Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
A deep and mysterious poem from the fourth century, describing what cannot be seen at the communion service.
A deep and mysterious poem from the fourth century, describing what cannot be seen at the communion service.
This ancient hymn, sung in place of the Cherubic Hymn on certain days of the year, sets out to remind us of what cannot be seen during the communion service, as heaven’s glory spills over into our world, and Jesus Christ comes with his angel host.
Translated from the Greek, by Gerard Moultrie (1829–1885).
But the Lord is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.
LET all mortal flesh
keep silence,
And with fear and trembling stand;
Ponder nothing earthly-minded,
For with blessing in his Hand
Christ our God to earth descendeth,
Our full homage to demand.
King of kings, yet born of Mary,
As of old on earth he stood,
Lord of lords, in human vesture —
In the body and the blood —
He will give to all the faithful
His own self for heavenly food.
Rank on rank the host of heaven
Spreads its vanguard on the way,
As the Light of Light descendeth
From the realms of endless day,
That the powers of hell may vanish
As the darkness clears away.
At his feet the six-winged seraph —
Cherubim, with sleepless eye,
Veil their faces to the Presence,
As with ceaseless voice they cry,
“Alleluia, Alleluia,
Alleluia, Lord Most High.”*
Translated from the Greek, by Gerard Moultrie (1829–1885).
* This hymn dates back to the fourth-century Liturgy of St James, and is still used on Holy Saturday and some other occasions in the Russian Church.