The Homily on Love by Despot Stefan

Keen, somehow, and swift-flowing
is the work of love,
it surpasses every virtue.

David adorns love beautifully,
saying: "Like the precious ointment upon the head,
that ran down upon the beard of Aaron,
and as the dew of Hermon,
that descended upon the mountains of Zion."

Fall in love with love,
young men and maidens,
you who are fit for love;
but rightly and blamelessly,
that you wound not youth and virginity,
by which our nature
is joined to the Divine,
lest the Divinity be displeased.
For the apostle said:
"Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God,
whereby ye were sealed
openly in baptism."

We were together and near to one another,