Hymns of the Greek Church Translated with Introduction and Notes
Chapter 3
May some bright messenger abide For ever by Thy servants' side, A faithful guardian and guide. Grant this, O Lord.
IV
From every sin in mercy free, Let heart and conscience stainless be, That we may live henceforth for Thee. Grant this, O Lord.
V
We would not be by care opprest, But in Thy love and wisdom rest;-- Give what Thou seest to be best. Grant this, O Lord.
VI
While we of every sin repent, Let our remaining years be spent In holiness and sweet content. Grant this, O Lord.
VII
And when the end of life is near, May we, unshamed and void of fear, Wait for the Judgment to appear. Grant this, O Lord.
HYMNS FROM THE EARLY GREEK POETS NOT FOUND IN THE SERVICE-BOOKS OF THE GREEK CHURCH
ST. METHODIUS
Methodius, a prominent name in Ecclesiastical history, and a Father of the Church, was born about the middle of the third century. He was first of all Bishop of Olympus in Lycia, and, according to Jerome, became ultimately Bishop of Tyre. He combated certain views of Origen, but would seem to have been influenced not a little by the teaching of that great theologian.
In his principal work, _The Banquet of the Ten Virgins_, the hymn is found from which the following is a cento. It contains twenty-four strophes, each beginning with a letter of the Greek alphabet in alphabetical order, and ending with the same refrain.
Methodius is said to have suffered martyrdom under Diocletian about 311 A.D.
{anothen, parthenoi, boes egersinekros echos}
I
Behold the Bridegroom! Hark the cry, The dead, awaking, rends the sky! Go, virgins, He is near, Your lamps all burning clear; He enters where the rising light Asunder bursts the gates of night. In holy garb, with lamp aglow, To meet the Bridegroom forth I go.
II
The smiles of earth that turn to tears, Its empty joys and foolish fears I leave, for Thou dost call-- Thou art my Life, my All; I would Thy beauty ever see, Then let me, Blessed, cling to Thee. In holy garb, with lamp aglow, To meet the Bridegroom forth I go.
III
For Thee I leave the world behind-- Thou art my Bliss, O Bridegroom kind; My beauty's not mine own-- 'Tis Thine, O Christ, alone; Thy bridal-chamber I would see, In perfect happiness to be. In holy garb, with lamp aglow, To meet the Bridegroom forth I go.
IV
O God, exalted on Thy throne, Who dwell'st in purity unknown, Lo, now we humbly wait, Throw wide the Heavenly gate, And with the Bridegroom, of Thy grace, Give us at Thy right hand a place. In holy garb, with lamp aglow, To meet the Bridegroom forth I go.
ST. GREGORY
ST. GREGORY
Gregory of Nazianzus, son of Gregory, Bishop of Nazianzus, and life-long friend of Basil, Bishop of Caesarea, was born at Nazianzus, 325 A.D. He took up the priestly office at the earnest request of his father, and for some time was helpful to the aged bishop.
The times in which Gregory lived were trying times. The orthodox Christians clung to the creed of Nicea, and their champions did valiant battle with the Arians. As an advocate and exponent of evangelical truth, Gregory was summoned to Constantinople in 379, and as bishop of that See adorned the high position with gifts and graces as brilliant as they were rare. But he was not the man for such a position at such a time. Hilary, the 'Hammer of the Arians,' could keep the heretics at bay, and do in the Latin Church what Gregory could not do in the Greek Church--maintain his position and his cause against all comers. For one thing, the retiring disposition of Gregory inclined him to shrink from the din of conflict, and his high ideals weakened his hopefulness. The result was that he abandoned his position and retired to Nazianzus in 381. Deprived by death of his life-long friend, and of his brother Caesarius, to whom he was bound by more than brotherly love, he retired from the world and penned those poems, some of which are among the treasures of the Church Catholic. He died in 390.
The hymns of Gregory are found in the second volume of the Benedictine Edition of his works which was published in Paris in 1842. A selection can be seen in Daniel's _Thesaurus_, and in the _Anthologica Graeca, Carminum Christianorum_.
{ater arches, aperanton}
Cento from {se ton aphthiton monarchen}
I
O Light that knew no dawn, That shines to endless day, All things in earth and heaven Are lustred by Thy ray; No eye can to Thy throne ascend, Nor mind Thy brightness comprehend.
II
Thy grace, O Father, give, That I may serve in fear; Above all boons, I pray, Grant me Thy voice to hear; From sin Thy child in mercy free, And let me dwell in light with Thee.
III
That, cleansed from filthy stain, I may meet homage give, And, pure in heart, behold And serve Thee while I live; Clean hands in holy worship raise, And Thee, O Christ my Saviour, praise.
IV
In supplication meek To Thee I bend the knee; O Christ, when Thou shalt come, In love remember me, And in Thy kingdom, by Thy grace, Grant me a humble servant's place.
V
Thy grace, O Father, give, I humbly Thee implore; And let Thy mercy bless Thy servant more and more. All grace and glory be to Thee From age to age eternally.
{tauta soi hemeteroio thalysia, Christe}
Cento from {christe anax, se proton}
I
Christ, for Thee a wreath adorning Weaves my raptured soul with glee, For from death this glorious morning Thou hast risen triumphantly.
II
From the tomb behold Him rising, Christ our Lord whose praise is sung. Death is slain; O power surprising! Hades' gates are open flung.
III
Thou for man to earth in meekness Cam'st that he new born might be; Thou upon the cross in weakness Diedst that he might die with Thee.
IV
Thou didst rise--we hail Thee, Jesus! And we leave the tomb with Thee. Victor, by the power that frees us, Where Thou art, there we would be.
V
Hark! the highest heavens are ringing, Choirs angelic lead the strain, And my opened lips in singing Tell the praises forth again.
AN EVENING HYMN
{Se kai nyn eulogoumen}
I
Now at this evening hour, O Thou, my Christ, to Thee, Thou Word of God, Eternal Light, All grateful praises be.
II
From Thee the Spirit comes, Third beam of peerless light, And in Thyself one glorious orb The triple rays unite.
III
Thy word and wisdom Thou To lighten man hast given, That he the splendour might reflect That shines superb in heaven;
IV
And having light within, Might see Thine image bright, And daily rise, till he himself Is altogether light.
A MORNING HYMN
{orthrios didomi to theo mou dexias}
I
The morning breaks, I place my hand in Thine, My God, 'tis Thine to lead, to follow mine; No word deceitful shall I speak the while, Nor shall I stain my hand with action vile.
II
Thine be the day with worthy labour filled, Strong would I stand to do the duty willed; Nor swayed by restless passion let me be, That I may give the offering pure to Thee;
III
Else were I 'shamed when hoary age I see, Shamed were this board that bears Thy gifts to me: Mine is the impulse; O my Christ, I pray, Be Thou Thyself to me the Blessed Way!
AN EVENING HYMN
{epseusamen se ten aletheian, loge}
I
O Word of Truth! in devious paths My wayward feet have trod, I have not kept the day serene I gave at morn to God.
II
And now 'tis night, and night within, O God, the light hath fled! I have not kept the vow I made When morn its glories shed.
III
For clouds of gloom from nether world Obscured my upward way; O Christ the Light, Thy light bestow And turn my night to day!
SYNESIUS
SYNESIUS
Synesius was born about 375. In more particulars than one he was an outstanding man. His pedigree is said to have extended through seventeen centuries, and to have included the names of the most illustrious. Not only was he of noble lineage, he was a man also of high character and brilliant attainments. He was versed in the Neoplatonic philosophy, and his Christianity has been called in question by no less an authority than Mosheim; but how any one can read his odes and doubt the reality of his Christian faith, even in the full sense of the term, as believing in the Divinity of Christ and in His Resurrection, is hard to understand. He certainly was a good man, and knew Christ and loved Him. His writings prove that; and in 410 A.D., though reluctantly, he became Bishop of Ptolemais. Very little of his poetry has come down to us, but that little is of the highest order. He died 430 A.D.
{soi nyx me pherei ton aoidon, anax}
A Cento from {age moi psycha}
I
When darkness falls and night is here, My hymns of praise in silence rise-- This knows the moon, whose silver sphere Shines in the star-bespangled skies.
II
When morning breaks, and glorious day Shines in the dawn and noontide fair-- This knows the sun--a grateful lay Springs from my heart in fervent prayer.
III
When fails the light at sunset gray, And twilight listens for my song-- This know the stars--in bright array My praises mingle with their throng.
{lypais d' astiptos psycha}
A Cento from {Hymnomen kouron nymphas}
I
O may my soul, uncrushed by care, Direct her gaze to where Thou art, And in Thy splendour find, O Christ, The strength of life Thou canst impart.
II
And freed from sin's depressing load, May I pursue the path divine, And rise above the cares of earth Until my life is merged in Thine.
III
Unsullied life Thy servant grant Who tunes his harp to sound Thy praise, And still my life shall hymn Thy love, And glory to the Father raise.
IV
And when I rest in glory bright, The burden of my labour past, In hymns I'll praise Thee more and more While the eternal ages last.
{age moi psycha}
I
Up, up, my soul, on wings of praise, No other service know; In holy strains the love express That fires the heart below.
II
Burn, burn, my soul, and ever be With holy ardour fired, And, strongly armed with firm resolve, Be evermore inspired.
III
Pour forth a bloodless offering Of hymns and holy lauds, And weave a garland rich and fair To crown the King of gods.
{autos phos ei pagaion}
Cento from {Hymnomen kouron nymphas}
I
In the Father's glory shining, Jesus, Light of light art Thou; Sordid night before Thee fleeth,-- On our souls Thou'rt falling now.
II
Framer of the world, we hail Thee! Thou didst mould the stars of night; Earth to life Thou dost awaken, Saviour Thou, of glorious might!
III
'Tis Thy hand that guides the chariot When the sun illumes the skies, And the dark of night relaxes When Thou bidst the moon arise.
IV
At Thy word the harvest ripens, Flocks and herds their pasture find; Earth gives bread to feed the hungry, For the hand of God is kind.
V
May my soul, her want perceiving, Turn her gaze to where Thou art, And in all Thy fulness find Thee Food to satisfy the heart.
INDEX OF FIRST LINES
PAGE Behold the Bridegroom cometh, 54 Behold the Bridegroom! Hark the cry, 89 Bethlehem rejoices, 33 Christ, for Thee a wreath adorning, 95 Christ is born, go forth to meet Him, 28 Come, let us drink the water new, 69 Come ye people, come adore Him, 60 Ere the morn in beauty wake, 72 Far from Thy heavenly care, 23 For all the good performed by Thee, 45 God of all Grace, Thy mercy send, 84 Hail the Resurrection day! 67 He who in the fiery furnace, 74 In the bliss of old predicted, 32 In the Father's glory shining, 106 It is a comely thing, 58 Light serene of holy glory, 49 Lord, to our humble prayers attend, 81 No longer now at Eden's gate, 37 Now at this evening hour, 97 O come let us adore, 26 O Jesus, Lover of our race, 56 O Jesus, to Thy servants give, 57 O King enthroned on high, 24 O Light that knew no dawn, 93 O may my soul, uncrushed by care, 104 O Word of Truth! in devious paths, 99 O Thou who cloth'st Thyself complete, 44 Our evening prayers attend, 47 Prophet of the Lord, beside us, 70 Shine forth, O new Jerusalem! 78 The morning breaks, I place my hand in Thine, 98 The wily Judas watches near, 42 This is the chosen day of God, 76 Thou one Begotten Son, 38 To-day the groans of Hades rise, 35 To depths of earth Thou didst descend, 73 To Thy blest Cross, O Christ, we come, 25 Up, up, my soul, on wings of praise, 105 We have heard the wondrous story, 50 What shall we bring to Thee? 30 When darkness falls and night is here, 103 When Lazarus rose at Christ's command, 40 When, O King Immortal, 52 When on the cruel Cross, 39 When Thou shalt come, O Lord, 62 When Thou wert crucified by men, 46
End of Project Gutenberg's Hymns of the Greek Church, by John Brownlie