Christmas-tide Hymns from the Eastern Churches
Introduction to Brownlie's Hymns of the Greek Church
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Anonymous
A Band of Herdsmen Tarried Late - Anonymous, άγγελοί μετά ποίμένων δοξάζουσι (Brownlie)
The Best That Heaven Could Bring - Anonymous (Brownlie)
Come, Let Us Sing With Joyful Mirth - Δεύτε άγαλλίασωμέθα τώ καρόν | μυστηριον έπδίηγούμενοι (Brownlie)
Hail to the King, Who Comes in Weakness Now - οί μάγοι τά ξώρα προσψέρουσιν | οί ποίμένες τό θαύμα κηρύττουσιν (Brownlie)
Hail to the Morn That Dawns On Eastern Hills - τεχθένος τού Χρίστού (Brownlie)
Hark! Upon the Morning Breezes - Δόξα έν νψίστοίς θεώ (Brownlie)
He Came Because the Father Willed - Ὁ Πατὴρ εὐδόκησεν, (Brownlie)
In The Bliss of Old Predicted - ὁ οὐρανὸς καὶ ἡ γῆ σήμερον προφητικῶς εὐφραινέσθωσαν | Στιχηρὰ Ἰδιόμελα (Brownlie)
Jerusalem, Rejoice! - εὐφράνθητι Ἱερουσαλὴμ (Brownlie)
The Lord Of Life To Earth Came Down - καὶ Ποιμένες εἶδον τὸ θαῦμα, Ἀγγέλων ἀνυμνούντων, καὶ λεγόντων· Δόξα (Brownlie)
Now The King Immortal - Χρίστός ό Βασιλεύς (Brownlie)
O Come Let Us Adore - Δεῦτε ἀγαλλιασώμεθα τῷ κυρίῳ | (Στιχηρὰ Ἰδιόμελα) (Brownlie)
O Light Resplendent of the Morn - νῦν πάντα πεπλήρωται φωτὸς (Brownlie)
O Love Supreme, Exceeding Broad - O Despotou philanthropias! (From the Apostolic Church) (Brownlie)
Thy Birth Upon Our World Hath Given - ή γέννησις σου Χρίστέ ό θεός ήμών (Brownlie)
Wake, My Soul! In Careless Slumber - ψυχή μου ! ψυχή μου ! άνάστα | τί καθεύδείς (Brownlie)
When With Powers of Heaven Attending - ό τε ήξείς θεός έν μυριάσι καί χίλίάσί, Ode I From the Canon for Apocreos (Brownlie)
Ferial Midnight Office of the Greek Church - 8th Century, Ἰδοὺ ὁ Νυμφιὸς ἔρχεται ἐν τῷ μέσῳ τῆς νυκτός (inspired by the Parable of the Ten Virgins, Matthew 25:1-13)
St. Anatolius of Constantinople (d. 458)1
The Lord And King Of All Things - Stichera at Vespers, S. Stephen's Day (J. M. Neale)
In Bethlehem Is He Born - Idiomelon for Christmas (J. M. Neale)
Firm Through The Endless Years - Anatolis, ή Βασιλεία σου, Χρίστέ ό θεός | Menaion (Brownlie)
What Shall We Bring To Thee - Anatolis, τί σοι προσενέγκωμεν, Χριστὲ (Brownlie)
Cassia the Recluse
When Oer the World Augustus Reigned - Αὐγούστου μοναρχήσαντος ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, | ἡ πολυαρχία τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἐπαύσατο (Brownlie)
St. Cosmas of Jerusalem, surnamed The Melodist (A.D. 780), "Canon for Christmas Day":
Ode 1 - Christ Is Born! Tell Forth His Fame! - Χριστος γενναται δοξασατε (J. M. Neale)
Ode 1 - Christ is Born, Go Forth To Meet Him - St. Cosmas, Χριστὸς γεννᾶται (Brownlie)
Ode 1 - Christ Is Born, Him Glorify - St. Cosmos, Χριστος γενναται δοξασατε (Littledale)
Ode 2 - No Entry
Ode 3 - Him, Of The Father's Very Essence - τω προ των αιωνων (J. M. Neale)
Ode 4 - Rod Of The Root Of Jesse - Ραβδος εκ της ριζης. (J. M. Neale)
Ode 5 - Father of Peace, and God of Consolation - Θεος ων ειρηνης. (J. M. Neale)
Ode 6 - As Jonah, Issuing From His Three Days' Tomb - σπλαγχνων Ιωναν. (J. M. Neale)
Ode 7 - The Holy Children Boldly Stand - οι παιδες ευσεβεια. (J. M. Neale)
Ode 8 - The Dewy Freshness That The Furnace Flings - θαυματος υπερϕυους η δροσοβολος. (J. M. Neale)
Ode 9 - O Wondrous Mystery, Full of Passing Grace - μυστηριον ζενον (J. M. Neale)
See also:
Office of Christmas Day - St Cosmas - Richard Frederick Littledale, Offices From The Service Books of the Holy Eastern Church (1863)
Canons of Cosmas For Christmas Day - John Mason Neale, Hymns of the Eastern Church (1884)
St. Ephraem Syrus
Into His Arms With Tender Love - Ephraem Syrus; "Translated from the German of Zingerie by S. W. Duffield, in Latin Hymn Writers, p. 8."; Source: Bernard Pick, ed., Hymns and Poetry of the Eastern Church (New York: Eaton & Mains, 1908), p. 86.
See also:
Nineteen Hymns of the Nativity by Saint Ephraem the Syrian. (Also below)
Fifteen Hymns of the Epiphany by Saint Ephraem the Syrian. (Also below)
Nativity:
Hymn 1. This Is The Day That Gladdened Them
Hymn 2. Blessed Be That Child
Hymn 3. Blessed Be That First Day of Thine, Lord
Hymn 4. This Is The Month Which Brings All Manner Of Joy
Hymn 5. At The Birth Of The Son
Hymn 6. Blessed Be The Messenger That Was Laden
Hymn 7. The Son Of The Maker is Like Unto His Father As Maker!
Hymn 8. That Thy Resurrection Might Be Believed
Hymn 9. Come Rest, And Be Still In The Bosom Of Thy Mother
Hymn 10. In Thee Will I Begin To Speak
Hymn 11. I Shall Not Be Jealous, My Son. The Virgin Mother to Her Child.
Hymn 12. The Babe That I Carry Carries Me
Hymn 13. In The Days Of The King. Compare Hymn II. For the Epiphany: In The Time Of The King
Hymn 14. Of The Birth Of The Firstborn
Resp.--Blessed be he who became beyond measure low,
that he might make us beyond measure great.Hymn 15. Celebrate, O Nations, This Feast
Resp.--Blessed is He above all in His Birth! (bis).Hymn 16. Who Then That Is Mortal Man
Resp.--Glory to all of Thee from all of us! (bis.)Hymn 17. Infants Were Slain Because Of Thy Birth
Resp., Praise to Thee from every mouth on this Day of Thy Birth!Hymn 18. Blessed Art Thou, O Church, for lo! in thee is the sound
Resp.--Praise be to Him Who sent Him! (bis)Hymn 19. The First Year Wherein, Our Saviour Was Born
Resp.--Blessed be thy Birth that gladdens all creatures!Epiphany:
Hymn 1. The Heavens He Has Renewed
Resp. To You be praise from Your flock in the day of Your Epiphany!Hymn 2. In The Time Of The King Nearly identical with Hymn XIII. On the Nativity. See: In The Days Of The King
Resp. To You be praise Who in this feast makest all to exult!Hymn 3. Christ and Chrism Are Conjoined
Resp. Christ with chrism,1 lo! He is sealing the newborn lambs in His flock!Hymn 4. Descend My Sealed Brethren
Resp. Blessed be He that blots out in water misdeeds that are without measure!Hymn 5. Descend, My Brethren
Resp. Blessed be He that ordained baptism, for the atonement of the sons of Adam!Hymn 6. The Spirit Came Down From On High
Resp. Blessed be He Who was baptized that He might baptize you,
that you should be absolved from your offenses.Hymn 7. The Flock of Jacob Came Down
Resp. Blessed is He Who atoned your sins, that you might receive His Body worthily!Hymn 8. God In His mercy Stooped And Came Down
Resp. Happy are you whose bodies have been made to shine!Hymn 9. O John, Who Saw The Spirit
Resp., Blessed is He Who came down, and sanctified water for the remission of the sins
of the children of Adam!Hymn 10. Adam Sinned And Earned All Sorrows
Resp. Glory to Him Who came and restored it!Hymn 11. Give Thanks, O Daughter
Resp. Let the bodies rejoice which the Evil One had made naked,
that in the water they have put on their glory!Hymn 12. In Baptism Adam Found Again
Resp. Blessed is He Who went down and was baptized in Jordan,
and turned back the People from error!Hymn 13. Your Garments Glisten, My Brethren, As Snow Hymn of the Baptized.
Resp . Brethren, sing praises, to the Son of the Lord of all;
Who has bound for you crowns, such as kings long for!Hymn 14. My Thought Bore Me To Jordan Hymn concerning our Lord and John.
Resp . Glory to You, my Lord, for You with joy Heaven and earth worship!Hymn 15. In the Birth of the Son Light Dawned
St. Germanus
A
Great And Mighty Wonder - Stichera for Christmas-tide (J. M.
Neale)
St. Gregory
Bride of Christ on High, "The Admonitory Address To A Virgin" - Gregory Nazainzen, 4th Century, Παρθένε, νύμφη Χριστοϋ (Chatfield) (inspired by the Parable of the Ten Virgins, Matthew 25:1-13)
St. John of Damascus, from his Canon of Christmas Day
Let Heaven Rejoice, And Earth Be Glad - John of Damascus, Εύφραινέσδωσαν οί ούρανοι (Littledale); from the Greek Office of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary in the "Menζa."
Today In Bethlehem Hear I - St. John Damascene, Δόξα έν ύψίστοις Θεώ (Dix)
Bethlehem Rejoices - St. John of Damascus, Δόξα ἐν ὑψίστοις θεῷ (Brownlie)
Habakkuk In Ancient Song - John of Damascus, Γενους Βροτέιου τήν άνάπλασιν πάλαι, from the Canon of Christmas Day; Also found in Bernhard Pick, ed., Hymns and Poetry of the Eastern Church (New York: Eaton & Mains, 1908), pp. 114-115 (Dix)
Bend To Our Hymns, Redeemer - John of Damascus, Νευσον πρός ύμνους, οίχετων εύεξγέτα, from the Canon of Christmas Day; Also found in Bernhard Pick, ed., Hymns and Poetry of the Eastern Church (New York: Eaton & Mains, 1908), pp. 113-114. (Dix)
The Wonder-Working Master - John of Damascus, Εσωσε λαόν, δαυματουργών, from the Canon of Christmas Day; Also found in Bernhard Pick, ed., Hymns and Poetry of the Eastern Church (New York: Eaton & Mains, 1908), pp. 112-113. (Dix)
St. Methodius
Inspired by the Parable of
the Ten Virgins, Matthew
25:1-13
Behold the Bridegroom! Hark The Cry, a cento by Rev. John Brownlie
The Virgins' Song ["The Bridegroom Cometh"], translation by AW Chadfield.
The Banquet of the Ten Virgins translation by Rev. William Clark.
St. Romanus the Melodist
- St. Romanus the Melodist, Τήν Έδέμ Βηδλεέμ ήνοιξε, δεύτε ίδωμεν (Dix)
St. Theodore of the Studium
From the Canon for Apocreos (Second Advent)
Ode 1. That Fearful Day, That Day Of Speechless Dread - Τήν ήμέραν τήν φρικτήν (J . M. Neale)
Ode 3. God Comes; - And Who Shall Stand Before His Fear? - Ό Κύριος έρχεται (J . M. Neale)
Ode 4. The Day Is Near, The Judgment Is At Hand - εφεστηκεν η ημερα (J . M. Neale)
Ode 9. The Lord Draws Nigh - Ο Κυριος ερχεται. (J . M. Neale)
Unattributed:
When With Powers of Heaven Attending - ό τε ήξείς θεός έν μυριάσι καί χίλίάσί, Ode I From the Canon for Apocreos (Brownlie)
Hymns Of Individual Translators
Rev. John Mason Neale
Hymns of the Eastern Church (London: J. T. Hayes, 1862)
St. Anatolius of Constantinople (d. 458)
In Bethlehem Is He Born, Idiomelon for Christmas
The Lord And King Of All Things, Stichera at Vespers, S. Stephen's Day
St. Germanus
A Great And Mighty Wonder, Stichera for Christmas-tide
It was earlier thought that this Stichera was written by S. Anatolius.
St. Cosmas of Jerusalem, surnamed The Melodist (A.D. 780), "Canon for Christmas Day":
Ode I. - Christ Is Born! Tell Forth His Fame! - Χριστος γενναται δοξασατε
Ode II. There was no entry, which is omitted due to the "severe and threatening character" of the source, "The Song of Moses," Deut. xxxii.
Ode III. - Him, Of The Father's Very Essence - τω προ των αιωνων
Ode IV. - Rod Of The Root Of Jesse - Ραβδος εκ της ριζης.
Ode V. - Father of Peace, and God of Consolation - Θεος ων ειρηνης.
Ode VI. - As Jonah, Issuing From His Three Days' Tomb - σπλαγχνων Ιωναν.
Ode VII. - The Holy Children Boldly Stand - οι παιδες ευσεβεια.
Ode VIII. - The Dewy Freshness That The Furnace Flings - θαυματος υπερϕυους η δροσοβολος.
Ode IX. - O Wondrous Mystery, Full of Passing Grace - μυστηριον ζενον
Rev. John Brownlie
These hymns are from the following collections edited by Rev. Brownlie:
Hymns of the Greek Church (Edinburgh and London: Oliphant, Anderson & Ferrier, 1900)
Hymns of the Holy Eastern Church (Paisley: Alexander Gardner, 1902)
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)
Hymns of the Apostolic Church (Paisley: Alexander Gardner, 1909)
Hymns from the Morningland (London: Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co., 1911)
Hymns of the Early Church (London: Morgan & Scott LD, 1913)
A Band of Herdsmen Tarried Late - άγγελοί μετά ποίμένων δοξάζουσι
Behold the Bridegroom Cometh - 8th Century Greek Hymn (Ἰδοὺ ὁ Νυμφιὸς ἔρχεται ἐν τῷ μέσῳ τῆς νυκτός) from the Ferial Midnight Office of the Greek Church
Behold the Bridegroom! Hark The Cry - St. Methodius, The Banquet of the Ten Virgins (8th Century)
The Best That Heaven Could Bring - Anonymous
Bethlehem Rejoices - St. John of Damascus, Δόξα ἐν ὑψίστοις θεῷ
Christ is Born, Go Forth To Meet Him - St. Cosmas, Χριστὸς γεννᾶται
Come, Let Us Sing With Joyful Mirth - Δεύτε άγαλλίασωμέθα τώ καρόν | μυστηριον έπδίηγούμενοι
Firm Through The Endless Years - Anatolis, ή Βασιλεία σου, Χρίστέ ό θεός | Menaion
Gladness Fills The World This Morn - From the Russian Church
Glory In The Highest! - From the Early Church
Hail The Morn! Let Praises Cheerful - From the Russian Church
Hail to the King, Who Comes in Weakness Now - οί μάγοι τά ξώρα προσψέρουσιν | οί ποίμένες τό θαύμα κηρύττουσιν
Hail to the Morn That Dawns On Eastern Hills - τεχθένος τού Χρίστού
Hark! Upon the Morning Breezes - Δόξα έν νψίστοίς θεώ
He Came Because the Father Willed - Ὁ Πατὴρ εὐδόκησεν,
Herdsmen Keeping Lonely Vigil - From the Early Church
In The Bliss of Old Predicted - ὁ οὐρανὸς καὶ ἡ γῆ σήμερον προφητικῶς εὐφραινέσθωσαν | Στιχηρὰ Ἰδιόμελα
In The Early Morning - From the Early Church
Jerusalem, Rejoice! - εὐφράνθητι Ἱερουσαλὴμ
The King Is On His Journey - From the Russian Church
Light Upon Our Gloom Arising - From the Russian Church
Lo, the Clouds of Night Are Rending - From the Early Church
The Longing Eyes That Sought The Light - From the Apostolic Church
The Lord Of Life To Earth Came Down - καὶ Ποιμένες εἶδον τὸ θαῦμα, Ἀγγέλων ἀνυμνούντων, καὶ λεγόντων· Δόξα
Now The King Immortal - Χρίστός ό Βασιλεύς
O Come Let Us Adore - Δεῦτε ἀγαλλιασώμεθα τῷ κυρίῳ | (Στιχηρὰ Ἰδιόμελα)
O Light Resplendent of the Morn - νῦν πάντα πεπλήρωται φωτὸς
O Love Supreme, Exceeding Broad - O Despotou philanthropias! (From the Apostolic Church)
Out From The Rising Of The Sun - From the Office Books of the Holy Eastern Church
Over Trackless Regions - From the Early Church
Rosy Dawn, With Locks of Gold - From the Early Church
Thy Birth Upon Our World Hath Given - ή γέννησις σου Χρίστέ ό θεός ήμών
Wake, My Soul! In Careless Slumber - ψυχή μου ! ψυχή μου ! άνάστα | τί καθεύδείς
What Shall We Bring To Thee - Anatolis, τί σοι προσενέγκωμεν, Χριστὲ
When Oer the World Augustus Reigned - Cassia the Recluse, Αὐγούστου μοναρχήσαντος ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, | ἡ πολυαρχία τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἐπαύσατο
When With Powers of Heaven Attending - ό τε ήξείς θεός έν μυριάσι καί χίλίάσί, Ode I From the Canon for Apocreos
Ye Saints, Exult With Cheerful So - Εὐφραίνεσθε Δίκαιοι· οὐρανοὶ ἀγαλλιᾶσθε·| σκιρτήσατε τὰ ὄρη, Χριστοῦ γεννηθέντος.
Zion Is Glad This Glorious Morn - From the Early Church
Mr. William Chatterton Dix
Rev. Orby Shipley, ed., Lyra Messianica: Hymns and Verses on the Life of Christ (London: Longman, Green, Longman, Roberts, and Green, 1864)
- St. Romanus the Melodist, Τήν Έδέμ Βηδλεέμ ήνοιξε, δεύτε ίδωμενToday In Bethlehem Hear I - St. John Damascene, Δόξα έν ύψίστοις Θεώ
Habakkuk In Ancient Song - John of Damascus, Γενους Βροτέιου τήν άνάπλασιν πάλαι, from the Canon of Christmas Day; Also found in Bernhard Pick, ed., Hymns and Poetry of the Eastern Church (New York: Eaton & Mains, 1908), pp. 114-115
Bend To Our Hymns, Redeemer - John of Damascus, Νευσον πρός ύμνους, οίχετων εύεξγέτα, from the Canon of Christmas Day; Also found in Bernhard Pick, ed., Hymns and Poetry of the Eastern Church (New York: Eaton & Mains, 1908), pp. 113-114.
The Wonder-Working Master - John of Damascus, Εσωσε λαόν, δαυματουργών, from the Canon of Christmas Day; Also found in Bernhard Pick, ed., Hymns and Poetry of the Eastern Church (New York: Eaton & Mains, 1908), pp. 112-113.
Begins the Unbeginning, Good News To-Day Is Heard - John the Monk
Today Let Heaven And Earth In Prophecy Rejoice - John the Monk
Rev. Gerald Moultrie
Hymns and Lyrics for the Seasons and Saints' Days of the Church (London: Joseph Masters, 1867).
Behold the Bridegroom Cometh - 8th Century Greek Hymn (Ἰδοὺ ὁ Νυμφιὸς ἔρχεται ἐν τῷ μέσῳ τῆς νυκτός) from the Ferial Midnight Office of the Greek Church
Rev. Robert Maude Moorsom
Robert M. Moorsom, Renderings of Church Hymns from Eastern and Western Office Books (1901)
Behold the Bridegroom Draweth Nigh - 8th Century Greek Hymn (Ἰδοὺ ὁ Νυμφιὸς ἔρχεται ἐν τῷ μέσῳ τῆς νυκτός) from the Ferial Midnight Office of the Greek Church
Mr. Allen W. Chatfield
Songs and Hymns of the Earliest Greek Poets (London, 1876); This volume is described as A selection of songs and hymns from Christ and Paranikas, Anthologia Graeca Carminum Christianorum (Leipzig, 1871).
The Virgins' Song ["The Bridegroom Cometh"] - St. Methodius, The Banquet of the Ten Virgins (8th Century)
Bride of Christ on High, "The Admonitory Address To A Virgin" - Gregory Nazainzen, 4th Century, Παρθένε, νύμφη Χριστοϋ
Rev. Richard Frederick Littledale
The People's Hymnal. 6th Edition. (London: J. Masters and Co., 1877)
Offices from the Service-books of the Holy Eastern Church (London: Williams and Norgate, 1863)
Let Heaven Rejoice, And Earth Be Glad - John of Damascus, Εύφραινέσδωσαν οί ούρανοι
Let Heaven And Earth Today Rejoice In Prophecy - John the Monk
Of the Maid in Bethlehem - John the Monk
Christ Is Born, Him Glorify - St. Cosmas, Χριστος γενναται δοξασατε; Ode 1 of the Canon of Christmas Day
Rev. William R. Clark
Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, eds., The Ante-Nicene Christian Library, Vol. 14, The Writings of Methodius. (Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1864.), pp. 111-114.
The Banquet of the Ten Virgins - St. Methodius, The Banquet of the Ten Virgins (8th Century)
S. W. Duffield
Into His Arms With Tender Love - Ephraem Syrus; "Translated from the German of Zingerie by S. W. Duffield, in Latin Hymn Writers, p. 8."; Source: Bernard Pick, ed., Hymns and Poetry of the Eastern Church (New York: Eaton & Mains, 1908), p. 86.
Another source for Greek hymns is
Bernhard Pick, ed., Hymns and Poetry of the Eastern Church (New York: Eaton & Mains, 1908). Note that Mr. Pick was as editor only, and was not a translator.
Greek Hymns Inspired by the Parable of the Ten Virgins, Matthew 25:1-13
An 8th Century Greek Hymn (Ἰδοὺ ὁ Νυμφιὸς ἔρχεται ἐν τῷ μέσῳ τῆς νυκτός) from the Ferial Midnight Office of the Greek Church, with these translations:
St. Methodius, The Banquet of the Ten Virgins (8th Century), with these translations:
Behold the Bridegroom! Hark The Cry, a cento by Rev. John Brownlie, with notes
The Virgins' Song ["The Bridegroom Cometh"], translation by AW Chadfield.
The Banquet of the Ten Virgins translation by Rev. William Clark.
St. Gregory, Admonitory Address To A Virgin, Bride of Christ on High - Translation by Allen W. Chatfield
Primary Sources:
Anthologia Graeca Carminum Christianorum (Leipsic, 1871); the text is Greek with notes, preface, etc., in Latin. This link is to the Internet Archive, www.archive.org
Daniel, Theasaurus Hymnologicus, Vol. 3. (J.T. Loeschke, 1855); Google Books, https://books.google.com/books?id=HlhbAAAAMAAJ; Internet Archive, https://archive.org/details/thesaurushymnol03danigoog .
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