Hymn to Christ on Easter Day – St. Gregory Nazianzen

HYMN TO CHRIST ON EASTER DAY
(AFTER LONG SILENCE),
Cristi anax, se prvton, epei logon heri dvka,
dhnaion katecwn, fqegxom apo stomatwn,
(Dactylic hexameter, and pentameter.)
O Christ the King! since breath pent up so long
I have outpoured, Thou first shalt be my song;
May this my word, the current of my mind,
If lawful thus to speak, acceptance find,
And unto Thee [...]

Read Full Post »

A Hymn at Night, After Failure to Keep Vow – St. Gregory Nazianzen

A HYMN AT NIGHT, AFTER FAILURE TO KEEP VOW.
eyeusamhn se thn alhqeian, loge,
(Iambic trimeter.)
O Thou, the Word of truth divine!
All light I have not been,
Nor kept the day as wholly Thine;
For Thou dark spots hast seen.
The day is down: night hath prevailed:
My Lord I have belied;
I vowed, and thought to do, but failed;
My steps did [...]

Read Full Post »

Psalms of St. Ephraim the Syrian

What follows is a selection of Psalms by St. Ephraim the Syrian. They can be found in the book A Spiritual Psalter, published by St. John of Kronstadt Press. This little book is very edifying and uplifting, and is highly recommended.
How to Relieve the Conscience of Inner Anxiety
O Lord and Master! O God of heaven [...]

Read Full Post »

Hymn to His Own Soul – St. Gregory Nazianzen

TO HIS OWN SOUL.
ti soi qeleiV genesqai;
(Iambic dimeter catalectic.)
1.
O soul of mine, repining,
What wouldst have done for thee?
Speak, great or small defining:
Granted thy wish shall be.
2.
Of all bright things, prized highest,
Beneath the rolling sun,
Tell that for which thou sighest;
For thee it shall be done.
3.
Wouldst thou assume the measure
Of Gyges, Lydia’s king,
To hide or show at [...]

Read Full Post »

Hymn to God – by St. Gregory Nazianzen

Gregory Nazianzen
HYMN TO GOD.
‘W pantwn epekeina . ti gar qemiV allo se melpein;
(Dactylic hexameter.)

1.
O Thou, the One Supreme o’er all! [22]
For by what other name
May we upon Thy greatness call,
Or celebrate Thy fame?

2
Ineffable! to [...]

Read Full Post »

An Evening Hymn – Gregory Nazianzen

AN EVENING HYMN.
Se kai nun eulogoumen,
(Semi-iambic.)
1.
And now again at night,
O Christ, the living Word,
Thou Light of the Eternal Light,
Be Thou by us adored.
2.
Thou dost the Spirit give,
Third Light, in glory one;
His grace, by whom alone we live,
Thou dost refuse to none.
3.
Thou didst the darkness scatter,
Thou mad’st the light to shine,
That now through all primeval matter
Might [...]

Read Full Post »

A Hymn to Christ – St. Gregory Nazianzen –

Gregory Nazianzen.
I. HYMN TO CHRIST.
Se ton afqiton monarchn
(Dimeter ionicus.)
1.
O Thou, the One Supreme,
O thou, the deathless King,
Be Thou my only theme:
Grant me Thyself to sing.
To Thee the hymn, to Thee the praise,
Celestial choirs for ever raise.
2.
For Thee the ages run
In order as was given;
For Thee shines forth the sun,
The day-born eye of heaven:
For Thee the [...]

Read Full Post »

Beauties of Orthodoxy -

One of the beautiful things about Orthodoxy is the multitude of love-filled hymns. Here is one written by St. Nectarios in praise of the Theotokos – the Mother of God.
O Virgin Pure
by St. Nectarios
Plagal First Tone (Tone 5)
Refrain: O Rejoice, Bride Unwedded.
O Virgin pure, immaculate/ O Lady Theotokos
O Virgin Mother, Queen of all/ and fleece [...]

Read Full Post »