John Brownlie

“ And songs of praise to Thee we’ll give,
O God the Father, Christ the Son,
And Holy Spirit, while we live,
And in the ages yet to run.
[73] οὐκ ἀφήσω ὑμᾶς ὀρφανόυς
I
May Thy bright Spirit, as of old,
The love of Christ the Son unfold,
And as He hangs upon the Cross,
Reveal to men their sin and loss.
II
O Holy Spirit, one with God,
From God sent down to our abode
With us abide in joy and woe,
And share our sojourn here below.
III
And give us comfort in our pain,
Be in our loss our surest gain;
The Christ reveal in all His love,
And fit us for our home above. ”

“ And gazing on the glory
That shines in triple ray,
Our souls shall feast with gladness
On Thy sweet light alway.
[24] 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.
[25] 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. ”

“ He who hath sorrowed, every sorrow shares.
II
Look for the morn when night is dark and weary,
Morning shall come when hours of night are spent;
Clouds hide the sun, and make the noontide dreary,
Gladness shall cheer you when the clouds are rent. ”

“ He gave His life for me—
’Twas for my sin He died,—
O, that all eyes might see
The Saviour crucified;
And give Him love
Who dwells above,
And gave His life for me.
[69] Δεῦτε ἀγαλλιασωμέθα τῷ κυρίῳ, τὸ παρὸν μυστήριον ἐκδιηγούμενοι
I
Come, let us sing with joyful mirth
The mystery of Immanuel’s birth,
Who, Virgin born, is here;
The middle wall no longer stands,
No flaming sword in Cherub’s hands
Inspires the soul with fear.
II
See, clear the pathway open lies
That upward leads to Paradise,
Where stands the Tree of Life ”

“ And shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead, and of whose kingdom there shall be no end.
And in the Holy Ghost, the Lord, the Life-Giver, who proceedeth from the Father, who with the Father and the Son is together worshipped and glorified, who spake by the prophets.
In One Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins.
We look for the Resurrection of the dead.
And the life in the ages to come. ”

“ Therefore we raise with one accord
Our songs right thankfully,
For joy and peace, O Christ our Lord,
We owe in full to Thee.
[27] 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 ”

“ This glorious festal morn,
And joys appear.
[26] 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. ”

“ The phrases containing the thoughts, and the echoes repeating the music, have been woven together to form the fabric which is shewn here.
This volume is presented because the author believes that the hymnody of the West must find much of its finest enrichment in the praise literature of the Church of the East. It would be presumptuous to think [6] that these renderings and suggestions are at all a worthy expression of the noble and richly varied praise of the Eastern Church ”

“ In a valuable Introduction of nearly seventy pages, he tells us of the history, doctrine, and worship of the Church from whose service books the hymns have been translated, and his essay is a welcome supplement to that which preludes Neale’s small collection. Mr. Brownlie is a true catholic, and, in helping to catholicise our hymn books, he is furthering that unity of spirit which must precede ecclesiastical reunion.”—Sheffield Daily Telegraph. ”

“ Sticheron Idiomelon (From the Order of the Burial of Priests)
ῥευστοί πῶς γεγόναμεν, ἄφθαρτον εἰκόνα φορέσαντες
Euchologion, p. 467
I
Why do we fade?
Who Thine own image bear,
Who life immortal share,—
Why do we fade? ”

“ All the renderings in this collection appear for the first time. If any one thinks he has reason to complain of their quality, let him try to do better. The field lies untilled for any one who will work it. ”

“ And clouds, His chariots, bore Him up,
That He might claim His own.
III
O strangest wonder e’er beheld,
Since ages hoar began,
The angels saw the highest place
Given to a Son of Man.
[35] 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 God the Father throned on high,
And to the Son be praise,
And to the Spirit—Three in One,
From age to age, always.
[36] Apolutikion of Pentecost εὐλογητὸς εἰ, Χριστέ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν
Pentecostarion, p. ”

“ A long introduction describes sympathetically, and even enthusiastically, the doctrine of the Eastern Church and its worship, with which Mr. Brownlie is evidently closely acquainted.”—Church Times.
“Mr. Brownlie is already favourably known as a translator of hymns from the Greek Office-books.... The Introduction is well written, and should be of service in dispelling prejudice and ignorance on the subject of the Church of the East.”—Guardian. ”