Hymn of Kassiani

I would like to present one of the most famous hymns written by Kassia. The Hymn of Kassiani, chanted during Holy Week on Great and Holy Wednesday.

   Sensing Thy divinity, O Lord,
   a woman of many sins,
   takes it upon herself
   to become a myrrh-bearer
   and in deep mourning
   brings before Thee fragrant oil
   in anticipation of Thy burial; crying:
   "Woe to me! What night falls on me,
   what dark and moonless madness
   of wild-desire, this lust for sin.
   Take my spring of tears
   Thou Who drawest water from the clouds,
   bend to me, to the sighing of my heart,
   Thou who bendedst down the heavens
   in Thy secret Incarnation,
   I will wash Thine immaculate feet with kisses
   and wipe them dry with the locks of my hair;
   those very feet whose sound Eve heard
   at the dusk in Paradise and hid herself in terror.
   Who shall count the multitude of my sins
   or the depth of Thy judgment,
   O Saviour of my soul?
   Do not ignore Thy handmaiden,
   O Thou whose mercy is endless".