The last name of importance among the great hymn-writers of the Greek Church is that of Joseph the Hymnographer, who lived at Constantinople in the ninth century. It is he who wrote the hymn on angels for St. Michael's Day: Stars of the morning, so gloriously bright, Filled with celestial resplendence and light, These that, where night never followeth day, Raise the "Thrice Holy, Lord!" ever and aye. As early as the fourth century the Council of Laodicea had decreed that "besides the appointed singers, who mount the ambo, and sing from the book, others shall not sing in the church." How far this rule may have discouraged or suppressed congregational singing is a subject of dispute among historians. However, it is a matter of record that hymnody suffered a gradual decline in the Eastern division of the Christian Church and eventually assumed more of a liturgical character. An Ambrosian Advent Hymn Come, Thou Saviour of our race, Choicest Gift of heavenly grace! O Thou blessed Virgin's Son, Be Thy race on earth begun. Not of mortal blood or birth, He descends from heaven to earth: By the Holy Ghost conceived, God and man by us believed. Wondrous birth! O wondrous child Of the virgin undefiled! Though by all the world disowned, Still to be in heaven enthroned. From the Father forth He came, And returneth to the same; Captive leading death and hell-- High the song of triumph swell! Equal to the Father now, Though to dust Thou once didst bow, Boundless shall Thy kingdom be; When shall we its glories see? Brightly doth Thy manger shine! Glorious in its light divine: Let not sin o'ercloud this light, Ever be our faith thus bright. Aurelius Ambrose (340-397 A.D.) THE RISE OF LATIN HYMNODY The first hymns and canticles used in the Western churches came from the East. They were sung in their original Greek form. It was not until the beginning of the fourth century that any record of Latin hymns is found. Isadore of Seville, who died in the year 636 A.D., tells us that "Hilary of Gaul, bishop of Poitiers, was the first who flourished in composing hymns in verse." Hilary, who died in the year 368, himself records the fact that he brought some of them from the East. His most famous Latin hymn is _Lucis largitor splendide_. The father of Latin hymnody, however, was the great church father, Aurelius Ambrose, bishop of Milan. It was he who taught the Western Church to glorify God in song. Concerning this remarkable bishop, Mabillon writes: "St. Ambrose took care that, after the manner of the Eastern Fathers, psalms and hymns should be sung by the people also, when previously they had only been recited by individuals singly, and among the Italians by clerks only."