Chapter V

When Thou shalt come, O Lord,
In mercy let me stand--
No guilt upon my conscience laid--
Approved, at Thy right hand.

CANON FOR EASTER DAY
BY
ST. JOHN OF DAMASCUS

ST. JOHN OF DAMASCUS

John of Damascus is by far the most prominent and most poetical of all the Greek Christian poets. He dwelt for many years in his native city of Damascus, a valiant champion of orthodoxy against all comers. His influence on Greek hymnody was immense, and he is held in high esteem by the Greek Church for his work in that department, and as a theologian. The _Octoechos_, which contains the Ferial Office, was, it is said, arranged by John of Damascus. There his Canons are found, which are perhaps his greatest work in hymnody. John retired eventually to the monastery of Mar Saba, where he spent a life of devotion, and sang those Christian hymns which have cheered and inspired so many generations of Christians in the East. There he penned the 'Golden Canon' for Easter Day, which breathes the glorious hopes of the Resurrection.

{Ôdê A'}

{anastaseôs hêmera lamprynthômen laoi;}

{ho Heirmos}

Hail the Resurrection day!
Let the people shout for gladness;
'Tis a passover of joy,--
Let us banish every sadness;
For, from death to endless life,
Christ our God His people bringeth;
As from earth to heaven we rise,
Each his song of triumph singeth.

{troparion}

From our eyes the veil remove,
That we may, in light transcending,
See the risen Lord of Life,
Life to all in grace extending.
Let our ears His voice perceive;
To His accents kind attending,
We would hear 'All hail!' and sing,
Every voice in triumph blending.

Let the heavens above rejoice,
Let the earth take up the measure;
All the world, and all therein,
Join the festival of pleasure;
All things visible unite
With invisible in singing;
For the Christ is risen indeed,
Everlasting gladness bringing.

{Ôdê G'}

{Deute poma piômen kainon}

{ho Heirmos}

Come, let us drink the water new,
Not from the rock divinely springing,
But from that pure immortal stream
That from His tomb our Lord is bringing.

{troparion}

All things in earth and heaven above
Are filled with light that shines supernal;
So all creation keeps this feast,
For He hath risen, the King eternal.

With Thee, O Christ, I lay entombed,
Ere light upon this day was falling;
With Thee I leave death's dark abode,
For Thou hast risen, and Thou art calling.

With Thee upon the Cross I hung
When Thou wast faint, and weak, and sighing;
Lord, with Thyself Thy servant bless,
In Thy bright realm through years undying.

{Ôdê D'}

{epi tês theias phylakês}

{ho Heirmos}

[1]Prophet of the Lord, beside us,
Now upon the watch-tower stand;
Let us see the light-clad angel
Earthward come at God's command,
Telling of His power to save,
Who hath risen from the grave.

{troparion}

He was born of Virgin Mother,
Lamb of God on whom we feed;
Free from every spot, and blameless,
Yea, a Passover indeed:
Very God His wondrous claim,
And Perfection is His name.

As a yearling lamb He suffered,
He, our Blessed, saving Crown;
That He might from vileness cleanse us,
Freely was His life laid down;
Now, with beauty in our eyes,
See the glorious Sun arise.

As the ark was borne in triumph,
David leaped with gladness then;
Now before the Type's fulfilment
We should joy as holier men;
For, omnipotent to save,
Christ hath left the dismal grave.

----------

[1]Habakkuk ii. 1.

{Ôdê E'}

{orthrisômen orthroi batheos}

{ho Heirmos}

Ere the morn in beauty wake,
Let us seek the Saviour's tomb,--
Not with ointment and perfume,
But with songs the silence break;
We shall see the Christ appear,
Sun of Righteousness to cheer.

{troparion}

They who dwell in death's abode,
Bound with fetters dark and cold,
Shall the Saviour's love behold;
They shall hail the light of day,
And their gladsome foot employ
In this festival of joy.

Go ye forth amid the gloom,
And with torches burning bright
Cheer the darkness of the night,
Meet the Bridegroom at the tomb;
Greet with songs of festal glee
Him who sets His people free.

{Ôdê ST'}

{katêlthes en tois katôtatois}

{ho Heirmos}

To depths of earth Thou didst descend,
O Christ, to break the chain
That held the sons of men enslaved,
And lead them forth again;
As Jonah left the living grave,
So cam'st Thou forth, O Christ, to save.

{troparion}

Unbroken were the seals when Thou
Didst leave the dismal tomb,
Even as the virgin bars remained
When Thou didst leave the womb;
And Thou hast ope'd the gates of heaven,
And entrance free to all is given.

O Thou, my Saviour and my God,
Who camest from above,
And gav'st Thyself for sinful men
An offering of love!
Now, rising from the grave, we see
Our human race arise with Thee.

{Ôdê Z'}

{ho paidas ek kaminou rhysamenos}

{ho Heirmos}

He who in the fiery furnace
Kept from harm the faithful three,
Suffering in our mortal nature,
Decks with life mortality,--
Him, our fathers' God, we praise,
Blest and glorious always.

{troparion}

Holy women bearing ointments,
Sought the mortal, bathed in tears;
But their sorrow changed to gladness,
For the Living God appears;
And they tell the news abroad
Of the risen Son of God.

Now we celebrate the triumph,
Death and Hades overthrown,
Earnest of a life unending;
All the glory is Thine own;
God, our fathers' God, we praise,
Blest and glorious always.

Hallowed feast of holy gladness!
Night that waits salvation's birth,
Till the Resurrection morning
Breaks with splendour on the earth,
And eternal light is poured
By the Christ from death restored.

{Ôdê Ê'}

{hautê hê klêtê kai hagia hêmera}

{ho Heirmos}

This is the chosen day of God,
The brightest and the fairest,
The Lady thou of all the feasts,
The Queen of all, and rarest;
Now let our songs of blessing soar
To Thee, O Christ, for evermore.

{troparion}

O glorious Resurrection day!
With fruit of vine the newest;
Come, let us taste the heavenly draught,
And joy with joy the truest;
To Thee, O Christ, our praises soar,
Who art our God for evermore.

O Zion, lift thine eyes, behold
The lights that shine around thee
From east and west, and north and south,
Thy children now surround thee;
And in thy streets their praises soar,
To Thee, O Christ, for evermore.

Almighty Father! Word Divine!
O spirit co-eternal!
In persons three, in nature one,
O God of power supernal!
Baptized in Thee, our praises soar,
And Thee we bless for evermore.

{kai psalletai hê T~h' Ôdê}

{phôtizou phôtizou, hê nea Hierousalêm;}

{ho Heirmos}

Shine forth, O new Jerusalem!
O Zion, shout with glee!
For now the glory of the Lord
Is risen upon thee;
O mother pure of God's own Son,
Rejoice--His victory is won!

{troparion}

O dear and sweetest voice divine,
O Christ, Thou wilt befriend,
And lead Thy people safely on
E'en to their journey's end;
Thy faithful people hear Thy voice,
And in that steadfast hope rejoice.

O Christ, our sacred Paschal feast,
The Word, the might of God,--
His wisdom most ineffable
By Thee is shed abroad;
O may we feast on Thee for aye
In Thy blest realm of endless day.

_COLLECTS_
THE ECTENE AND THE LITANY OF THE DEACON

These Collects hold a most important place in the services of the Eastern Church. There are few offices in which they are not found imbedded. Their catholicity is most remarkable. The suffrages are peculiar to no church service, but common to all liturgies. The people share in them by responding 'Lord have mercy' at the end of each petition, and 'Amen' at the close.

{EKTENÊ}
OR
GREAT COLLECT

{Hyper tês anôthen eirênês, kai tês sôtêrias tôn psychôn hêmôn, tou
Kyriou deêthômen}

I

Lord, to our humble prayers attend,
Let Thou Thy peace from heaven descend,
And to our souls salvation send.
Have mercy, Lord, upon us.

II

Rule in our hearts, Thou Prince of Peace,
The welfare of Thy Church increase,
And bid all strife and discord cease.
Have mercy, Lord, upon us.

III

To all who meet for worship here,
Do Thou in faithfulness draw near;
Inspire with faith and godly fear.
Have mercy, Lord, upon us.

IV

O let Thy priests be clothed with might,
To rule within Thy Church aright,
That they may serve as in Thy sight.
Have mercy, Lord, upon us.

V

The sovereign ruler of our land,
Protect by Thine Almighty hand,
And all around the throne who stand.
Have mercy, Lord, upon us.

VI

In time of war be near to aid,
Strong be the arm for battle made,
Prostrate be every foeman laid.
Have mercy, Lord, upon us.

VII

Let clouds and sunshine bless the earth,
Give fruits and flowers a timely birth,
Our harvests crown with peaceful mirth.
Have mercy, Lord, upon us.