In the bliss of old predicted, Heaven and earth to-day rejoice; Men and angels, one in spirit, Shout aloud in gleeful voice; For, to those in darkness drear, God in human flesh is near.
II
Cave and manger show the mystery; Shepherds tell the wondrous tale; Bearing gifts to lay before Him From the East the Magi hail; Taught by angel words to sing, We unworthy praises bring.
III
Glory be to God eternal! Peace on earth its reign begin! For the one Desire of nations Comes to save us from our sin; Freedom He will now bestow From the bondage of the foe.
Δόξα ἐν ϓψίστοις θεῷ
By St. John of Damascus, 780 A.D
I
Bethlehem rejoices, Hark the voices clear, Singing in the starlight Nearer and more near. Unto God be glory, Peace to men be given, This His will who dwelleth In the heights of heaven.
II
Heaven can not contain Him, Nor the bounds of earth, Yet, O Glorious Mystery! Virgin gives Him birth. Unto God be glory, Peace to men be given, This His will who dwelleth In the heights of heaven.
III
Now the light ariseth In the darkened skies, Now the proud are humbled And the lowly rise. Unto God be glory, Peace to men be given, This His will who dwelleth In the heights of heaven.
Σήμερον ὁ Ἅδης στένων βοᾷ (στιχηρὰ ἰδιόμελα of the Holy and Great Sabbath)
I
To-day the groans of Hades rise, — ‘Ah, better far for me The Son of Man had never died Upon the cursèd tree! For by His power the fettered souls I held in darkest night, Are carried through the sundered gates Into the realm of light.’ Let glory now the Cross adorn, Hail, hail the Resurrection morn!
II
To-day the groans of Hades rise, — ‘My might is overthrown; I took One dead, from ’mong the dead, And claimed Him for mine own; But He hath crushed my ancient power; And those I held in thrall Have thrown aside the chains they wore, And He hath rescued all.’ Let glory now the Cross adorn, Hail, hail the Resurrection morn!
III
To-day the groans of Hades rise, — ‘My power is gone from me; The Shepherd died upon the Cross, And Adam’s sons are free; The bars are taken from the tomb, Death can no more appal; For He who gave Himself to death, By death hath rescued all.’ Let glory now the Cross adorn, Hail, hail the Resurrection morn!
καὶ τὴν φλογίνην ῥομφαίαν (κοντάκιον)
I
No longer now at Eden’s gate The fiery weapon gleams, But from the Cross that leads to life A light alluring streams.
II
And now the power of Death is gone, His sting is torn away; Grim Hades can no longer claim His silent victory.
III
For Thou, O Saviour, didst descend Where darkness brooding lies, And bad’st the souls in bondage held Return to Paradise.
ὁ μονογενής Υἱὸς καὶ Λόγος τοῦ θεοῦ
(From the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom)
I
Thou one Begotten Son, Eternal Word adored, Immortal while the ages run, And our Almighty Lord;
II
To bring Salvation nigh, To vanquish death and sin, Thou didst in cruel anguish die, And life for mortals win.
III
Save us, O Christ our God, Save by Thy Cross, we pray; Thou who didst bear the Father’s rod, And death by dying slay.
IV
Thou art the Eternal Son, One in the glorious Three; Co-equal praise while ages run Shall ever rise to thee.
When Lazarus rose at Christ’s command, And God was glorified of men, The children cried Hosanna then, But Judas would not understand.
Ἦχος ὁ αὐτός
When seated with Thy chosen band Thou didst to Thy disciples say That one, O Christ, would Thee betray, But Judas would not understand.
ὁ αὐτός
The sop revealed the traitor’s hand, In answer to the question made; They saw by whom Thou wert betrayed, But Judas would not understand.
ὁ αὐτός
The Jews, O Christ, Thy life demand, ’Twas purchased for a price like this — For silver pieces and a kiss, But Judas would not understand.
ὁ αὐτός
Thou, with Thine own unstainèd hand, Didst wash the feet, and humbly teach That such a task becometh each, But Judas would not understand.
ὁ αὐτός
‘Watch thou and pray,’ was Thy command, Lest, thoughtless, the disciples fall Beneath the tempter’s bitter thrall; But Judas would not understand.
σήμερον γρηγορεῖ ὁ Ἰούδας (Ἀντίφωνον Ἦχος βαρύς)
I
The wily Judas watches near The Master’s path to-day, That he may into wicked hands The Eternal Lord betray, Who in the desert lone and dread Supplied the multitudes with bread.
II
To-day the wicked one denies His Teacher and his Friend — Once a disciple, he betrays His Master in the end. For silver, see the Lord is sold, Who manna gave in days of old.
III
ὁ αὐτός
To-day the Jews on Calvary A cruel Cross have raised, And nailed upon that Cross, their Lord Have wickedly abased, Who made a pathway through the sea And led them from captivity.
IV
To-day the spear is lifted high And thrust into His side, Who for His people raised His hand And wounded Egypt’s pride; They give Him vinegar and gall, Who showered down manna on them all.
For all the good performed by Thee, O Christ, the Hebrews deemed it meet To bear Thee from the judgment-seat And nail Thee to the cruel tree; They gave Thee vinegar and gall — But render justice to them all.
ὁ αὐτός
’Twas not enough they should betray And nail Thee to the Cross to die; They wagged their heads and passed Thee by, And mocked Thee on that woful day; In vain they strove against Thee, Lord — Give Thou to them their due reward.
ὁ αὐτός
The quaking earth inspires no dread, — The temple veil asunder fell, The rocks were rent – still they rebel, E’en when the graves gave up their dead; But vain they strove against Thee, Lord — Give Thou to them their due reward.