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Title: Hymns from the Greek Office Books - Together with Centos and Suggestions
Author: Brownlie, John
Language: English
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HYMNS
FROM THE
GREEK OFFICE BOOKS
HYMNS
FROM THE
GREEK OFFICE BOOKS
TOGETHER WITH
CENTOS AND SUGGESTIONS
RENDERED BY THE
Rev. JOHN BROWNLIE
AUTHOR OF
_"The Hymns and Hymn-Writers of the Church Hymnary";
"Hymns from East and West";
"Hymns of the Greek Church";
"Hymns of the Holy Eastern Church"; &c._
PAISLEY: ALEXANDER GARDNER
Publisher by Appointment to the late Queen Victoria
MCMIV
LONDON:
SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, HAMILTON, KENT & CO., LMD.
PRINTED BY ALEXANDER GARDNER, PAISLEY.
{TÊ ; EKKLÊSIA ; TOU ; CHRISTOU ;}
{EN ; SKÔTIKÔ ; ETHNEI ;}
{KAI ; PASI ; TOUS ; YMNOUS ; TOU ;}
{SIÔN ; AGAPÔSIN ;}
{ANATITHÊMI ;}
PREFACE
The renderings contained in this volume are chosen from a quantity of
material, much of which had to be set aside as, for various reasons,
unsuitable. But, as can be understood, in process of reading, thoughts
linked themselves to the memory, and echoes of music, much of it
surpassingly sweet, lingered, and from those echoes and thoughts the
Centos and Suggestions have been formed. The phrases containing the
thoughts, and the echoes repeating the music, have been woven together to
form the fabric which is shewn here.
This volume is presented because the author believes that the hymnody of
the West must find much of its finest enrichment in the praise literature
of the Church of the East. It would be presumptuous to think that these
renderings and suggestions are at all a worthy expression of the noble
and richly varied praise of the Eastern Church; but they constitute,
together with those contained in two former volumes by the present
author, perhaps one-half of all the pieces which have yet appeared in
English verse.
All the renderings in this collection appear for the first time. If any
one thinks he has reason to complain of their quality, let him try to do
better. The field lies untilled for any one who will work it.
J. B.
Trinity Manse,
Portpatrick, September 15, 1904.
GREEK INDEX
PAGE
{eleêson hêmas, kyrie heleêson hêmas,} 13
{en tais aulais sou hymnêsô se,} 15
{rheustoi pôs gegonamen, aphtharton eikona phoresantes,} 16
{panta mataiotês ta anthrôpina,} 17
{tachys eis antilêpsin, monos hyparchôn Christe,} 19
{ê ton prôton tôn Angelôn,} 21
{neumati thourgikô kyrie pantôn,} 23
{epeskepsato hêmas exypsous ho Sôtêr hêmôn,} 25
{tên achranton Eikona sou proskynoumen agathe,} 26
{ho phôtisas tê ellampsei tês sês parousias Christe,} 27
{chairois ho zôêphoros Stauros,} 29
{sêmeron kreumatai epi xylou,} 31
{esphragismenou tou mnêmatos,} 33
{ho kyrios anelêphthê eis ouranous,} 34
{eulogêtos ei, Christe ho Theos hêmôn,} 36
{to ap' aiônos apokryphon,} 38
{ek tou Pneumatos sou,} 39
{chaire kecharitômenê Theotoke Parthene,} 41
{nautiôn tô salô tôn biôtikôn melêmatôn,} 42
{hai myrophoroi gynaikes, orthrou batheos,} 45
{kai strapheis ho kyrios eneblepse tô Petrô,} 47
{kai aneôxas hêmin paradeisou tas pylas,} 49
{kai klausômen, kai praxômen,} 50
{pyripnoon dexasthe pneumatos droson,} 51
{sarki hypnôsas hôs thnêtos,} 53
{patêr oiktirmôn,} 55
{o plastês mou kyrios,} 57
{ho Sôtêr hêmôn, anatolê anatolôn,} 59
{hymnoumen sou Christe, to sôtêrion pathos,} 61
{phôs ek phôtos,} 63
{psychê mou! anasta,} 65
{klinas ouranous, katebê,} 67
{deute agalliasômetha tô kyriô,} 69
{to Pneuma tês alêtheias,} 71
{ouk aphêsô hymas orphanous,} 73
{ho ploutos kai bathos, sophias Theou!} 75
{hai myrophoroi gynaikes,} 77
{kai ho ti an aitêsête touto poiêsô,} 79
{me nyx edexato,} 81
{zôtikês ex hypsous biaias pheromenês,} 83
{exagoreusô kat' emou tên anomian mou tô kyriô,} 85
{ên to phôs to alêthinon,} 87
{hagios athanatos, to paraklêton Pneuma,} 89
{didou paramythian tois doulois sou,} 91
{hoti etechthê epi gês ho Amnos tou Theou,} 93
{ho de bios, skia kai enypnion,} 95
{en tô phôti Christe tou prosôpou sou,} 97
Hymns From The Greek Office Books
Troparia
{eleêson hêmas, kyrie heleêson hêmas}
_Euchologion_, p. 35
I
O destitute of all defence,
We bow before Thee now;
In mercy let Thy mercy come,
For merciful art Thou.
II
Our trusting souls in quiet repose
Would rest Thy love within;--
O be not angry with us, Lord,
Nor think upon our sin.
III
But from Thy high abode look down,
With tender love the while,
And save us from our foes who would
Our wayward hearts beguile.
IV
For, verily Thou art our God,
And we Thy people all;--
Hear us, the creatures of Thy hand,
When on Thy name we call.
V
To God the Father, God the Son,
All praise and glory be;
And to the Spirit, Three in One,
To all eternity.
Stichera Idiomela
{en tais aulais sou hymnêsô se}
_Pentecostarian_, p. 186
I
Within Thy courts my praise shall rise,
O Saviour of the world, to Thee;
And while I bow, will lift mine eyes,
Unconquered Might, Thy face to see;
At eve, at morn, at noon, alway,
All blessing Lord, to Thee I'll pay.
II
Here in Thy courts, O Lord, we bow,
And soul and body worship give;
Hear us, Thy faithful servants now,
Eternal God in Whom we live;
And Thou the Unbeginning Son,
And Holy Spirit Three in One.
Sticheron Idiomelon
(From the Order of the Burial of Priests)
{rheustoi pôs gegonamen, aphtharton eikona phoresantes}
_Euchologion_, p. 467
I
Why do we fade?
Who Thine own image bear,
Who life immortal share,--
Why do we fade?
II
Why did we err?
And leave the food of life,
To eat the bread of strife,--
Why did we err?
III
Why thus deceived?
And robbed of life divine,
That precious gift of Thine?
Why thus deceived?
Idiomela of John The Monk
(From the Order of the Burial of Laymen)
{panta mataiotês ta anthrôpina}
_Euchologion_, p. 413
I
All human things decay,
For all is vanity,
The silver and the gold;
The glory of the great,
The wealth of high estate,
None can for ever hold.
II
Death with his icy hand,
Severs each earthly band,
And bears us all away;
Vain are our earthly dreams,
Shadows our substance seems,
And nothing lasts for aye.
III
Immortal Christ, we cry,
O let our prayers come nigh
Thy throne of heavenly grace;
Rest him whose form we miss,
Grant him in endless bliss
A lasting dwelling place.
Troparia
(From the Order of Holy Unction)
{tachys eis antilêpsin, monos hyparchôn Christe}
_Euchologion_, p. 266
I
Thou, Lord, hast power to heal,
And Thou wilt quickly aid,
For Thou dost deeply feel
The stripes upon us laid:--
Thou Who wast wounded by the rod
Uplifted in the hand of God.
II
Send speedy help, we pray,
To him who ailing lies,
That from his couch he may
With thankful heart arise;
Through Her, whose prayers availing find
Thine ear, O Lover of mankind.
III
Oh, blinded are our eyes,
And all are held in night;
But like the blind who cries,
We cry to Thee for light;
In penitence, O Christ, we pray,
Give us the radiant light of day.
Ode V. of Metrophanes
(From the Midnight Service for the Sabbath)
{ê ton prôton tôn Angelôn amesôs diakosmon}
_Parakletike_, p. 4
I
The radiance of the brightness
Of beauty shed by Thee,
Descend on us who hymn Thy name,
Sole ruling Trinity.
II
Victorious nature hymns Thee,
Thou orb of triple ray;
For Thou hast hallowed it through grace
And borne its sin away.
III
In faith we laud the Father,
The Spirit and the Son,
One Nature, One Divinity,
One God, yet Three in One.
IV
To Thee our God be glory,
O Holy Trinity,
Both now, and while the ages run
To all eternity.
Ode VIII of Metrophanes
(From the Midnight Service for the Sabbath)
{neumati thourgikô kyrie pantôn}
_Parakletike_, p. 4
I
Thy mighty word commanding,
The heavens were settled high,
And earth to Thee responding
Was spread beneath the sky.
II
O God of power, Thy servants
Would seek Thy power divine,
That they their hearts to love Thee
May evermore incline.
III
And gazing on the glory
That shines in triple ray,
Our souls shall feast with gladness
On Thy sweet light alway.
IV
And of Thy glory shining,
And of Thy ruling light,
From age to age Thy servants
Shall hymn both day and night.
V
To Thee be lasting praises,
Immortal Three in One,--
Thou Father, Son, and Spirit,--
Now, and while ages run.
Exapostilarion Automelon
{epeskepsato hêmas exypsous ho Sôtêr hêmôn}
_Maenon_, Dec. 25
I
The early dawn awakes,
The morn triumphant breaks,
See, see! the brightening sky,
The Saviour from on high
Is with us here.
II
And we who sat in night,
Rejoicing see the Light;
The shadows now are past,
The Dayspring come at last
And day is near.
III
For we have found the Truth;
The Son of Virgin youth,
The Saviour hath been born
This glorious festal morn,
And joys appear.
Troparia of The Sixth Hour
{tên achranton Eikona sou proskynoumen agathe}
_Horologion_, p. 94
I
Before Thy Cross we take our place,
With all our load of guilt,
And plead forgiveness of Thy grace
Because Thy blood was spilt.
II
For Thou, to free us from our foes,
Didst bear that cruel Cross,
And by its agony and woes
Bring gain for all our loss.
III
Therefore we raise with one accord
Our songs right thankfully,
For joy and peace, O Christ our Lord,
We owe in full to Thee.
Ode V
(From the Canon of the Resurrection)
{ho phôtisas tê ellampsei tês sês parousias Christe}
_Parakletike_, p. 8
I
O Christ, Who art the peerless Light,
Come with Thy presence ever bright,
And from the Father's throne above
Descend to hearts that own Thy love.
II
Thy Cross no shame to mortals brings;
The world with joy its glory sings;
And men, O Christ, before Thee bow--
All hail! Thy Resurrection now.
III
Ah Thou, our Lord, the Shepherd good,
Upon that Cross poured forth Thy blood,
And with Thy last expiring breath
Didst save Thy flock from endless death.
IV
And death of all his power is shorn,
And men to joy and peace are born,
For from their sins' oppressive sway
Forgiveness bears their souls away.
V
Glory to Thee, O God, we bring,
And to the Son, our Heavenly King,
And to the Holy Ghost always,
Now, and throughout the endless days.
Stichera
(From the Office of the Cross on Quadragesima Sunday)
{chairois ho zôêphoros Stauros}
_Triodion_, p. 215
I
All hail, life-bearing Cross,
The trophy of the good,
Thy bloom is fragrance on our way,
Thy fruit our heavenly food.
II
Entrance to paradise,
Strength of all faithful souls;
The Church's fortress when the foe
His banner grim unrolls.
III
By thee the curse is gone,
And death no terror brings;
We cast his power beneath our feet,
And rise to heavenly things.
IV
O shield of our defence,
And foe of all our foes;
The glory of the saints of God,
Their crown for all their woes.
V
Who follow Christ the Lord,
Their beauty find in thee;
Their harbour of salvation thou,
Now and eternally.
Antiphon
{sêmeron kreumatai epi xylou ho en hydasi tên gên kreumasas}
_Triodion_, p. 401
I
Come, mortals, come behold!
He hangs upon the tree,
Who made the rolling sea
The new formed earth uphold.
II
See! He is crowned with thorns,
The King of angels great,
Who in His high estate
A glorious crown adorns.
III
Derided, see Him wear
A robe of purple dye,
Who robes the noon-day sky
With clouds that float on air.
IV
The Bridegroom of the Bride,
The Son of Virgin born--
With nails His hands are torn,
With cruel spear His side.
Apolutikion
(Of the Holy Apostle Thomas)
{esphragismenou tou mnêmatos}
_Pentecostarion_, p. 23
I
O Christ the God, Who art our life,
Thou from the sealèd tomb didst rise,
And where Thy sad disciples mourned,
Appeared to them with glad surprise.
II
Because Thy mercy, Lord, is great,
And all Thy word to them is true,
Come with its power even as of old,
And every sinful soul renew.
III
All glory to the Father be,
And to the Saviour, Christ the Son;
All glory to the Holy Ghost,
Now, and while endless ages run.
Stichera of The Ascension
{ho kyrios anelêphthê eis ouranous, hina pempsê ton Paraklêton tô kosmô}
_Pentecostarion_, p. 148
I
The Lord ascended into heaven
That He might from above
Send down the promised Paraclete
On mission of His love.
II
And there the Father for His Son
Had decked a glorious throne;
And clouds, His chariots, bore Him up,
That He might claim His own.
III
O strangest wonder e'er beheld,
Since ages hoar began,
The angels saw the highest place
Given to a Son of Man.
IV
"O all ye angels praise the Lord,"
The Holy Spirit commands,
"Lift up your gates, ye princes high,
Ye nations, clap your hands."
V
To God the Father throned on high,
And to the Son be praise,
And to the Spirit--Three in One,
From age to age, always.
Apolutikion of Pentecost
{eulogêtos ei, Christe ho Theos hêmôn}
_Pentecostarion_, p. 188
I
Blessed art Thou, O Christ, our God,
Who to Thy followers gav'st
The wisdom they have shed abroad
By which the world Thou sav'st.
II
Thou gav'st to them the Holy Ghost
As Thou hadst promise given,
When came the day of Pentecost,
As breath of God from heaven.
III
And now by them, Thy faithful few,
The world Thou gatherest in,--
As by the net those fishers drew,--
From all the woes of sin.
IV
To Thee, O Father, glory be,
To Thee, O Christ, the Son,
And to the Spirit, One in Three,
While endless ages run.
Theotokion
{to ap' aiônos apokryphon}
_Triodion_, p. 469
I
O Mystery, hidden from the world
Through all the ages past--
Even to the angel hosts unknown--
Is manifest at last;
And thou, Theotokos, hast given
Incarnate God, from highest heaven.
II
God in His fulness wears our flesh,
And from our sin and loss
Redeemed us by His pain and death
Upon the awful Cross.
Save us, through Him who cast away
The bands of death, we humbly pray.
Ode VI. of Cosmas The Monk.
Troparia
{ek tou Pneumatos sou}
_Pentecostarion_, p. 190
I
Even as thou said'st, O Christ,
The Holy Spirit came,
And now our hearts possess
The knowledge of Thy name.
II
For Thou hast richly poured
Thy Spirit on our race,
To teach the Father's will,
And magnify Thy grace.
III
Forth from the Father, Thou
Cam'st to our human needs,
And from that Source of Life
The Holy Ghost proceeds.
IV
All glory to our God,
And to the Christ, His Son,
And to the Holy Ghost,
Eternal Three in One.
Theotokion
{chaire kecharitômenê Theotoke Parthene}
{Mên Septembrios}, p. 4
I
Hail, full of grace, Virgin Theotokos,
Harbour of all who on the billows toss;
Refuge of those who helpless seek Thy grace,
Hopeless and sin-stained of our fallen race.
II
From thee the Lord Incarnate came to free
Those who are held in bands of misery.
Hail! Virgin Mother, for alone thou art
Blessèd for ever, by each human heart.
III
Say to the Christ that strife of sin should cease,
That to this world should come the bliss of peace.
Hail! full of grace, Virgin to thee be praise,
Now and for ever through the endless days.
Hirmos
(Ode VI. from the poem of Cosmas the Monk)
{nautiôn tô salô tôn biôtikôn melêmatôn}
_Pentecostarion_, p. 190
I
Tossed on the sea of life,
And sick and sore distressed,
I lift my cry to Thee, O Lord,
Who giv'st the troubled rest.
II
There, where the waters yawn,
And cruel monsters grin,
My comrades sink to depths below,
All in a sea of sin.
III
My earnest cry I raise,
Hear Thou the prayer I make,
And from the dark abyss of death
My soul in mercy take.
Centos And Suggestions
{hai myrophoroi gynaikes, orthrou batheos}
I
At early dawn, with pious thought,
The holy women spices brought--
For Christ, their Lord, was dead;--
But lo! the stone was rolled away:
"Where are the seals?" they wondering say,
"The guard, where He was laid?"
II
"Why with your ointments mix your tears?
Why all this sighing, and those fears?"
An angel near declares:
"There lies the stone that barred the tomb,
No longer now its solemn gloom
Your Lord and Master shares."
III
"Haste, haste with joy the tidings tell,
The Lord hath vanquished death and hell,
For He, the Death of death,
Hath burst asunder hades prison,
And, first-born from the dead hath risen,
Even as afore He saith."
IV
Honour to Thee, O Christ, we bring,
Thy glorious rising now we sing,
Victorious is Thy strife;
Our Hope, our Trust, on Thee we call,
Our Joy, our Strength, our God, our All,
And our Immortal Life.
{kai strapheis ho kyrios eneblepse tô Petrô}
I
I brought my darkest sin to mind,
And called it by the vilest name,
And thought to fill my soul with grief,
When I had charged it with the blame;--
I said, "Before my God I'll fall,"
But sorrow came not at my call.
II
I said, "Ah, soul! the wrath of God
Shall smite the sinner with dismay,
The record of thy sin is kept,
And swiftly nears the reckoning day;"--
Methought I heard God's thunders roll,
But sorrow came not to my soul.
III
"Ah, stony heart! can thought of sin
In all its vileness bring no tears?
And canst thou hear God's thunders speak,
And weep not though the reckoning nears?"
I had no weeping to control,
For sorrow came not to my soul.
IV
I looked, my Saviour looked at me,
O look of love no heart can bear!
Like raging torrents came my tears,
And plunged my spirit in despair;
Vain, vain my weeping to control,
For sorrow now hath found my soul.
{kai aneôxas hêmin paradeisou tas pylas}
I
O God of light and glory,
Thy servants look to see
The light that shines effulgent
Upon their souls from Thee.
II
And lo! the heavens are open,
And from the throne of God,
The Christ, the Light eternal,
That glory sheds abroad.
III
And eyes reflect the beauty,
And hearts responding glow;
For only they who see Thee
Can in Thy likeness grow.
{kai klausômen, kai praxômen}
I
I have no tears to shed,
For grief my soul hath none;
My heart hath never bled,
For ought that I have done;
I weep not when I hear Thee say
That sin hath carried me away.
II
I have no tears to shed;
Wilt Thou not touch my heart,
And bid sin's wounds run red,
And throb with bitter smart?--
Then shall I lift my prayer and say,
"Lord, take my many sins away."
III
For Thou, O Lord, dost will
That all should seek Thy face,
That Thou mayest well fulfil
The promise of Thy grace.
Who ever sought Thy love in vain,
Or failed Thy pardon to obtain?
{pyripnoon dexasthe pneumatos droson}
I
Thy love hath sweetened me,--
Thy love, O Christ, divine,
And by Thy favour Thou hast changed
This wilful heart of mine.
II
Now by Thy Spirit's fire,
Consume my sins, I pray,
And in my heart a love instil,
That shall abide for aye.
III
Then shall my heart rejoice,
Because Thou dost abide,
For ever, O Thou Blessed One,
Close to Thy servant's side.
IV
And love and joy shall be
My strength while here I stay;
And love, the spring of all my joy,
Shall live and love alway.
{sarki hypnôsas hôs thnêtos}
I
Lo! He gave Himself to die,
Christ, our God, Who came to save us;
In the mortal grave to lie,
That death might no more enslave us.
II
On the day appointed, lo!
From the grave the Saviour rises,
Blessings endless to bestow,--
Life and all its great surprises.
III
Hail the manger where He lay
While the angel hosts adore Him;
Hail the Cross, for man that day
Raised, that Jesu might restore him.
IV
Hail the Resurrection morn;
Hail the Christ from death restoréd,
Be our praises heavenward borne,
To our God by all adoréd.
{patêr oiktirmôn}
I
Have pity, Lord, for Thou are great,
And greatness pity knows;
I mourn my poor and worthless state,
And all its wants and woes.
II
Have pity, Lord, for Thou art great;--
I would from sin be free,
And seek Thy face, 'though coming late,
For Thou wilt welcome me.
III
Have pity, Lord, for Thou art great,
And give me strength to win;
That I may gain the heavenly gate
And freely enter in.
IV
Have pity, Lord, for Thou art love,
And by Thy grace alone,
I hope in Thy pure house above
To serve before Thy throne.
{o plastês mou kyrios}
I
Formed in Thine image bright,
With glory on my head,
I lived within Thy light,
And on Thy bounty fed.
II
But ah! that evil day!
The tempter's silvery tone
Lured me from God away,
To seek for bliss alone.
III
Dark came the night of sin,
I mourned my woeful plight,
For all was dark within,
And all around was night.
IV
Shorn of Thy beauty fair,
Gift at my wondrous birth,
Hope fled before despair,
Gone was the joy of earth.
V
Yea, though the prayer be vain,
Now will I lift mine eyes,
Call me, God, back again,
Back to Thy paradise.
VI
Came there a voice to me,
Yea, 'twas Thy voice, my God,
Bidding me come to Thee,
Up to Thy pure abode.
VII
Trusting Thy mercy great,
Up from my woes I'll rise,
Seeking the golden gate
Opening to paradise.
{ho Sôtêr hêmôn, anatolê anatolôn}
I
Come, with the load of sorrow thou art bearing,
Lay it on Him who every burden bears;
Let not thy soul in trouble sink despairing,
He who hath sorrowed, every sorrow shares.
II
Look for the morn when night is dark and weary,
Morning shall come when hours of night are spent;
Clouds hide the sun, and make the noontide dreary,
Gladness shall cheer you when the clouds are rent.
III
Look for His smile who gilds the hills at morning,
Surely it comes as comes the morning sun;
Beauty shall grace thy life with bright adorning,
Even as the sunlight, till thy day is done.
IV
Then, when the morn that makes the hilltops golden
Round the Jerusalem thy spirit gains
Breaks on thy view, shall come the gladness olden
Shared by the dwellers in those blest domains.
{hymnoumen sou Christe, to sôtêrion pathos}
I
We hymn Thy triumph on the Cross,
Thy victory o'er the grave,
O Christ, immortal Son of God,
Who cam'st Thy folk to save.
II
For, dying on the Cross, the sting
Of death was torn away,--
O, by Thy victory over death
Give life to us, we pray.
III
The gates of hades tottering fell,
The prisoners saw the light,
And forth emerging, left behind
A hideous, starless night.
IV
O make us worthy, Christ, to sing
The wonders of Thy power;
And give us purity of heart
To serve Thee every hour.
V
All praise and glory, Christ our God,
To Thee be ever given;
One with the Father, One with us
On earth, and now in heaven.
{phôs ek phôtos}
I
O Light of light! when other lights are fading,
Then in my soul with heavenly brightness shine;
"Let there be light!" the night and fear upbraiding,
Speak Thou the word and send the Light Divine.
II
O Joy of joy! when other joys are sighing,
Sing to my soul and bid its sadness flee;
And when the songs my bitter tears are drying,
Come with Thy gladness, and rejoice with me.
III
O Love of love! when other loves are dying,
And hearts grow cold, and eyes that lured me frown;
Come to my heart, Thou Love, all hate defying,
Full of all pity to our world come down.
IV
O Bliss of bliss! when earth and all its treasures
Shrink from my grasp, and leave me poor and sad;
May I with Christ fill up my empty measures,
And in His presence reap the hopes I had.
{psychê mou! anasta}
I
Hence, slumber, from mine eyes,
See, from the eastern skies
The light is shed;
The night has passed away,
Now 'tis the morn of day,
Darkness has fled.
II
My soul from slumber free,
Let me Thy brightness see,
O Light of light!
May darkness from my heart,
And every cloud depart,
And fears of night.
III
Now let my hands employ
The passing hours, and joy
Shall find my soul;
Thy will, O God, be done,
Thy path of duty run,
My heart control.
IV
And when the sunlight dies,
And in the western skies
The day is spent;
Then on Thy loving breast,
O Jesu, let me rest
In calm content.
{klinas ouranous, katebê}
I
The Lord came down from heaven,
And dwelt with us below;
And in His life was given
To taste our bitterest woe;
Our flesh He wore,
Its ills He bore,
Who came to us from heaven.
II
He climbed the rugged steep
To where the Cross was raised;
And while His followers weep,
And angels are amazed,
He groaned and sighed,
And, wounded, died--
Who climbed the rugged steep.
III
He gave His life for me--
'Twas for my sin He died,--
O, that all eyes might see
The Saviour crucified;
And give Him love
Who dwells above,
And gave His life for me.
{Deute agalliasômetha tô kyriô, to paron mystêrion ekdiêgoumenoi}
I
Come, let us sing with joyful mirth
The mystery of Immanuel's birth,
Who, Virgin born, is here;
The middle wall no longer stands,
No flaming sword in Cherub's hands
Inspires the soul with fear.
II
See, clear the pathway open lies
That upward leads to Paradise,
Where stands the Tree of Life;
And freely may I enter in,
Whence I was driven by mortal sin,
And worsted in the strife.
III
For He, the Father's only Son,
A glorious work hath now begun,
Descending from above
In servant's form, though yet the Son,
Unchanging while the ages run,
To win us by His love.
IV
Come, now, let hearts united be
To laud His praises joyfully,
The God-Man born to-day.
And let Thy mercy reach us now
For pitiful and kind art Thou,
O Virgin born, we pray.
{to Pneuma tês alêtheias}
I
O Christ, to Thy disciples then,
When eyes were sad, and hearts were sore,
Thy lips the cheering promise made,
To comfort them for evermore.
II
And now what law and prophets spake
To waiting hearts in days of old,
Has been fulfilled: the Spirit seeks
The human heart, as long foretold.
III
O Christ, to us the promise speak,
And send Thy Spirit in our need,
That He may bless our longing hearts,
And ever in Thy precepts lead.
IV
And light the darkness of our night,
Till clear the path before us lies;
And comfort us in sore distress,
And wipe the sorrow from our eyes.
V
And songs of praise to Thee we'll give,
O God the Father, Christ the Son,
And Holy Spirit, while we live,
And in the ages yet to run.
{ouk aphêsô hymas orphanous}
I
May Thy bright Spirit, as of old,
The love of Christ the Son unfold,
And as He hangs upon the Cross,
Reveal to men their sin and loss.
II
O Holy Spirit, one with God,
From God sent down to our abode
With us abide in joy and woe,
And share our sojourn here below.
III
And give us comfort in our pain,
Be in our loss our surest gain;
The Christ reveal in all His love,
And fit us for our home above.
IV
That we may serve the Christ our Lord,
Teach us to know His blessed Word;
Our wills renew; our hearts allure,
In love and service to endure.
V
Thine be the glory, God the Lord;
Glory to Thee, Incarnate Word;
To Thee, blest Spirit, praises be,
From age to age eternally.
{ho ploutos kai bathos, sophias Theou!}
I
Now Christ the God to earth hath come,
And made our dwelling place His home;
And in our flesh the God-Man gives
The life by which His people lives.
II
Bound to the Cross He bleeding dies,
That man from sin forgiven may rise;
And by the grace of God set free,
Live in His service endlessly.
III
They who in Adam sinning fell,
With Christ ascend with God to dwell;
And through the pain the Saviour bore,
Are freed from pain for evermore.
IV
And where the Christ 'mong myriads bright
Sits on His throne of peerless light,
There dwell the saints who by His grace
Share on the throne the victor's place.
V
Glory to Thee, our Father, God,
Who dwell'st in heaven, Thy high abode;
Glory to Thee, O Christ the Son,
And Holy Ghost, blest Three in One.
{hai myrophoroi gynaikes}
I
Morn of beauty, joyous morn,
Hails the Resurrection Day,
All our fears are borne away,
Hope into our world is born.
II
See, the stone is rolled away;
Empty stands the silent tomb,
Death is dead, and gone the gloom
Where the risen Saviour lay.
III
Women bear the spices, sad,
In the early morning grey,
But they wiped their tears away,
For the angel made them glad.
IV
Tell the tidings far abroad,
"He is risen even as He said,"
Life immortal from the dead
Is the gift of Christ our God.
V
Glory, glory evermore,
To the Christ who died to save,
Wresting victory from the grave,
To the Christ we now adore.
{kai ho ti an aitêsête touto poiêsô}
I
O ever ready to forgive,
Thou merciful and mild,
I long before Thy face to live
As trustful as a child.
II
Thy Spirit leads me to repent,
And cast my care on Thee;
I come to Him whom Thou hast sent,
And bring my guilt with me.
III
O ever ready to bestow
The help I daily need,
Be Thou my strength where'er I go,
My present Friend indeed.
IV
Then shall I live for evermore
Rejoicing in Thy love,
And follow, if Thou goest before,
To better things above.
{me nyx edexato}
I
O Son of God, on Thee we call,
Blest Jesu, ere the darkness fall,
Come near us in Thy grace;
We own the sins that mar our life,
And stem our efforts in the strife,
And shamed we hide our face.
II
The morning came, and hope was clear,
And void the soul of doubt and fear;
But ere the noontide shone,
The light was darkened in the sky,
For thickest clouds came rolling nigh,
And all our peace was gone.
III
And now the night is bringing dread,
For guilt is resting on our head;--
O Christ, our prayers hear,
Who bore our sorrows on the Cross,
Who paid for us our priceless loss,--
And come in mercy near.
IV
Give us to know Thy strength is given
To all who tread the path to heaven--
That we may fail to gain,
And fall to rise, and forward press
In light and dark, in storm and stress
Of fear and doubt and pain.
V
Give us to know Thy mercies wait
On those who knock at heaven's gate,
That none can knock in vain;
For He who died for sinful men
Would have them come, and come again,
Nor fainting e'er refrain.
{zôtikês ex hypsous biaias pheromenês}
I
The Christ of God to sorrowing hearts
A gracious promise made,
To send to them when He departs
The Holy Spirit's aid.
II
And when the time appointed came,
Lo! with a rushing power,
The house was filled with tongues of flame,
That Pentecostal hour.
III
And souls received new power from God,
And hearts with zeal were fired,
When once the word of truth abroad
The lives of men inspired.
IV
O Comforter, the Holy Ghost,
Now, as of old, come down,
And with the power of Pentecost
Our drooping spirits crown.
{exagoreusô kat' emou tên anomian mou tô kyriô}
I
My sin was very great,
Its burden bore me down,
I dared not lift my eyes to God,
So much I feared his frown.
And sore my conscience smote,
And all was sad within,
For I had turned away from God,
Who loved me in my sin.
II
I said, "I'll tell it all,
The sin, the grief, the pain,
Mayhap He'll pardon my offence,
And take me back again."
And then my heart was glad,
To think it might be done,
If I but cast myself upon
The merits of His Son.
III
I said, "Ah God, receive
The sacrifice I bring--
A broken and a contrite heart,
That is my offering;
And for His sake Who came
To bear the Cross of pain,
Forgive the error of my life,
And take me back again."
IV
'Twas then the heart of love
That I had wounded sore,
In loving accents spake to me,
And bade me grieve no more;
And spake the word of grace
That made my spirit whole;
And now the pain and grief are gone,
For gladness fills my soul.
{ên to phôs to alêthinon}
I
When the morn comes o'er the hills
Bringing life, and light, and gladness,
Scattering our night-born ills,
Banishing our fear and sadness;
Christ of God, Thou Light of light,
Banish then our inward night.
II
Ah! our spirits pine and die
In the chill of night that binds us;
And we cannot see Thee nigh
For the dark that inly blinds us;
Morning Star, in beauty shine,
Let us see Thy light benign.
III
On our minds Thy peace bestow,
Let no cruel blast distress us,
Ever onward as we go,
May no crushing load oppress us;
Light of light, when night is near,
Give Thy peace, and banish fear.
IV
When the noontide all ablaze
Fills the heaven with light supernal,
And we dwell with glad amaze
In the bliss of the Eternal;
Light that cheered my life below,
Still Thy joy and peace bestow.
{hagios athanatos, to paraklêton Pneuma}
I
The promise which the Saviour made
When His disciples sorrowed most,
That He would send to comfort them
The life inspiring Holy Ghost,
Found its fulfilment when they met
Upon the hallowed Pentecost.
II
And ever through the linked years,
From then till now the Gift is sure;
And they who sorrow for their sin,
Or trial's bitter pangs endure,
And they who mourn, and they who weep,
Find in the Gift a peace secure.
III
Vainly we mourn our absent Lord,
If Thou, the Comforter be near;
For it is Thine to take of His,
And make us feel that He is here;
We still may joy when others grieve,
And hope when threatening clouds appear.
IV
Come, Holy Ghost, with us reside,
Let Thy sweet presence calm our soul;
And make us strong to fight and win,
And all our wayward wills control;
To give us comfort when we weep,
And bind our hearts, and make them whole.
{didou paramythian tois doulois sou}
I
When sorrow's clouds are circling near,
And minds are charged with doubt and fear;
When sun nor moon nor stars of light,
Break on the darkness of the night;
Then, Gift of Christ desired most,
Come to our help, O Holy Ghost.
II
When disappointment's pangs are sore,
And wounded hearts that suffering bore,
Break 'neath the burden by the way,
And in their weakness, helpless pray;
Then, Gift of Christ desired most,
Come to our help, O Holy Ghost.
III
When like a spectre gaunt and grey
Bereavement steals the heart away,
And all is empty, poor, and bare,
For those we loved were everywhere;
Then, Gift of Christ desired most,
Come to our help, O Holy Ghost.
IV
When for our sins we mourn and sigh,
And 'neath the Cross prostrated lie;
When for the conscience crushed by guilt,
We claim His Grace whose Blood was spilt;
Then, Gift of Christ desired most,
Come to our help, O Holy Ghost.
V
When braced, the soul resolving springs,
And reaches forth to better things;
And high above the world would rise,
To eager snatch the offered prize;
Then, Gift of Christ desired most,
Come to our help, O Holy Ghost.
{hoti etechthê epi gês ho Amnos tou Theou, parechôn tô kosmô tên
apolytrôsin}
I
He came to earth who came from God,
And left in heaven His blest abode,
And all the joy He had;
To share our lot, and all its woe,
And wander homeless here below,
All sorrowing and sad.
II
He came to earth who came from God,
And ah! our rugged paths He trod,
And faint, and tired, and lone,
He bore the burden of our guilt,
And on a Cross His blood was spilt
For sinners to atone.
III
He went to God who came to earth;
Now sing the new creation's birth,
And mankind born again;
For death is dead, and He who lives,
Eternal life to mortals gives,
The Faithful, True, Amen.
{ho de bios, skia kai enypnion}
I
The joy of earth is fleeting,
The bliss of heaven remains;
More sweet than earthly music
The angel's glad refrains;
And hearts of saints uprising
Find vent in sweetest song,
And lips of saints and angels
The praise of heaven prolong.
II
O Christ, who art for ever
With those whom Thou dost love,
Thou art the theme inspiring
The choirs who dwell above;
The love that brought Thee earthward,
The love that stooped and died,
The pardon won for sinners,
When Thou wast crucified.
III
Be Thee our theme who linger
Where Thou didst sorrowing dwell;
And teach our hearts to love Thee,
Our lips to praise Thee well;
And when we come adoring
To where Thou ever art,
One song shall rise exulting,
From one united heart.
{en tô phôti Christe tou prosôpou sou}
I
Safe in the comfort of Thy grace,
Give me, O Lord, a resting place,
From every tumult free;
From strife of sin, and sense of guilt,
For lo, my confidence is built,
Most gracious Lord, on Thee.
II
There is no other comfort nigh,
And sad of heart I mourning sigh--
Lord, Thou alone canst aid;
Wilt Thou my prayer in anger spurn,
And from Thy trembling servant turn,
Whose soul is sore dismayed?
III
Nay, if I doubting, still believe,
Thou wilt my faulty prayer receive,
And grant the boon I crave;
For 'tis Thy promise I would claim,
And in the all-availing name
Of Him Who came to save.
IV
So shall Thy peace my heart control,
And fill with calm my troubled soul,
My every tumult still;
And thus I learn to trust Thee more,
For billows surge, and tempests roar
Obedient at Thy will.
V
And in the shining of Thy face,
A man shall be an hiding place,
And covert from the wind;
And while the tempest breaks around,
I peaceful rest on tranquil ground,
Where Thou, O Lord, art kind.
Appendix
The Trisagion, or Cherubic Hymn, has been in use in the worship of the
Eastern Church from the very earliest. No form of adoration is of such
frequent occurrence in all the offices of the Church. Originally the
Trisagion (Thrice Holy), was in the exact form found in Isaiah iv. 3, but
as the years passed, additions were made to it to express doctrine both
orthodox and heterodox. The accompanying form is the one found in the
service books, and is in common use at the present time.
The Trisagion
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy upon us.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy upon us.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy upon us.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
Both now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
All Holy Trinity, have mercy upon us. O Lord, be gracious unto our sins;
O Master, forgive our transgressions; O Holy, look down and heal our
infirmities, for Thy name's sake.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
Both now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Our Father which art in heaven: Hallowed be Thy name: Thy Kingdom come:
Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on the earth: Give us this day our
bread for support; and forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our
debtors; And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from the evil
one;
Priest. For of Thee is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory, of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, now and ever, and to the
ages of ages.
Choir. Amen.
The Creed of Nicea, which is the Confession of Faith of the Eastern
Church, was largely formulated at the Council of Nicea, 325 A.D. It was
based upon the ancient creed of Caesarea, one phrase being added to
combat the Arian heresy, viz., _Consubstantial_ ({homoousion}) _with the
Father_; and it ended with, _And in the Holy Ghost_. The concluding
clauses were added at the Council of Constantinople (381 A.D.). The
insertion by the Council of Toledo (589 A.D.), of _FILIOQUE_ (_and from
the Son_) after _from the Father_, and its subsequent adoption in the
West, was made the cause of the separation of Eastern and Western
Christianity, which has continued from the eleventh century till now.
The Creed of Nicea
_The Confession of Faith of the Eastern Church_
We believe in One God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, of
all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only begotten, who was
begotten of the Father before all the ages. Light of light, very God of
very God, begotten, not made, consubstantial ({hymoousion}) with the
Father, by whom all things were made.
Who for men, and for our salvation, came down from the heavens, and was
incarnate of the Holy Ghost, and the Virgin Mary, and was made man
({enanthrôpêsanta}).
And was also crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was
buried.
And rose again the third day, according to the scriptures.
And ascended into the heavens, and sitteth at the right hand of the
Father.
And shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead, and of
whose kingdom there shall be no end.
And in the Holy Ghost, the Lord, the Life-Giver, who proceedeth from the
Father, who with the Father and the Son is together worshipped and
glorified, who spake by the prophets.
In One Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins.
We look for the Resurrection of the dead.
And the life in the ages to come.
INDEX OF FIRST LINES
All hail, Life-bearing Cross, 29
All human things decay, 17
At early dawn with pious thought, 45
Before Thy Cross we take our place, 26
Blessed art Thou, O Christ our God, 36
Come let us sing with joyful mirth, 69
Come with the load of sorrow thou art bearing, 59
Come, mortals, come, behold! 31
Even as Thou saidst, O Christ, 39
Formed in Thine Image bright, 57
Hail! full of grace, Virgin Theotokos, 41
Have pity, Lord, for Thou art great, 55
He came to earth who came from God, 93
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, 102
Hence, slumber, from mine eyes, 65
I brought my darkest sin to mind, 47
I have no tears to shed, 50
Lo, He gave Himself to die, 53
May Thy bright Spirit, 73
Morn of beauty, joyous morn, 77
Now Christ the God to earth hath come, 75
My sin was very great, 85
O Christ the God who art our life, 53
O Christ to Thy disciples then, 71
O Christ who art the peerless light, 27
O destitute of all defence, 13
O ever ready to forgive, 79
O God of light and glory, 49
O Light of light, when other lights are fading, 63
O Mystery hidden from the world, 38
O Son of God, on Thee we call, 81
Safe in the comfort of Thy grace, 97
The Christ of God to sorrowing hearts, 83
The early dawn awakes, 25
The joy of earth is fleeting, 95
The Lord ascended into heaven, 34
The Lord came down from heaven, 67
The radiance of the brightness, 21
The promise which the Saviour made, 89
Thou, Lord, hast power to heal, 19
Thy love hath sweetened me, 51
Thy mighty word commanding, 23
Tossed on the sea of life, 42
We hymn Thy triumph on the Cross, 61
When sorrow's clouds are circling near, 91
When the morn comes o'er the hills, 87
Why do we fade? 16
Within Thy courts my praise shall rise, 15
Appendix
The Trisagion, 102
The Creed of Nicea, 106
BY THE SAME AUTHOR
_Recently Published. Crown 8vo. Price 1s. 6d. net._
Hymns of the Holy Eastern Church.
Translated from the Service Books. With Introductory Chapters on the
History, Doctrine, and Worship of the Church.
PRESS NOTICES.
"Mr. Brownlie has earned for himself the title of hymnologist, and his
work and research are at this day of great sterling value to all engaged
in the study or collection of hymns."--_Bookman._
"We have noticed favourably other works from his pen, and a volume before
us entitled _Hymns of the Holy Eastern Church_ is no less deserving of
commendation. A long introduction describes sympathetically, and even
enthusiastically, the doctrine of the Eastern Church and its worship,
with which Mr. Brownlie is evidently closely acquainted."--_Church
Times._
"Mr. Brownlie is already favourably known as a translator of hymns from
the Greek Office-books.... The Introduction is well written, and should
be of service in dispelling prejudice and ignorance on the subject of the
Church of the East."--_Guardian._
"Mr. Brownlie has performed a confessedly difficult task.... The best
part of the book is unquestionably what the author modestly calls an
Introduction, in which he gives, in the briefest fashion, an entirely
admirable account of the history, sacraments, and worship of the Eastern
Church."--_Saint Andrew._
"The author has succeeded in retaining the simplicity of the originals
while presenting a polished version accommodated to the exigencies of
rhyme and rhythm.... His plea for a better understanding of East by West
is well informed, enthusiastic, and persuasive. The Introduction is the
best compendium we know in small compass of Greek rite and
doctrine."--_Glasgow Herald._
"Mr. Brownlie is of good repute as a hymnologist, partly through his own
hymns and translations, and partly through his connection with the Church
Hymnary, and the companion volume which tells the story of its
contents.... In a valuable Introduction of nearly seventy pages, he tells
us of the history, doctrine, and worship of the Church from whose service
books the hymns have been translated, and his essay is a welcome
supplement to that which preludes Neale's small collection. Mr. Brownlie
is a true catholic, and, in helping to catholicise our hymn books, he is
furthering that unity of spirit which must precede ecclesiastical
reunion."--_Sheffield Daily Telegraph._
ALEXANDER GARDNER, PAISLEY.
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