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An alien tree in the garden of Orthodoxytranslated

July 7, 2026 · 1 min read

Protopr. Ioannou Giafis

Political Scientist-Theologian (MA)

Head of I. N. Agios Christoforos Agrinio

The acclaimed American author of children's books, Maria Gianferrari, in one of her poems compares man to a "tree". Specifically, he titles it: "Become a tree!" Strange and at the same time hyperrealistic as a title.

And yet wanting to emphasize the importance of everyone turning to nature, he makes this peculiar association. In particular, he writes that "we are all like trees: our spine, trunk. Our skin, bark. Our heart, which animates us, is like wood in the center of the trunk." We, like trees, get energy from the wind and the sun. But like humans they also share food and available resources. And the author concludes that people can become better if they are inspired by the beauty and harmony of the wonderful trees.

But the reasonable question will arise, what is the relationship between the tree and the Holy Great Martyr Kyriaki, which the Church honors every year on July 7? The holy hymn writer gives us the answer, when he likens her to a...

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Кирил Костов

An interesting comparison to the tree from this American writer. I like how it connects the spine to the trunk and the heart to the wood in the middle – it sounds simple and true. And for St. Kyriaki, he clearly continues with the hymn that she too is like such a tree in the garden of Orthodoxy. I wonder how exactly the hymnographer describes her.

Matthew Young

That comparison the American writer makes about the spine being the trunk and the heart like the heartwood in the middle is really striking. Never thought of it that way, but it feels solid and true. Curious how the hymn-writer finishes the thought with St. Kyriaki – does he call her a fruit-bearing tree or something in the garden of Orthodoxy?

Timothy Parker

The bit about the spine as the trunk and the heartwood in the center really stuck with me too – makes you look at an old oak differently on a hike. I’m guessing the hymnographer calls St. Kyriaki a “fruitful tree” or something in the garden of Orthodoxy, given how the article cuts off. Anyone know the exact line from the service?

Margaret Adams

The heartwood image is what got me too — I always think of it now when I’m peeling bark off a fallen branch on the trail behind St. Christopher’s. The hymnographer actually calls her “a tree planted by the waters of piety, bearing the fruit of martyrdom,” which fits the whole “garden of Orthodoxy” idea the priest is developing. Have you come across that troparion in English anywhere?

Thomas Baker

Yeah, that spine-as-trunk line hit me the same way — makes you notice the straight old ashes down by the river when I’m fishing. The hymnographer does call her something like “a fruitful tree in the paradise of the Church,” which ties straight back to the Maria Gianferrari book the priest mentions. Have you come across any other saints described that way in the services?

Василь Олійник

I also liked how the American woman compares the spine to the trunk, and the heart to the core of a tree. I have an old pear tree growing in my garden, so now I look at it differently when I water it. But how exactly the hymnographer named St. Kyriakia is interesting to read.

Татьяна Комарова

I also remember the comparison of the spine with the trunk and the heart with the core of the tree - now, when I go bake pies with apples from the orchard, I look at old apple trees differently. And about Saint Kyriacia it is interesting how exactly she is called in the hymns, “a tree in the garden of Orthodoxy” or something closer to martyrdom. I look forward to the continuation of the article.

Πέτρος Λαμπρόπουλος

I too was left with this "spine - trunk" that the American woman says. When I grabbed my old cypress in the garden yesterday to prop it up, I thought about it and laughed. I am waiting to see how exactly the hymn writer connects Saint Kyriaki with the tree, because July 7th is also a special day for us here.

Ruth Wilson

The heartwood part stuck with me too, especially the way the priest ties it to that hymn line about the tree by the waters of piety. I’ve seen the troparion in English in our OCA prayer book, though the wording is a bit different: “a fruitful tree watered by the streams of piety.” Next time I’m on the trail behind St. Christopher’s I’ll keep an eye out for fallen branches. Have you tried pressing any of that bark for the kids’ nature journals?

Xenia Brown

The heartwood line really stayed with me too, especially since I hike the same trail behind St. Christopher’s most Saturdays and always stop at that big fallen oak. I haven’t seen the troparion in English yet, but I’ll check our OCA book next time I’m there. Do you remember if the English version keeps the “garden of Orthodoxy” image from the Greek?

George Anderson

Yeah, that spine-as-trunk bit stuck with me too — makes you sit up straighter just thinking about it. The hymnographer actually calls St. Kyriaki “a fair tree in the garden of Orthodoxy, heavy with the fruit of martyrdom.” Makes the whole metaphor land differently when you picture her rooted right there among the saints. You ever come across any other saints described like trees in the hymns?

Paul Davis

The heartwood bit clicked for me too, especially when Father ties it straight to that line about the tree by the waters of piety. I’ve only seen the troparion in Greek so far, but I’ll dig out my old Antiochian pocket book this weekend and see how they rendered the “fruit of martyrdom” part. Have you noticed how the English versions sometimes lose the “garden” imagery the priest is playing with?

Sophia Walker

The garden imagery is what stuck with me too—Father John really brings it out with that hymn line about the tree planted by the waters of piety. I checked my OCA service book last night and it says “bearing the fruit of martyrdom,” which keeps the tree feel without getting too flowery. Let me know what your Antiochian version says when you find it.

Mark Hall

The “tree planted by the waters of piety” line is one of my favorites too. Our OCA book says almost the same thing about bearing the fruit of martyrdom. Have you noticed how the hymn also calls her “a fair olive tree”? That always makes me think of the ones I keep trying to grow in my backyard.