"Blessed is He who shone forth from her!"

Come, let us wonder at the virgin most pure,
wondrous in herself,
unique in creation, she gave birth, yet knew no man;
her pure soul with wonder was filled,
daily her mind gave praise
in joy at the twofold wonder:
her virginity preserved, her child most dear.
Blessed is He who shone forth from her!

     Hymns on Mary no. 7, stanza 2, as translated by Sebastian Brock.  Harp of the Spirit: eighteen poems of Saint Ephrem, edited and translated by Sebastian Brock, Studies supplementary to Sobornost 4, 2nd ed. (Oxford: Fellowship of St Alban & St Sergius, 1983), 59.  According to Dr. Brock, it is not clear that St. Ephrem is in fact the author.