Hymns from the Greek Office Books
TextTroparia
(From the Order of Holy Unction)
ταχύς εἰς ἀντίληψιν, μόνος ὑπαρχων Χριστέ
Euchologion
, p. 266
I
Thou, Lord, hast power to heal,
And Thou wilt quickly aid,
For Thou dost deeply feel
The stripes upon us laid: —
Thou Who wast wounded by the rod
Uplifted in the hand of God.
II
Send speedy help, we pray,
To him who ailing lies,
That from his couch he may
With thankful heart arise;
Through Her, whose prayers availing find
Thine ear, O Lover of mankind.
III
Oh, blinded are our eyes,
And all are held in night;
But like the blind who cries,
We cry to Thee for light;
In penitence, O Christ, we pray,
Give us the radiant light of day.
Ode V. of Metrophanes
(From the Midnight Service for the Sabbath)
ἠ τὸν πρῶτον τῶν Ἀγγέλων ἀμέσως διάκοσμον
Parakletike
, p. 4
I
The radiance of the brightness
Of beauty shed by Thee,
Descend on us who hymn Thy name,
Sole ruling Trinity.
II
Victorious nature hymns Thee,
Thou orb of triple ray;
For Thou hast hallowed it through grace
And borne its sin away.
III
In faith we laud the Father,
The Spirit and the Son,
One Nature, One Divinity,
One God, yet Three in One.
IV
To Thee our God be glory,
O Holy Trinity,
Both now, and while the ages run
To all eternity.
Ode VIII of Metrophanes
(From the Midnight Service for the Sabbath)
νεύματι θουργικῳ κύριε πάντων
Parakletike
, p. 4
I
Thy mighty word commanding,
The heavens were settled high,
And earth to Thee responding
Was spread beneath the sky.
II
O God of power, Thy servants
Would seek Thy power divine,
That they their hearts to love Thee
May evermore incline.
III
And gazing on the glory
That shines in triple ray,
Our souls shall feast with gladness
On Thy sweet light alway.
IV
And of Thy glory shining,
And of Thy ruling light,
From age to age Thy servants
Shall hymn both day and night.
V
To Thee be lasting praises,
Immortal Three in One, —
Thou Father, Son, and Spirit, —
Now, and while ages run.
Exapostilarion Automelon
ἐπεσκέψατο ἡμᾶς ἐξὔψους ὁ Σωτὴρ ἡμῶν
Maenon
, Dec. 25
I
The early dawn awakes,
The morn triumphant breaks,
See, see! the brightening sky,
The Saviour from on high
Is with us here.
II
And we who sat in night,
Rejoicing see the Light;
The shadows now are past,
The Dayspring come at last
And day is near.
III
For we have found the Truth;
The Son of Virgin youth,
The Saviour hath been born
This glorious festal morn,
And joys appear.
Troparia of The Sixth Hour
τὴν ἄχραντον Εἰκόνα σου προσκυνοῦμεν ἀγαθὲ
Horologion
, p. 94
I
Before Thy Cross we take our place,
With all our load of guilt,
And plead forgiveness of Thy grace
Because Thy blood was spilt.
II
For Thou, to free us from our foes,
Didst bear that cruel Cross,
And by its agony and woes
Bring gain for all our loss.
III
Therefore we raise with one accord
Our songs right thankfully,
For joy and peace, O Christ our Lord,
We owe in full to Thee.
Ode V
(From the Canon of the Resurrection)
ὁ φωτίσας τή ἐλλάμψει τῆς σῆς παρουσίας Χριστὲ
Parakletike
, p. 8
I
O Christ, Who art the peerless Light,
Come with Thy presence ever bright,
And from the Father’s throne above
Descend to hearts that own Thy love.
II
Thy Cross no shame to mortals brings;
The world with joy its glory sings;
And men, O Christ, before Thee bow —
All hail! Thy Resurrection now.
III
Ah Thou, our Lord, the Shepherd good,
Upon that Cross poured forth Thy blood,
And with Thy last expiring breath
Didst save Thy flock from endless death.
IV
And death of all his power is shorn,
And men to joy and peace are born,
For from their sins’ oppressive sway
Forgiveness bears their souls away.
V
Glory to Thee, O God, we bring,
And to the Son, our Heavenly King,
And to the Holy Ghost always,
Now, and throughout the endless days.
Stichera
(From the Office of the Cross on Quadragesima Sunday)
χαίροις ὁ ζωηφόρος Σταυρὸς
Triodion
, p. 215
I
All hail, life-bearing Cross,
The trophy of the good,
Thy bloom is fragrance on our way,
Thy fruit our heavenly food.
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