Hymns from the Greek Office Books Part 3

By thee the curse is gone, And death no terror brings; We cast his power beneath our feet, And rise to heavenly things.

IV

O s.h.i.+eld of our defence, And foe of all our foes; The glory of the saints of G.o.d, Their crown for all their woes.

V

Who follow Christ the Lord, Their beauty find in thee; Their harbour of salvation thou, Now and eternally.

Antiphon

{semeron kreumatai epi xylou ho en hydasi ten gen kreumasas}

_Triodion_, p. 401

I

Come, mortals, come behold!

He hangs upon the tree, Who made the rolling sea The new formed earth uphold.

II

See! He is crowned with thorns, The King of angels great, Who in His high estate A glorious crown adorns.

III

Derided, see Him wear A robe of purple dye, Who robes the noon-day sky With clouds that float on air.

IV

The Bridegroom of the Bride, The Son of Virgin born-- With nails His hands are torn, With cruel spear His side.

Apolutikion

(Of the Holy Apostle Thomas)

{esphragismenou tou mnematos}

_Pentecostarion_, p. 23

I

O Christ the G.o.d, Who art our life, Thou from the sealed tomb didst rise, And where Thy sad disciples mourned, Appeared to them with glad surprise.

II

Because Thy mercy, Lord, is great, And all Thy word to them is true, Come with its power even as of old, And every sinful soul renew.

III

All glory to the Father be, And to the Saviour, Christ the Son; All glory to the Holy Ghost, Now, and while endless ages run.

Stichera of The Ascension

{ho kyrios anelephthe eis ouranous, hina pempse ton Parakleton to kosmo}

_Pentecostarion_, p. 148

I

The Lord ascended into heaven That He might from above Send down the promised Paraclete On mission of His love.

II

And there the Father for His Son Had decked a glorious throne; And clouds, His chariots, bore Him up, That He might claim His own.

III

O strangest wonder e'er beheld, Since ages h.o.a.r began, The angels saw the highest place Given to a Son of Man.

IV

"O all ye angels praise the Lord,"

The Holy Spirit commands, "Lift up your gates, ye princes high, Ye nations, clap your hands."

V

To G.o.d the Father throned on high, And to the Son be praise, And to the Spirit--Three in One, From age to age, always.

Apolutikion of Pentecost

{eulogetos ei, Christe ho Theos hemon}

_Pentecostarion_, p. 188