For Christmas

καὶ Ποιμένες εἶδον τὸ θαῦμα,

Ἀγγέλων ἀνυμνούντων, καὶ λεγόντων·

Δόξα

Source: John Brownlie, trans., Hymns from the East Being Centos and Suggestions from the Office Books of the Holy Eastern Church (London: Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co., Lmd., 1905) pp. 41-3.
See: Christmas Hymns from John Brownlie
 

I

The Lord of Life to earth came down,—
Come, gaily sound His praises high;
O ’twas a day of high renown,
While angels praise Him in the sky.

Refrain.

The shepherds saw a wondrous sight,
In Bethlehem’s fields at even,
When, lo! a star, in radiance bright,
Shed o’er the plains its glorious light,
And angel bands, harmonious quite,
His praises sang from heaven.

II

Say, came He forth by myriads led?—
Come, gaily sound his praises high;
A crown of gold upon his head?
While angels praise Him in the sky.
Refrain.

III

Of earthly pomp the Lord had none,—
Come, gaily sound His praises high;
His kingly crown had not been won,
While angels praise Him in the sky.
Refrain.

IV

A little child the Lord became,—
Come, gaily sound His praises high,
To bear our guilt, and share our shame,
While angels praise Him in the sky.
Refrain.

V

O Jesu, Who in manger lay,—
Come, gaily sound his praises high,
Make me a little child to-day,
While angels praise Thee in the sky.
Refrain.

VI

And may I come, with spirit meet,—
Come, gaily sound His praises high,
To lay my tribute at Thy feet,
While angels praise Thee in the sky.
Refrain.

VII

To Father, Spirit, One with Christ,—
Come, gaily sound His praises high,
Be endless praise, Whose love sufficed,
While angels praise Him in the sky.
Refrain.

Note from Rev. Brownlie:

This carol has been set to excellent and appropriate music by Mr. Arthur Henry Brown, Brentwood, Essex, and is published by Novello & Co., London. It is noteworthy that Mr. Brown is honourably associated with Eastern Hymnody by his tune, St. Anatolius, which was composed for Dr. Neale’s rendering of the Greek evening hymn, τὴν ἡμέραν διελθών, “The day is past and over”; and also by Orthodoxus and Apostolicus, which were composed for The Ektene and The Litany Of The Deacon respectively; and by St. Stythians, composed for βασιλεῦ οὐράνιε παράκλητε, “O King, enthroned on high” — renderings by the present author, all of which find a place in the new edition of Church Hymns.