Everlasting King, Thy will for our salvation is full of power. Thy right arm controls the whole course of human life. We give Thee thanks for all Thy mercies, seen and unseen. For eternal life, for the heavenly joys of the Kingdom which is to be. Grant mercy to us who sing Thy praise, both now and in the time to come. Glory to Thee, O God, from age to age.

Across the cold chains of the centuries, I feel the warmth of Thy breath, I feel Thy blood pulsing in my veins.  Part of time has already gone, but now Thou art the present.  I stand by Thy Cross; I was the cause of it.  I cast myself down in the dust before it.  Here is the triumph of love, the victory of salvation.  Here the centuries themselves cannot remain silent, singing Thy praises.

No one can put together what has crumbled into dust, but Thou canst restore a conscience turned to ashes.  Thou canst restore to its former beauty a soul lost and without hope.  With Thee, there is nothing that cannot be redeemed.  Thou art love; Thou art Creator and Redeemer.  We praise Thee, singing:  Alleluia!

-- from the Akathist Hymn, “Glory to God for All Things”