Hymns from the Greek Office Books

Hymns from the Greek Office Books / Together with Centos and Suggestions

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

ἐλεήσον ἡμᾶς, κύριε ἑλέησον ἡμᾶς,

ἐν ταῖς αὐλαῖς σου ὑμνήσω σε,

ῥευστοί πῶς γεγόναμεν, ἄφθαρτον εἰκόνα φορέσαντες,

πάντα ματαιότης τὰ ἀνθρώπινα,

ταχύς εἰς ἀντίληψιν, μόνος ὑπάρχων Χριστέ,

ἠ τὸν πρῶτον τῶν Ἀγγέλων,

νεύματι θουργικῳ κύριε πάντων,

ἐπεσκέψατο ἡμᾶς ἐξὔψους ὁ Σωτὴρ ἡμῶν,

τὴν ἄχραντον Εἰκόνα σου προσκυνοῦμεν ἀγαθὲ,

ὁ φωτίσας τή ἐλλάμψει τῆς σῆς παρουσίας Χριστὲ,

χαίροις ὁ ζωηφόρος Σταυρὸς,

σήμερον κρευμᾶται ἐπι ξύλου,

εσφραγισμένου τοῦ μνήματος,

ὁ κύριος ἀνελήφθη εἰς οὐρανοὺς,

εὐλογητὸς εἰ, Χριστέ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν,

τὸ ἀπ’ αἰῶνος ἀπόκρυφον,

ἐκ τοῦ Πνεύματός σου,

χαῖρε κεχαριτωμένη Θεοτόκε Παρθένε,

ναυτιῶν τῷ σὰλῳ τῶν βιωτικῶν μελημάτων,

ἁι μυροφόροι γυναῖκες, ὄρθρου βαθεός,

καὶ στραφεὶς ὁ κύριος ἐνέβλεψε τῷ Πετρῷ,

καὶ ἀνέῳξας ἡμῖν παραδείσου τὰς πύλας,

καὶ κλαύσωμεν, καὶ πράξωμεν,

πυρίπνοον δέξασθε πνεύματος δρόσον,

σαρκὶ ὑπνώσας ὡς θνητός,

πατὴρ οἰκτιρμῶν,

ὀ πλάστης μου κὺριος,

ὁ Σωτὴρ ἡμῶν, ἀνατολὴ ἀνατολῶν,

ὑμνοῦμεν σου Χριστέ, τὸ σωτήριον παθος,

φῶς ἐκ φωτὸς,

ψυχή μου! ἀνάστα,

κλίνας οὐρανοὺς, κατέβη,

δεῦτε ἀγαλλιασωμέθα τῷ κυρίῳ,

τὸ Πνεῦμα τῆς ἀληθείας,

οὐκ ἀφήσω ὑμᾶς ὀρφανόυς,

ὅ πλοῦτος και βάθος, σοφίας Θεοῦ!

ἁι μυροφόροι γυναῖκες,

καί ὅ τι ἄν αἰτήσητε τοῦτο ποιήσω,

με νὺξ ἐδέξατο,

ζωτικῆς ἐξ ὕψους βιαίας φερομένης,

ἐξαγορευσω κατ’ ἐμοῦ τὴν ἀνομίαν μου τῷ κυρίῳ,

ἠν τὸ φῶς τὸ ἀληθινὸν,

ἅγιος ἀθάνατος, τὸ παράκλητον Πνεῦμα,

δίδου παραμυθίαν τοῖς δούλοις σου,

ὅτι ἐτέχθη ἐπὶ γῆς ὁ Ἀμνὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ,

ὁ δέ βιος, σκιά καὶ ἐνύπνιον,

εν τῷ φωτὶ Χριστὲ τοῦ προσώπου σου,

Hymns From The Greek Office Books

Troparia

ἐλεήσον ἡμᾶς, κύριε ἑλέησον ἡμᾶς Euchologion, p. 35IO destitute of all defence,We bow before Thee now;In mercy let Thy mercy come,For merciful art Thou.IIOur trusting souls in quiet reposeWould rest Thy love within; —O be not angry with us, Lord,Nor think upon our sin.IIIBut from Thy high abode look down,With tender love the while,And save us from our foes who wouldOur wayward hearts beguile.IVFor, verily Thou art our God,And we Thy people all; —Hear us, the creatures of Thy hand,When on Thy name we call.VTo God the Father, God the Son,All praise and glory be;And to the Spirit, Three in One,To all eternity.

Stichera Idiomela

ἐν ταῖς αὐλαῖς σου ὑμνήσω σε Pentecostarian, p. 186IWithin 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.IIHere 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)ῥευστοί πῶς γεγόναμεν, ἄφθαρτον εἰκόνα φορέσαντες Euchologion, p. 467IWhy do we fade?Who Thine own image bear,Who life immortal share, —Why do we fade?IIWhy did we err?And leave the food of life,To eat the bread of strife, —Why did we err?IIIWhy 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)πάντα ματαιότης τὰ ἀνθρώπινα Euchologion, p. 413IAll 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.IIDeath 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.IIIImmortal Christ, we cry,O let our prayers come nighThy throne of heavenly grace;Rest him whose form we miss,Grant him in endless blissA lasting dwelling place.

Troparia

(From the Order of Holy Unction)ταχύς εἰς ἀντίληψιν, μόνος ὑπαρχων Χριστέ Euchologion, p. 266IThou, Lord, hast power to heal,And Thou wilt quickly aid,For Thou dost deeply feelThe stripes upon us laid: —Thou Who wast wounded by the rodUplifted in the hand of God.IISend speedy help, we pray,To him who ailing lies,That from his couch he mayWith thankful heart arise;Through Her, whose prayers availing findThine ear, O Lover of mankind.IIIOh, 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)ἠ τὸν πρῶτον τῶν Ἀγγέλων ἀμέσως διάκοσμον Parakletike, p. 4IThe radiance of the brightnessOf beauty shed by Thee,Descend on us who hymn Thy name,Sole ruling Trinity.IIVictorious nature hymns Thee,Thou orb of triple ray;For Thou hast hallowed it through graceAnd borne its sin away.IIIIn faith we laud the Father,The Spirit and the Son,One Nature, One Divinity,One God, yet Three in One.IVTo Thee our God be glory,O Holy Trinity,Both now, and while the ages runTo all eternity.

Ode VIII of Metrophanes

(From the Midnight Service for the Sabbath)νεύματι θουργικῳ κύριε πάντων Parakletike, p. 4IThy mighty word commanding,The heavens were settled high,And earth to Thee respondingWas spread beneath the sky.IIO God of power, Thy servantsWould seek Thy power divine,That they their hearts to love TheeMay evermore incline.IIIAnd gazing on the gloryThat shines in triple ray,Our souls shall feast with gladnessOn Thy sweet light alway.IVAnd of Thy glory shining,And of Thy ruling light,From age to age Thy servantsShall hymn both day and night.VTo Thee be lasting praises,Immortal Three in One, —Thou Father, Son, and Spirit, —Now, and while ages run.

Exapostilarion Automelon

ἐπεσκέψατο ἡμᾶς ἐξὔψους ὁ Σωτὴρ ἡμῶν Maenon, Dec. 25IThe early dawn awakes,The morn triumphant breaks,See, see! the brightening sky,The Saviour from on highIs with us here.IIAnd we who sat in night,Rejoicing see the Light;The shadows now are past,The Dayspring come at lastAnd day is near.IIIFor we have found the Truth;The Son of Virgin youth,The Saviour hath been bornThis glorious festal morn,And joys appear.

Troparia of The Sixth Hour

τὴν ἄχραντον Εἰκόνα σου προσκυνοῦμεν ἀγαθὲ Horologion, p. 94IBefore Thy Cross we take our place,With all our load of guilt,And plead forgiveness of Thy graceBecause Thy blood was spilt.IIFor Thou, to free us from our foes,Didst bear that cruel Cross,And by its agony and woesBring gain for all our loss.IIITherefore we raise with one accordOur 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)ὁ φωτίσας τή ἐλλάμψει τῆς σῆς παρουσίας Χριστὲ Parakletike, p. 8IO Christ, Who art the peerless Light,Come with Thy presence ever bright,And from the Father’s throne aboveDescend to hearts that own Thy love.IIThy 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.IIIAh Thou, our Lord, the Shepherd good,Upon that Cross poured forth Thy blood,And with Thy last expiring breathDidst save Thy flock from endless death.IVAnd death of all his power is shorn,And men to joy and peace are born,For from their sins’ oppressive swayForgiveness bears their souls away.VGlory 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)χαίροις ὁ ζωηφόρος Σταυρὸς Triodion, p. 215IAll hail, life-bearing Cross,The trophy of the good,Thy bloom is fragrance on our way,Thy fruit our heavenly food.IIEntrance to paradise,Strength of all faithful souls;The Church’s fortress when the foeHis banner grim unrolls.IIIBy thee the curse is gone,And death no terror brings;We cast his power beneath our feet,And rise to heavenly things.IVO shield of our defence,And foe of all our foes;The glory of the saints of God,Their crown for all their woes.VWho follow Christ the Lord,Their beauty find in thee;Their harbour of salvation thou,Now and eternally.

Antiphon

σήμερον κρευμᾶται ἐπι ξύλου ὁ ἐν ὕδασι τήν γῆν κρευμάσας Triodion, p. 401ICome, mortals, come behold!He hangs upon the tree,Who made the rolling seaThe new formed earth uphold.IISee! He is crowned with thorns,The King of angels great,Who in His high estateA glorious crown adorns.IIIDerided, see Him wearA robe of purple dye,Who robes the noon-day skyWith clouds that float on air.IVThe 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)εσφραγισμένου τοῦ μνήματος Pentecostarion, p. 23IO 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.IIBecause 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.IIIAll 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

ὁ κύριος ἀνελήφθη εἰς οὐρανοὺς, ἱνα πέμψῃ τὸν Παρὰκλητον τῷ κόσμῳ Pentecostarion, p. 148IThe Lord ascended into heavenThat He might from aboveSend down the promised ParacleteOn mission of His love.IIAnd there the Father for His SonHad decked a glorious throne;And clouds, His chariots, bore Him up,That He might claim His own.IIIO strangest wonder e’er beheld,Since ages hoar began,The angels saw the highest placeGiven 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.”VTo 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

εὐλογητὸς εἰ, Χριστέ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν Pentecostarion, p. 188IBlessed art Thou, O Christ, our God,Who to Thy followers gav’stThe wisdom they have shed abroadBy which the world Thou sav’st.IIThou gav’st to them the Holy GhostAs Thou hadst promise given,When came the day of Pentecost,As breath of God from heaven.IIIAnd now by them, Thy faithful few,The world Thou gatherest in, —As by the net those fishers drew, —From all the woes of sin.IVTo Thee, O Father, glory be,To Thee, O Christ, the Son,And to the Spirit, One in Three,While endless ages run.

Theotokion

τὸ ἀπ’ αἰῶνος ἀπόκρυφον Triodion, p. 469IO Mystery, hidden from the worldThrough all the ages past —Even to the angel hosts unknown —Is manifest at last;And thou, Theotokos, hast givenIncarnate God, from highest heaven.IIGod in His fulness wears our flesh,And from our sin and lossRedeemed us by His pain and deathUpon the awful Cross.Save us, through Him who cast awayThe bands of death, we humbly pray.

Ode VI. of Cosmas The Monk.

Troparia

ἐκ τοῦ Πνεύματός σου Pentecostarion, p. 190IEven as thou said’st, O Christ,The Holy Spirit came,And now our hearts possessThe knowledge of Thy name.IIFor Thou hast richly pouredThy Spirit on our race,To teach the Father’s will,And magnify Thy grace.IIIForth from the Father, ThouCam’st to our human needs,And from that Source of LifeThe Holy Ghost proceeds.IVAll glory to our God,And to the Christ, His Son,And to the Holy Ghost,Eternal Three in One.

Theotokion

χαῖρε κεχαριτωμένη Θεοτόκε ΠαρθένεΜην Σεπτεμβριος, p. 4IHail, 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.IIFrom thee the Lord Incarnate came to freeThose who are held in bands of misery.Hail! Virgin Mother, for alone thou artBlessèd for ever, by each human heart.IIISay 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)ναυτιῶν τῷ σὰλῳ τῶν βιωτικῶν μελημάτων Pentecostarion, p. 190ITossed on the sea of life,And sick and sore distressed,I lift my cry to Thee, O Lord,Who giv’st the troubled rest.IIThere, where the waters yawn,And cruel monsters grin,My comrades sink to depths below,All in a sea of sin.IIIMy earnest cry I raise,Hear Thou the prayer I make,And from the dark abyss of deathMy soul in mercy take.

Centos And Suggestions

ἁι μυροφόροι γυναῖκες, ὄρθρου βαθεόςIAt 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 gloomYour 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.”IVHonour 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.καὶ στραφεὶς ὁ κύριος ἐνέβλεψε τῷ ΠετρῷII 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.III said, “Ah, soul! the wrath of GodShall 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 sinIn 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.IVI 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.καὶ ἀνέῳξας ἡμῖν παραδείσου τὰς πύλαςIO God of light and glory,Thy servants look to seeThe light that shines effulgentUpon their souls from Thee.IIAnd lo! the heavens are open,And from the throne of God,The Christ, the Light eternal,That glory sheds abroad.IIIAnd eyes reflect the beauty,And hearts responding glow;For only they who see TheeCan in Thy likeness grow.καὶ κλαύσωμεν, καὶ πράξωμενII 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 sayThat sin hath carried me away.III 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.”IIIFor Thou, O Lord, dost willThat all should seek Thy face,That Thou mayest well fulfilThe promise of Thy grace.Who ever sought Thy love in vain,Or failed Thy pardon to obtain?πυρίπνοον δέξασθε πνεύματος δρόσονIThy love hath sweetened me, —Thy love, O Christ, divine,And by Thy favour Thou hast changedThis wilful heart of mine.IINow by Thy Spirit’s fire,Consume my sins, I pray,And in my heart a love instil,That shall abide for aye.IIIThen shall my heart rejoice,Because Thou dost abide,For ever, O Thou Blessed One,Close to Thy servant’s side.IVAnd love and joy shall beMy strength while here I stay;And love, the spring of all my joy,Shall live and love alway.σαρκὶ ὑπνώσας ὡς θνητόςILo! 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.IIOn the day appointed, lo!From the grave the Saviour rises,Blessings endless to bestow, —Life and all its great surprises.IIIHail the manger where He layWhile the angel hosts adore Him;Hail the Cross, for man that dayRaised, that Jesu might restore him.IVHail the Resurrection morn;Hail the Christ from death restoréd,Be our praises heavenward borne,To our God by all adoréd.πατὴρ οἰκτιρμῶνIHave pity, Lord, for Thou are great,And greatness pity knows;I mourn my poor and worthless state,And all its wants and woes.IIHave pity, Lord, for Thou art great; —I would from sin be free,And seek Thy face, ’though coming late,For Thou wilt welcome me.IIIHave pity, Lord, for Thou art great,And give me strength to win;That I may gain the heavenly gateAnd freely enter in.IVHave pity, Lord, for Thou art love,And by Thy grace alone,I hope in Thy pure house aboveTo serve before Thy throne.ὀ πλάστης μου κὺριοςIFormed in Thine image bright,With glory on my head,I lived within Thy light,And on Thy bounty fed.IIBut ah! that evil day!The tempter’s silvery toneLured me from God away,To seek for bliss alone.IIIDark came the night of sin,I mourned my woeful plight,For all was dark within,And all around was night.IVShorn of Thy beauty fair,Gift at my wondrous birth,Hope fled before despair,Gone was the joy of earth.VYea, though the prayer be vain,Now will I lift mine eyes,Call me, God, back again,Back to Thy paradise.VICame there a voice to me,Yea, ’twas Thy voice, my God,Bidding me come to Thee,Up to Thy pure abode.VIITrusting Thy mercy great,Up from my woes I’ll rise,Seeking the golden gateOpening to paradise.ὁ Σωτὴρ ἡμῶν, ἀνατολὴ ἀνατολῶνICome, 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.IILook 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.IIILook 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.IVThen, when the morn that makes the hilltops goldenRound the Jerusalem thy spirit gainsBreaks on thy view, shall come the gladness oldenShared by the dwellers in those blest domains.ὑμνοῦμεν σου Χριστέ, τὸ σωτήριον παθοςIWe 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.IIFor, dying on the Cross, the stingOf death was torn away, —O, by Thy victory over deathGive life to us, we pray.IIIThe gates of hades tottering fell,The prisoners saw the light,And forth emerging, left behindA hideous, starless night.IVO make us worthy, Christ, to singThe wonders of Thy power;And give us purity of heartTo serve Thee every hour.VAll praise and glory, Christ our God,To Thee be ever given;One with the Father, One with usOn earth, and now in heaven.φῶς ἐκ φωτὸςIO 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.IIO 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.IIIO 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.IVO Bliss of bliss! when earth and all its treasuresShrink 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.ψυχή μου! ἀνάσταIHence, slumber, from mine eyes,See, from the eastern skiesThe light is shed;The night has passed away,Now ’tis the morn of day,Darkness has fled.IIMy 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.IIINow let my hands employThe passing hours, and joyShall find my soul;Thy will, O God, be done,Thy path of duty run,My heart control.IVAnd when the sunlight dies,And in the western skiesThe day is spent;Then on Thy loving breast,O Jesu, let me restIn calm content.κλίνας οὐρανοὺς, κατέβηIThe Lord came down from heaven,And dwelt with us below;And in His life was givenTo taste our bitterest woe;Our flesh He wore,Its ills He bore,Who came to us from heaven.IIHe climbed the rugged steepTo 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.IIIHe gave His life for me —’Twas for my sin He died, —O, that all eyes might seeThe Saviour crucified;And give Him loveWho dwells above,And gave His life for me.Δεῦτε ἀγαλλιασωμέθα τῷ κυρίῳ, τὸ παρὸν μυστήριον ἐκδιηγούμενοιICome, let us sing with joyful mirthThe mystery of Immanuel’s birth,Who, Virgin born, is here;The middle wall no longer stands,No flaming sword in Cherub’s handsInspires the soul with fear.IISee, clear the pathway open liesThat 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.IIIFor He, the Father’s only Son,A glorious work hath now begun,Descending from aboveIn servant’s form, though yet the Son,Unchanging while the ages run,To win us by His love.IVCome, now, let hearts united beTo laud His praises joyfully,The God-Man born to-day.And let Thy mercy reach us nowFor pitiful and kind art Thou,O Virgin born, we pray.τὸ Πνεῦμα τῆς ἀληθείαςIO Christ, to Thy disciples then,When eyes were sad, and hearts were sore,Thy lips the cheering promise made,To comfort them for evermore.IIAnd now what law and prophets spakeTo waiting hearts in days of old,Has been fulfilled: the Spirit seeksThe human heart, as long foretold.IIIO 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.IVAnd 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.VAnd 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.οὐκ ἀφήσω ὑμᾶς ὀρφανόυςIMay 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.IIO Holy Spirit, one with God,From God sent down to our abodeWith us abide in joy and woe,And share our sojourn here below.IIIAnd 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.IVThat 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.VThine be the glory, God the Lord;Glory to Thee, Incarnate Word;To Thee, blest Spirit, praises be,From age to age eternally.ὅ πλοῦτος και βάθος, σοφίας Θεοῦ!INow Christ the God to earth hath come,And made our dwelling place His home;And in our flesh the God-Man givesThe life by which His people lives.IIBound 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.IIIThey 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.IVAnd where the Christ ’mong myriads brightSits on His throne of peerless light,There dwell the saints who by His graceShare on the throne the victor’s place.VGlory 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.ἁι μυροφόροι γυναῖκεςIMorn of beauty, joyous morn,Hails the Resurrection Day,All our fears are borne away,Hope into our world is born.IISee, the stone is rolled away;Empty stands the silent tomb,Death is dead, and gone the gloomWhere the risen Saviour lay.IIIWomen bear the spices, sad,In the early morning grey,But they wiped their tears away,For the angel made them glad.IVTell the tidings far abroad,“He is risen even as He said,”Life immortal from the deadIs the gift of Christ our God.VGlory, glory evermore,To the Christ who died to save,Wresting victory from the grave,To the Christ we now adore.καί ὅ τι ἄν αἰτήσητε τοῦτο ποιήσωIO ever ready to forgive,Thou merciful and mild,I long before Thy face to liveAs trustful as a child.IIThy 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.IIIO ever ready to bestowThe help I daily need,Be Thou my strength where’er I go,My present Friend indeed.IVThen shall I live for evermoreRejoicing in Thy love,And follow, if Thou goest before,To better things above.με νὺξ ἐδέξατοIO 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.IIThe 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.IIIAnd 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.IVGive us to know Thy strength is givenTo all who tread the path to heaven —That we may fail to gain,And fall to rise, and forward pressIn light and dark, in storm and stressOf fear and doubt and pain.VGive us to know Thy mercies waitOn those who knock at heaven’s gate,That none can knock in vain;For He who died for sinful menWould have them come, and come again,Nor fainting e’er refrain.ζωτικῆς ἐξ ὕψους βιαίας φερομένηςIThe Christ of God to sorrowing heartsA gracious promise made,To send to them when He departsThe Holy Spirit’s aid.IIAnd when the time appointed came,Lo! with a rushing power,The house was filled with tongues of flame,That Pentecostal hour.IIIAnd souls received new power from God,And hearts with zeal were fired,When once the word of truth abroadThe lives of men inspired.IVO Comforter, the Holy Ghost,Now, as of old, come down,And with the power of PentecostOur drooping spirits crown.ἐξαγορευσω κατ’ ἐμοῦ τὴν ἀνομίαν μου τῷ κυρίῳIMy 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.III 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 uponThe merits of His Son.IIII said, “Ah God, receiveThe sacrifice I bring —A broken and a contrite heart,That is my offering;And for His sake Who cameTo bear the Cross of pain,Forgive the error of my life,And take me back again.”IV’Twas then the heart of loveThat I had wounded sore,In loving accents spake to me,And bade me grieve no more;And spake the word of graceThat made my spirit whole;And now the pain and grief are gone,For gladness fills my soul.ἠν τὸ φῶς τὸ ἀληθινὸνIWhen the morn comes o’er the hillsBringing 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.IIAh! our spirits pine and dieIn the chill of night that binds us;And we cannot see Thee nighFor the dark that inly blinds us;Morning Star, in beauty shine,Let us see Thy light benign.IIIOn 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.IVWhen the noontide all ablazeFills the heaven with light supernal,And we dwell with glad amazeIn the bliss of the Eternal;Light that cheered my life below,Still Thy joy and peace bestow.ἅγιος ἀθάνατος, τὸ παράκλητον ΠνεῦμαIThe promise which the Saviour madeWhen His disciples sorrowed most,That He would send to comfort themThe life inspiring Holy Ghost,Found its fulfilment when they metUpon the hallowed Pentecost.IIAnd 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.IIIVainly 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.IVCome, 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.δίδου παραμυθίαν τοῖς δούλοις σουIWhen 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.IIWhen 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.IIIWhen like a spectre gaunt and greyBereavement 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.IVWhen 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.VWhen 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.ὅτι ἐτέχθη ἐπὶ γῆς ὁ Ἀμνὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ, παρέχων τῷ κόσμῳ τὴν ἀπολύτρωσινIHe 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.IIHe 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 spiltFor sinners to atone.IIIHe 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.ὁ δέ βιος, σκιά καὶ ἐνύπνιονIThe joy of earth is fleeting,The bliss of heaven remains;More sweet than earthly musicThe angel’s glad refrains;And hearts of saints uprisingFind vent in sweetest song,And lips of saints and angelsThe praise of heaven prolong.IIO Christ, who art for everWith those whom Thou dost love,Thou art the theme inspiringThe 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.IIIBe Thee our theme who lingerWhere Thou didst sorrowing dwell;And teach our hearts to love Thee,Our lips to praise Thee well;And when we come adoringTo where Thou ever art,One song shall rise exulting,From one united heart.εν τῷ φωτὶ Χριστὲ τοῦ προσώπου σουISafe 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.IIThere 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?IIINay, 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 nameOf Him Who came to save.IVSo 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 roarObedient at Thy will.VAnd 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.