The Holy Children Boldly Stand

οι παιδες ευσεβεια.

Ode VII, Canon for Christmas Day

St. Cosmas of Jerusalem, the Melodist (A. D. 760)

Source: Rev. John Mason Neale, D.D., Hymns of the Eastern Church. First Edition. (London: J. T. Hayes, 1862)

Meter: 8,8,8,8,8,8

The Holy Children boldly stand
Against the tyrant’s dread¹ command:
The kindled furnace they defy,—
No doom can shake their constancy:
They in the midmost flame confessed,
“GOD of our Fathers! Thou art blest!”

The Shepherds keep their flocks by night;
The Heav’n glows out with wondrous light;
The glory of the LORD is there,
The Angel-bands their King declare:
The watchers of the night confessed,
“GOD of our Fathers! Thou art blest!”

The Angel ceased; and suddenly
Seraphic legions filled the sky:
“Glory to GOD,” they cry again:
“Peace upon earth, good will to men:
“CHRIST comes!”—And they that heard confessed,
“GOD of our Fathers! Thou art blest!”

What said the Shepherds?—“Let us turn
This new-born miracle to learn.”
To Bethlehem’s gate their footsteps drew:
The Mother with the Child they view:
They knelt and worshipped, and confessed,
“GOD of our Fathers! Thou art blest!”

Sheet Music from Rev. John Mason Neale, D.D., Hymns of the Eastern Church. Fourth Edition. (London: J. T. Hayes, 1882), edited by Very Rev. Stephen Georgeson Hatherly, Mus. B., Archpriest of the Patriarchal Æcumenical Throne.

Note:

1. In subsequent editions: "Against the tyrant's fierce command:"  Return

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