First Of Martyrs, Thou Whose Name

For St. Stephen's Day
See: Hymns to St Stephen

Words: Latin by J. B. de Santeuil
Translations by I. Williams
Adapted by Compilers

Music: "Lubeck," by Johann Anastasius Freylinghausen (1670-1739) in his Gesangbuch, 1704
MIDI / Noteworthy Composer / PDF
Meter: 77 77

Source: Hymns Ancient and Modern. London: William Clowes and Sons, Ltd., 1922, #65, p. 65.

1. First of Martyrs, thou whose name¹
Doth thy golden crown proclaim,
Not of flowers that fade away
Weave we this thy crown today.

2. Bright the stones which bruise thee gleam,
Sprinkled with thy life-blood's stream;
stars around thy sainted head
Never could such radiance shed.

3. Every wound upon Thy brow
Sparkles with unearthly glow;
Like an Angel's is thy face
Beaming with celestial grace.

4. Oh, how blessed first to be
Slain for Him Whose bled for thee;
First like Him in dying hour
Witness to Almighty power;

5. First to follow where He trod
Through the deep Red Sea of blood;
First, but in thy footsteps press
Saints and Martyrs numberless.

6. Glory to the Father be
Glory, Virgin-born, to Thee,
Glory to the Holy Ghost,
Praised by men and heavenly host.

Note:

1. Footnote to first line states “The word Stephen means a crown.” Source: The Book of Common Praise, Being The Hymn Book Of The Anglican Church of Canada. Toronto: Oxford University Press, No Date, #83, p. 24.

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