Hymns from the Greek Office Books Part 11

IV

When for our sins we mourn and sigh, And 'neath the Cross prostrated lie; When for the conscience crushed by guilt, We claim His Grace whose Blood was spilt; Then, Gift of Christ desired most, Come to our help, O Holy Ghost.

V

When braced, the soul resolving springs, And reaches forth to better things; And high above the world would rise, To eager s.n.a.t.c.h the offered prize; Then, Gift of Christ desired most, Come to our help, O Holy Ghost.

{hoti etechthe epi ges ho Amnos tou Theou, parechon to kosmo ten apolytrosin}

I

He came to earth who came from G.o.d, And left in heaven His blest abode, And all the joy He had; To share our lot, and all its woe, And wander homeless here below, All sorrowing and sad.

II

He came to earth who came from G.o.d, And ah! our rugged paths He trod, And faint, and tired, and lone, He bore the burden of our guilt, And on a Cross His blood was spilt For sinners to atone.

III

He went to G.o.d who came to earth; Now sing the new creation's birth, And mankind born again; For death is dead, and He who lives, Eternal life to mortals gives, The Faithful, True, Amen.

{ho de bios, skia kai enypnion}

I

The joy of earth is fleeting, The bliss of heaven remains; More sweet than earthly music The angel's glad refrains; And hearts of saints uprising Find vent in sweetest song, And lips of saints and angels The praise of heaven prolong.

II

O Christ, who art for ever With those whom Thou dost love, Thou art the theme inspiring The choirs who dwell above; The love that brought Thee earthward, The love that stooped and died, The pardon won for sinners, When Thou wast crucified.

III

Be Thee our theme who linger Where Thou didst sorrowing dwell; And teach our hearts to love Thee, Our lips to praise Thee well; And when we come adoring To where Thou ever art, One song shall rise exulting, From one united heart.

{en to photi Christe tou prosopou sou}

I

Safe in the comfort of Thy grace, Give me, O Lord, a resting place, From every tumult free; From strife of sin, and sense of guilt, For lo, my confidence is built, Most gracious Lord, on Thee.

II

There is no other comfort nigh, And sad of heart I mourning sigh-- Lord, Thou alone canst aid; Wilt Thou my prayer in anger spurn, And from Thy trembling servant turn, Whose soul is sore dismayed?

III

Nay, if I doubting, still believe, Thou wilt my faulty prayer receive, And grant the boon I crave; For 'tis Thy promise I would claim, And in the all-availing name Of Him Who came to save.

IV

So shall Thy peace my heart control, And fill with calm my troubled soul, My every tumult still; And thus I learn to trust Thee more, For billows surge, and tempests roar Obedient at Thy will.

V

And in the s.h.i.+ning of Thy face, A man shall be an hiding place, And covert from the wind; And while the tempest breaks around, I peaceful rest on tranquil ground, Where Thou, O Lord, art kind.

Appendix

The Trisagion, or Cherubic Hymn, has been in use in the wors.h.i.+p of the Eastern Church from the very earliest. No form of adoration is of such frequent occurrence in all the offices of the Church. Originally the Trisagion (Thrice Holy), was in the exact form found in Isaiah iv. 3, but as the years pa.s.sed, additions were made to it to express doctrine both orthodox and heterodox. The accompanying form is the one found in the service books, and is in common use at the present time.

The Trisagion

Holy G.o.d, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy upon us.

Holy G.o.d, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy upon us.

Holy G.o.d, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy upon us.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;

Both now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

All Holy Trinity, have mercy upon us. O Lord, be gracious unto our sins; O Master, forgive our transgressions; O Holy, look down and heal our infirmities, for Thy name's sake.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.