For CHRIST the WORD, bestowing His blessed peace on men, The GOD of vengeance rises : O LORD of loving kindness, Because of Thy dear Image Men dared Thy Saints to kill, Yet didst Thou not consume them, But bear'st their insults still. Thou Who hast fixed unshaken Thy peace, that we may bring One voice, one hymn, one spirit, To glorify our King! S. Methodius I. A.D. 836. Sent as S. Methodius I., a native of Syracuse, embraced the monastic life at Constantinople. legate from Pope Paschal to Michael the Stammerer, he was imprisoned by that prince in a close cell, and there passed nine years, on account of his resolute defence of Icons. Having been scourged for the same cause, by the Emperor Theophilus, he made his escape from prison; and when peace was restored to the Church was raised to the throne of Constantinople. His first care was to assemble a Synod for the restoration of Icons; and it is, properly speaking, that Synod which the Greeks celebrate on Orthodoxy Sunday. With this Council the Iconoclast troubles ceased. S. Methodius died November 4th, 846. His compositions are very few, and are chiefly confined to Idiomela. εἰ καὶ τὰ παρόντα. Are thy toils and woes increasing? Gaze with eyes unshrouded, Dost thou fear that strictest trial? Tremblest thou at CHRIST's denial? Never rest without it, Clasp thine hands about it, -That dear Cross! Diabolic legions press thee? Thoughts and works of sin distress thee? It shall chase all terror, It shall right all error, That sweet Cross! Draw'st thou nigh to Jordan's river? Should'st thou tremble? quiver? Need'st thou No! if by it lying,— No! if on it dying,— On the Cross ! Say then," Master, while I cherish That sweet hope, I cannot perish! After this life's story, Give Thou me the glory For the Cross !" |