"I Lament For Thee, O Egypt, O Syria"
Verse 1 I lament for thee O Egypt, refuge of the Christ Child,
open once more the gates of mercy
for those suffering in thy midst!
Grant this, O Lord!
Greek: Παρασχου, κυριε. (pa-ra-skhou kee-ree-e)
Arabic: استجب يا رب (i-sta-jeb ya Robb)
Chorus 1 My heart is breaking for thee! My soul is weeping for thee!
My prayers are rising for thee!
St. Mary of Egypt, pray to God
St. Mark the Ascetic, pray to God for thy people!
Lord have mercy! Kyrie eleison! Ya Rabb urham!
Verse 2 I lament for thee O Syria, where great wisdom was granted
among the true followers of Christ,
let mercy flow again from the Fount (or Spring) of Truth!
Grant this, O Lord!
Greek: Παρασχου, κυριε. (pa-ra-skhou kee-ree-e)
Arabic: استجب يا رب (i-sta-jeb ya Rabb)
Chorus 2 My heart is breaking for thee! My soul is weeping for thee!
My prayers are rising for thee!
St. Isaac the Syrian, pray to God
St. Ephraim the Syrian, pray to God for thy people!
Lord have mercy! Kyrie eleison! Ya Rabb urham!
Ending (Repeat in Greek, Arabic)
Let my prayer arise in Thy sight as incense and let the lifting up of my hands be an evening sacrifice.
Greek: κατευθυνθήτω ἡ προσευχή μου ὡς θυμίαμα ἐνώπιόν σου ἔπαρσις τῶν χειρῶν μου θυσία ἑσπερινή (katef̱thynthí̱to̱ i̱ prosef̱chí̱ mou o̱s thymíama enó̱pión sou éparsis tó̱n cheiró̱n mou thysía esperiní̱)
Arabic: لِتَسْتَقِمْ صَلاَتِي كَالْبَخُورِ قُدَّامَكَ. لِيَكُنْ رَفْعُ يَدَيَّ كَذَبِيحَةٍ مَسَائِيَّةٍ.
Composed by Roxanne Isaac (2013)