Him, Of The Father's Very Essence

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

Ode III, Canon for Christmas Day

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

 Meter: 9,8,9,8,7,5,7,5

Him, of the FATHER’s very Essence,
        Begotten, ere the world began,
And, in the latter time, of Mary,
        Without a human sire, made Man:
        Unto Him, this glorious morn,
        Be the strain outpoured!
        Thou That liftest up our horn,
        Holy art Thou, LORD!

The earthly Adam, erewhile quickened
    By the blest breath of GOD on high,
Now made the victim of corruption,
        By woman’s guile betrayed to die,
        He, deceived by woman’s part,
        Supplication poured;
        Thou Who in my nature art,
        Holy art Thou, LORD!

Thou, JESUS CHRIST, wast consubstantial
        With this our perishable clay,
And, by assuming earthly nature,
        Exaltedst it to heavenly day.
        Thou, That wast as mortal born,
        Being GOD adored,
        Thou That liftest up our horn,
        Holy art Thou, LORD!

Rejoice, O Bethlehem, the city
        Whence Judah’s monarchs had their birth;
Where He that sitteth on the Cherubs,
        The King of Israel, came on earth:
        Manifested this blest morn,
        As of old time never,
        He hath lifted up our horn,
        He shall reign for ever!

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.

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