The following verses were published in 1812 and composed by Paisios II, who was the former Bishop of Stagi that year and residing in Constantinople. There he undertook the task of translating into a more modern Greek for that time the 63 Miracles attributed to the Zoodochos Pege which was originally written by Nikephoros Kallistos Xanthopoulos. Accompanying his translation were the following verses the former Bishop Paisios II of Stagi composed as a tribute.
Verses to the Zoodochos Pege
Water is excellent, and the wise man says it so;
Therefore, from all the elements of nature, he chooses it.
Who does not know the advantages of water?
For everyone judges it to be life-producing.
Water, the purest thing in all creation,
Accomplishes many wonders and shows a fountain of wisdom.
Through it the Most High Power also grants
Heavenly gifts — let no one doubt this.
Water becomes a bath for the stains of the soul,
And a sanctification of the body against defilements.
And the Theotokos through it wondrously makes manifest;
Here she easily heals many incurable afflictions,
And unspeakably cures the wounds of soul and body.
Therefore, with devout faith, draw in the water
Of our Zoodochos Pege, that you may be healed.
Most Highly Praised
Lady Theotokos.
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ΣΤΙΧΟΙ ΕΙΣ ΤΗΝ ΖΩΟΔΟΧΟΝ ΠΗΓΗΝ
Το ύδωρ είναι άριστον και ο σοφός το λέγει
Όθεν κι’ από τα φυσικά στοιχεία το εκλέγει.
Ύδατος προτερήματα ποίος δεν τα γνωρίζει
Ότ’ είν αυτό ζωοποιόν έκαστος το ψηφίζει.
Ύδωρ το καθαρώτατον σ’ όλην αυτήν την φύσιν
Τελεί πολλά φαινόμενα δείχνει σοφίας βρύσιν.
Δι’ αυτού κι’ η δύναμις η ύψιστος παρέχει
Ουράνια χαρίσματα, κανείς ας μην επέχη.
Λουτρόν το ύδωρ γίνεται ψυχικών μολυσμάτων
Και σώματος αγιασμός κατά των μιασμάτων.
Κ’ η Θεοτόκος δι αυτού υπερφυώς δεικνύει,
Ενταύθα πολλά δυσίατα ευκόλως θεραπεύει,
Ψυχής και σώματος πληγάς αρρήτως ιατρεύει.
Λοιπόν με πίστιν ευσεβή το ύδωρ εκρροφείτε
Της ζωοδόχου μας πηγής δια να ιαθήτε.
ΥΠΕΡΥΜΝΗΤΕ
Κυρία Θεοτόκε.
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.