Hymns of the Greek Church: Translated with Introduction and Notes

Name: Hymns of the Greek Church: Translated with Introduction and Notes
Author: Brownlie, John

Brownlie, John

Hymns, Greek -- Translations into English; Orthodox Eastern Church -- Hymns

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

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Hymns of the Greek Church: Translated with Introduction and Notes

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