.

“All the hungry shall be sated by You and the dead shall be raised by Your voice. Heaven and earth shall clamor by You. Blessed is Your Sender, Lord of All.”

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