Hymns from the Greek Office Books

And leave the food of life,
To eat the bread of strife, —
Why did we err?

III

Why thus deceived?
And robbed of life divine,
That precious gift of Thine?
Why thus deceived?

Idiomela of John The Monk

(From the Order of the Burial of Laymen)

πάντα ματαιότης τὰ ἀνθρώπινα

    Euchologion, p. 413

I

All human things decay,
For all is vanity,
The silver and the gold;
The glory of the great,
The wealth of high estate,
None can for ever hold.

II

Death with his icy hand,
Severs each earthly band,
And bears us all away;
Vain are our earthly dreams,
Shadows our substance seems,
And nothing lasts for aye.

III

Immortal Christ, we cry,
O let our prayers come nigh
Thy throne of heavenly grace;
Rest him whose form we miss,
Grant him in endless bliss
A lasting dwelling place.

Troparia

(From the Order of Holy Unction)

ταχύς εἰς ἀντίληψιν, μόνος ὑπαρχων Χριστέ

    Euchologion, p. 266

I

Thou, Lord, hast power to heal,
And Thou wilt quickly aid,
For Thou dost deeply feel
The stripes upon us laid: —
Thou Who wast wounded by the rod
Uplifted in the hand of God.

II

Send speedy help, we pray,
To him who ailing lies,
That from his couch he may
With thankful heart arise;
Through Her, whose prayers availing find
Thine ear, O Lover of mankind.

III

Oh, blinded are our eyes,
And all are held in night;
But like the blind who cries,
We cry to Thee for light;
In penitence, O Christ, we pray,
Give us the radiant light of day.

Ode V. of Metrophanes

(From the Midnight Service for the Sabbath)

ἠ τὸν πρῶτον τῶν Ἀγγέλων ἀμέσως διάκοσμον

    Parakletike, p. 4

I

The radiance of the brightness
Of beauty shed by Thee,
Descend on us who hymn Thy name,
Sole ruling Trinity.

II

Victorious nature hymns Thee,
Thou orb of triple ray;