jewel whose glory hath irradiated all creation? Whither are gone the days
in which He, the Ancient King, had made thee the throne of His glory, the
days in which He had chosen thee alone to be the lamp of salvation between
earth and heaven, and caused thee to diffuse, at dawn and at eventide, the
sweet fragrance of the All-Glorious?

Where, O House of God, is the Sun of majesty and power Who had enveloped
thee with the brightness of His presence? Where is He, the Day Spring of
the tender mercies of thy Lord, the Unconstrained, Who had established His
seat within thy walls? What is it, O throne of God, that hath altered thy
countenance, and made thy pillars to tremble? What could have closed thy
door to the face of them that eagerly seek thee? What hath made thee so
desolate? Couldst thou have been told that the Beloved of the world is
pursued by the swords of His enemies? The Lord bless thee, and bless thy
fidelity unto Him, inasmuch as thou hast remained His companion through
all His sorrows and His sufferings.

I testify that thou art the scene of His transcendent glory, His most holy
habitation. Out of thee hath gone forth the Breath of the All-Glorious, a
Breath that hath breathed over all created things, and filled with joy the
breasts of the devout that dwell in the mansions of Paradise. The
Concourse on high, and they that inhabit the Cities of the Names of God,
weep over thee, and bewail the things that have befallen thee.

Thou art still the symbol of the names and attributes of the Almighty, the
Point towards which the eyes of the Lord of earth and heaven are directed.
There hath befallen thee what hath befallen the Ark in which God’s pledge
of security had been made to dwell. Well is it with him that apprehendeth
the intent of these words, and recognizeth the purpose of Him Who is the
Lord of all creation.