-------------------------------------------
My discussion notes (I made my notes in blue, of the bolded portions):
------------------------------
you who are seeking the benedictions of the grace of the righteous [Referring to God - the story starts immediately with religious/Christian references, with God as the center]
and who are burning with love for Lalibela [There is nothing meek about this love, it is burning - as in the high heat of the summer of the next section],
so that you will make your delights from the account of his good fight [The Good fight - fight for God, for morality, for Christ - a combative manner for acquiring goodness - as has been, and will be, the plight of these Ethiopians, who fought moral enemies, as well as geographical ones]
which percolates as water into the entrails, as marrow into the bone. [Referring to the “account,” which satiates and soothes the body, as does water and food - and thus is nourishing]
For it is a shower of praises [The “benediction”/the praises these “dear friends” are seeking]
not even absorbed [Lost] by the high heat of summer [Allusion to natural environment - the difficulties of the summer heat].
So open wide the ears of your hearts
—[Listening with the heart = an Orthodox phrase “We must learn to stand before God with “the mind in the heart”
— [Inside every human is the heart, the rudder of our ship. It is the center of our being. It is the place where we converse both with God and with ourselves]
— [Starting with our hearts to make them God-like] source: Antiochian Orthodox Christian Diocese - Rick Burns
— [From the Philokalia Prayer of the Heart] source:
- Philokalia - Greek – Love of the Good, the Beautiful - prose anthology of Greek Christian monastic texts that was part of a movement for spiritual renewal in Eastern monasticism and Orhtodox devotional life in general] source: Britannica.com
The Philokalia is an important collection of writings by Fathers of the Eastern Church dating from the fourth to the fourteenth century. - source: Writings from the Philokalia - G.E.H. Palmer (translator)
I begin, as much as the imperfections of my tongue and the shortcomings of my knowledge allow me, to speak of some of his numerous prodigies [Comparison - the greatness of Lalibela - the meekness/lowliness/imperfections of the speaker].
I cannot enumerate one by one the accomplishments of this blessed one, but only a small number amongst them,
so that your hearts will rejoice in learning of them, for the sight of the righteous rejoices much more than a well laid table can satiate, than thirst is quenched by wine and mead [God’s presence, putting God close, setting the table with God as the main surpasses even the best of wine, or tej]
she possesses more smoothness than oil and fat, as the prophet says: His words are softer than butter [From psalms 55:21 - from David’s psalms during a time of rebellion - about a trusted friend (words softer than butter) but who is vindictive and destructive]
As to you, it is good that you should wear his faith as you would clothes [once again, an exemplary, Godly, leader
that you fold yourself in it as you would in a veil - metaphor of faith as covering - clothes - a veil
and that you honour this man as you honour the angels, the prophets, the apostles, the righteous, martyrs, virgins and monks, for he is of one piece with them. And the honorable place this man has in God’s presence, that he ranks high
May his prayer and his intercession, his succour and the hope of his benediction remain with the servant of God, our Queen, Walatta Iyasus, with Walatta Hiruta Selase, with all you here who are present, and who have come from far and wide to seek shelter in the shade of his wings; may he not leave your side till the end of centuries. Amen.