Hymns from the Greek Office Books Part 7

Came there a voice to me, Yea, 'twas Thy voice, my G.o.d, Bidding me come to Thee, Up to Thy pure abode.

VII

Trusting Thy mercy great, Up from my woes I'll rise, Seeking the golden gate Opening to paradise.

{ho Soter hemon, anatole anatolon}

I

Come, with the load of sorrow thou art bearing, Lay it on Him who every burden bears; Let not thy soul in trouble sink despairing, He who hath sorrowed, every sorrow shares.

II

Look for the morn when night is dark and weary, Morning shall come when hours of night are spent; Clouds hide the sun, and make the noontide dreary, Gladness shall cheer you when the clouds are rent.

III

Look for His smile who gilds the hills at morning, Surely it comes as comes the morning sun; Beauty shall grace thy life with bright adorning, Even as the sunlight, till thy day is done.

IV

Then, when the morn that makes the hilltops golden Round the Jerusalem thy spirit gains Breaks on thy view, shall come the gladness olden Shared by the dwellers in those blest domains.

{hymnoumen sou Christe, to soterion pathos}

I

We hymn Thy triumph on the Cross, Thy victory o'er the grave, O Christ, immortal Son of G.o.d, Who cam'st Thy folk to save.

II

For, dying on the Cross, the sting Of death was torn away,-- O, by Thy victory over death Give life to us, we pray.

III

The gates of hades tottering fell, The prisoners saw the light, And forth emerging, left behind A hideous, starless night.

IV

O make us worthy, Christ, to sing The wonders of Thy power; And give us purity of heart To serve Thee every hour.

V

All praise and glory, Christ our G.o.d, To Thee be ever given; One with the Father, One with us On earth, and now in heaven.

{phos ek photos}

I

O Light of light! when other lights are fading, Then in my soul with heavenly brightness shine; "Let there be light!" the night and fear upbraiding, Speak Thou the word and send the Light Divine.

II

O Joy of joy! when other joys are sighing, Sing to my soul and bid its sadness flee; And when the songs my bitter tears are drying, Come with Thy gladness, and rejoice with me.

III

O Love of love! when other loves are dying, And hearts grow cold, and eyes that lured me frown; Come to my heart, Thou Love, all hate defying, Full of all pity to our world come down.

IV

O Bliss of bliss! when earth and all its treasures Shrink from my grasp, and leave me poor and sad; May I with Christ fill up my empty measures, And in His presence reap the hopes I had.

{psyche mou! anasta}

I

Hence, slumber, from mine eyes, See, from the eastern skies The light is shed; The night has pa.s.sed away, Now 'tis the morn of day, Darkness has fled.

II

My soul from slumber free, Let me Thy brightness see, O Light of light!

May darkness from my heart, And every cloud depart, And fears of night.

III

Now let my hands employ The pa.s.sing hours, and joy Shall find my soul; Thy will, O G.o.d, be done, Thy path of duty run, My heart control.

IV

And when the sunlight dies, And in the western skies The day is spent; Then on Thy loving breast, O Jesu, let me rest In calm content.