A Hymn of Glory to the Trinity
Glory to God the
Father
And to the Son who
reigns over all.
Glory to the
Spirit, All-Holy,
To whom praise is
fitting.
This is the Single
God, the Trinity,
Who created all
things that are;
Who filled the
heavens with spiritual beings,
The land with
earthly creatures,
The oceans, rivers,
springs,
With all aquatic
living things.
Out of his own
Spirit he gives life
to all that lives
(Ps. 104.30; Jn. 6.63)
So that all created
life can sing out praise
To the wisdom of
the Maker;
That single cause
of their existence,
Their continuing
subsistence.
But more than all
other things,
And in all things,
Rational nature
must sing out
That he is the
Great King, Good Father.
And so, my Father,
grant to me
In spirit and in
soul, in heart and voice,
In purity of heart
(Mt. 5.8)
To give you the
glory. Amin.
Hymn 1.1.31. PG 37.
510-511
Tr. J.A. McGuckin.
A Hymn to the Divinity
You stand above all
things that are.
What other way
could we rightly begin to sing of you?
How can words chant
your praise
When no word can
ever speak of you?
How can the mind
consider you
When no thought can
ever grasp you?
You alone are
unutterable
From the time you
created all things that can be spoken of.
You alone are
unknowable
From the time you
created all things that can be known.
All things cry out
about you
those which speak,
and those which cannot think;
For there is one
longing, one yearning,
That all things
have for you (Rom. 8. 22-23).
All things pray to
you, that comprehend your plan,
And offer you a
silent hymn.
In you, the One,
all things abide
And to you all
things endlessly converge
Who are the end and
goal of all.
You are One, and
All, and None of these.
You who bear all
names,
How shall I ever
name you?
You who can never
be named?
What heavenly mind
can ever penetrate
those veils above
the clouds?
Be merciful, You
who stand above all things.
What other way can
we rightly sing of you?
Hymn 1.1.29. PG 37.
507-508
Tr. J.A. McGuckin.
Two Prayers at the Setting of the Sun
I
Now it is time to
bless you
My Christ, the Word
of God,
Light of Light that
has no beginning,
Steward of the
Spirit
And of that
threefold light
That gathers in one
glory.
You it is who set
loose darkness,
And you who brought
forth light,
That you might make
all things in light.
You set fast
unstable matter,
Forming it into a
world
And into the good
order we now have.
You enlightened the
mind of Man
with reason and
with wisdom
And thereby placed
an Ikon here below
Of that brightness
which is above,
That Man may see
the light by light
And so become
entirely light.
You it was who lit
up the heavens
with lights of many
hues.
You it was decreed
that night and day
Should gently yield
to one another
Honouring that law
of brotherly and sisterly love.
In Night you give
us respite
From the cares of
our much burdened flesh.
In Day you raise us
up to work
And to deeds that
are pleasing in your sight;
So that fleeing
from all darkness
We might hurry into
the day,
The day you
liberate from all the gloom of night.
But for now, send a
light and restful sleep upon my eyes
So that the voice
of praise may not be silenced long;
For as the angels
take up that song,
Your work is never
stilled.
Now let this
reverent time of repose
Be also a scrutiny
of soul before you,
So that the night
may not reproach us
With defilements of
the day,
And that the
follies of the dark
Should not affright
our dreams.
But let the mind,
freed of the body,
Still speak with
you, O God;
The Father, Son,
and Holy Spirit;
To whom be glory,
honour and might
To the ages of
ages. Amin.
St. Gregory of
Nazianzus.
Hymn 1.1.32. PG 37.
511-514
Tr. J.A. McGuckin.
II
Word of God, and
Truth itself,
I consecrated this
day to you;
But I have played
you false.
Night now falls
upon me
And finds my own
lamp barely bright.
This I prayed over,
and foresaw,
But even so my feet
still stumbled,
And so darkness
fell around me,
That hater of
salvation.
Oh, my Christ !
Rekindle my little
lamp,
And shine on me
once more.
Hymn 2.1.25. PG 37.
1285
Tr. J.A. McGuckin
CONVERSATION