Douay, France, 1786) is now generally recognized as both author and composer of this hymn, originally written in Latin in four stanzas. The text has two unusual features for such a popular hymn: it is unrhymed and has an irregular meter. Then after exhorting the angels to sing their praise (st. We sing words borrowed from the Nicene Creed to express the Christian faith about the incarnation (st. 88.In this well-known and loved Christmas hymn, we are invited as God's faithful people to go to Bethlehem and adore Christ the Lord (st. For the original Greek text, see Moorsom's Historical Companion to Hymns Ancient & Modern 1903, p. Sacred history denies that "twelve" were present. It will be noted that the texts of Church Hymns and Hymns Ancient & Modern are altered to bring the hymn in line with the fact that both Judas Iscariot and Thomas were absent on the first Easter night. and stanza iii., line 5, "Thou to-day, amidst Thine own," for "But to-day, amidst the twelve" (2) Hymns Ancient & Modern, 1904, where the last stanza is entirely rewritten and (3) The English Hymnal, 1906, in which Dr. These include: (1) Church Hymns, 1903, where stanza i., line 8, reads "Thanks and praise " for "Laud and praise," &c. Neale have undergone some alterations in recent collections. 3).Ĭome, ye faithful, raise the strain, p. 2), and a doxology from the 1868 edition of Hymns Ancient and Modern (st. The three stanzas are taken from Neale's stanzas la and 3b (st. Neale ( PHH 342) translated the text in his article on Greek hymnology in the Christian Remembrancer (April, 1859) and reprinted it in his Hymns of the Eastern Church in 1862.
Stanza 3 concludes the text with an Easter doxology. Stanza 2 uses images of spring and sunshine as metaphors for the new life and light of Christ. The first ode of each canon was based on the Passover event and on Exodus 15 as the metaphor for Christ's delivery of his people from the slavery of sin and death (seen more clearly at 390). He defended the church's use of icons, codified the practices of Byzantine chant, and wrote about science, philosophy, and theology.Īll canons in the Greek church demonstrated how Old Testament prophecies were fulfilled in Christ's resurrection. One of the last of the Greek fathers, John became a great theologian in the Eastern church. At about the age of forty, however, he became dissatisfied with his life, gave away his possessions, freed his slaves, and entered the monastery of St. After his father's death, John assumed that position and lived in wealth and honor. John's father, a Christian, was an important official at the court of the Muslim caliph in Damascus. Written around 750 and inspired by the Song of Moses in Exodus 15, this text is John's first ode from the canon for the Sunday after Easter. (A canon is a form of Greek hymnody based on biblical canticles consisting of nine odes, each with six to nine stanzas.) His "Golden Canon" is the source of Easter hymns (see also 390). 754) is especially known for his writing of six canons for the major festivals of the church year. Into joy from sadness! Source: Christian Worship: Hymnal #462Įighth-century Greek poet John of Damascus (b.