Above:  Icon of the Resurrection

Image in the Public Domain

Original Greek Text (700s) by St. John of Damascus

English Translation from Hymns of the Eastern Church (1862), by John Mason Neale (1818-1866)

Hymn Source = The English Hymnal (1906), The Church of England

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Thou hallowed chosen morn of praise,

That best and greatest shinest:

Lady and queen and day of days,

Of things divine, divinest!

On thee our praises Christ adore

For ever and for evermore.

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Come, let us taste the Vine’s new fruit,

For heavenly joy preparing;

To-day the branches with the Root

In Resurrection sharing:

Whom as true God our hymns adore

For ever and for evermore.

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Rise, Sion, rise! and looking forth,

Behold thy children round thee!

From east and west, from south and north,

Thy scattered sons have found thee;

And in thy bosom Christ adore

For ever and for evermore.

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O Father, O co-equal Son,

O co-eternal Spirit,

In persons Three, in substance One,

And One in power and merit;

In thee baptized, we thee adore

For ever and for evermore.

Above:  Icon of the Resurrection

Image in the Public Domain

Original Greek Text (700s) by St. John of Damascus

English Translation from Christian Remembrances (1859), by John Mason Neale (1818-1866)

Hymn Source = The English Hymnal (1906), The Church of England

The reference to Christian Remembrances comes from William Gustave Polack, The Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal, Second Edition (1942).

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Come, ye faithful raise the strain

Of triumphant gladness;

God hath brought his Israel

Into joy from sadness;

Loosed from Pharaoh’s bitter yoke

Jacob’s sons and daughters;

Led them with unmoistened foot

Through the Red Sea waters.

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‘Tis the Spring of souls to-day;

Christ hath burst his prison,

And from three days’ sleep in death

As a Sun hath risen;

All the winter of our sins

Long and dark, is flying

From his Light, to whom we give

Laud and praise undying.

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Now the Queen of seasons, bright

With the Day of splendour,

With the royal Feast of feasts,

Comes its joy to render;

Comes to glad Jerusalem

Who with true affection

Welcomes in unwearied strains

Jesu’s Resurrection.

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Neither might the gates of death,

Nor the tomb’s dark portal,

Nor the watchers, nor the seal,

Hold thee as a mortal;

But to-day amidst the twelve

Thou didst stand, bestowing

That thy peace which evermore

Passeth human knowing.

Above:  Descent from the Cross

Image in the Public Domain

Hymn Source = The Pilgrim Hymnal (1904), National Council of Congregational Churches in the United States

Text (1893) by Theodore Claudius Pease (1853-1893)

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O Lord of life, once laid in Joseph’s tomb,

Around Thy grave the garden bursts in bloom,

Thy glory breaks the world’s long night of gloom.

Alleluia! Alleluia!

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Thou for us all didst hang upon the tree;

The burden of our sins was borne by Thee;

Thy stripes have healed, Thy sorrows set us free.

Alleluia! Alleluia!

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Now all is o’er,–Thy toil, Thy grief, Thy pain;

The veil of death by Thee is rent in twain;

Thine earthly loss is our eternal gain.

Alleluia! Alleluia!

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Henceforth, through hours of ease and days of care,

Help us with Thee our daily cross to bear,

Strong in Thy strength, and brave Thy cup to share.

Alleluia! Alleluia!

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When through dark vales our lonely pathway lies,

Though hearts may faint, and tears may dim our eyes,

Thy light shall guide our footsteps to the skies.

Alleluia! Alleluia!

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And when, at last, our work on earth is o’er,

Lead us where Thou hast trod the path before,

Through death to life with Thee forevermore!

Alleluia! Alleluia!

Above:  Icon of the Resurrection

Image in the Public Domain

Swedish Text (1536) by Olavus Petri (1493-1552)

English Translation (Before 1899) by George Henry Trabert (1843-1931)

Hymn Source = The Hymnal and Order of Service (1925), The Evangelical Lutheran Augustana Synod

Some hymnals contain a shortened and altered version of the hymn, listing it as “O Paschal Feast, What Joy is Thine.”

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Blest Easter Day, what joy is thine!

We praise, dear Lord, Thy Name divine,

For Thou hast triumphed o’er the tomb;

No more we need to dread its gloom.

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The tree where Thou was offered up

Now bears the fruit of life and hope:

Thy precious blood for us is shed,

Now we may feed on heavenly bread.

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We thank Thee, Jesus, that Thy hand

Has freed us from sin’s galling band;

No more its thralldom we need fear;

The year of liberty is here.

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O Jesus Christ, God’s Son elect,

Our Paschal Lamb without defect,

To us Thou givest strength indeed,

In all our conflicts, all our need.

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O grant, that as Thou didst arise,

We, too, with joy, may heavenward rise,

First from our sin, to love Thy way,

Then from the grave on that great Day.

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All praise to Thee who from death’s might,

From carnal lust and sin’s dark plight

Redeemest me, that even I

May reach eternal life on high.

Above:  Easter Vigil, St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church, Dunwoody, Georgia, April 5, 2015

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

Original German Text (1700) by Caspar Neumann (1648-1715)

English Translation (1921) by Anna Bernadine Dorothy Hoppe (1889-1941)

Hymn Source = The Selah Song Book for Worship and Devotion in Church, School, Home (1926), compiled by Adolf T. Hauser

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Jesus, Thou from death hast risen,

Stone and seal retain Thee not!

Thou hast burst Thy gloomy prison,

Full redemption Thou hast wrought!

Open and unseal my heart,

Enter in, and ne’er depart!

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Burst the rock of doubt asunder,

That no earthly strength can move!

When this all-transcendent wonder

Reason faileth to approve,

Grant me grace, O risen Lord,

To believe Thy holy Word!

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Let not unbelief beset me,

That, like Thomas, I should doubt!

Let no earthly trials fret me,

Cast all fear and sorrow out!

In all need, while here I plod,

O remain my Lord and God!

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Death and hell by Thee are conquered!

Let me share Thy victory!

And as Thou hast battled onward,

Savior, draw me unto Thee,

That, released from Satan’s might,

I may view my God in light.

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This is post #1650 of GATHERED PRAYERS.

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Above:  Resurrection of Christ and Women at the Tomb

Image in the Public Domain

German Text (1757) by Christian Furchtegott Gellert (1715-1769)

English Translation by Frances Elizabeth Cox (1812-1897) in Sacred Hymns from the German (1841)

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1.  Jesus lives! no longer now

Can thy terrors, Death, appal me;

Jesus lives! and this I know,

From the dead he will recall me;

Brighter scenes will then commence;

This shall be my confidence.

2.  Jesus lives! to Him the throne

Over all the world is given;

I shall go where He is gone,

Live and reign with Him in heaven:

God is pledged:  weak doubtings, hence!

This shall be my confidence.

3.  Jesus lives! who now despairs,

Christ and God’s own honour spurneth;

Grace his plighted word declares,

Towards each sinner that returneth;

God through Christ forgives offence;

This shall be my confidence.

4.  Jesus lives, who died for me;

Then, alone to Jesus living,

Pure in heart I’ll ever be,

‘Gainst temptation firmly striving:

God will be my sure defence;

This shall be my confidence.

5.  Jesus lives! I know full well,

Nought my heart from Him shall sever;

Life nor death, nor powers of hell,

Joy nor grief shall move me ever;

Freely God doth grace dispense;

This shall be my confidence.

6.  Jesus lives! henceforth is death

But the gate of life immortal;

This shall calm my trembling breath,

When I pass its gloomy portal:

“Lord,” I’ll cry, as fails each sense,

“Lord, Thou art my confidence!”

Above:  The Resurrection of Christ and the Women at the Tomb, by Fra Angelico

Image in the Public Domain

Hymn Source = New Baptist Hymnal (1926), Northern Baptist Convention and Southern Baptist Convention

Text (published in 1760) by Anne Steele (1716-1778)

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1.  He lives! the great Redeemer lives!

What joy the blest assurance gives!

And now, before his Father, God,

He pleads the merits of his blood,

He pleads the merits of his blood.

2.  Repeated crimes awake our fears,

And justice, armed with frowns appears;

But in the Saviour’s lovely face

Sweet mercy smiles, and all is peace,

Sweet mercy smiles, and all is peace.

3.  Away, ye dark, despairing thoughts;

Above our fears, above our faults,

His pow’rful intercessions rise;

And guilt recedes, and terror dies,

And guild recedes, and terror dies.

4.  Great Advocate, almighty Friend,

On thee our humble hopes depend;

Our cause can never, never fail,

For thou dost plead, and must prevail,

For thou dost plead, and must prevail.

Above:  Resurrection of Christ and the Women at the Tomb, by Fra Angelico

Image in the Public Domain

Hymn Sources = The Methodist Hymnal (1905), Methodist Episcopal Church and Methodist Episcopal Church, South; and Companion to the Hymnal (1970)

Words (1873) by William Josiah Irons (1812-1883)

I have restored the text to its original form.  Alterations of the text started as early as 1878, according the Companion to the Hymnal (1970), the companion volume to The Methodist Hymnal (1966).  The altered version appears in The Methodist Hymnal (1905), my main source for this post.  The altered version of the first stanza in The Methodist Hymnal (1905) changes the fifth through eighth lines to read:

All around the clouds are breaking,

Soon the storms of time shall cease,

In God’s likeness, man awaking,

Knows the everlasting peace.

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1.  Sing with all the sons of glory,

Sing the resurrection song!

Death and sorrow, earth’s dark story,

To the former days belong:

Even now the dawn is breaking,

Soon the night of time shall cease,

And in God’s own likeness, waking,

Man shall know eternal peace.

2.  O what glory, far exceeding

All that eye has yet perceived!

Holiest hearts for ages pleading,

Never that full joy conceived.

God has promised, Christ prepares it,

There on high our welcome waits;

Every humble spirit shares it,

Christ has passed the eternal gates.

3.  Life eternal! heaven rejoices,

Jesus lives who once was dead;

Join, O man, the deathless voices,

Child of God, lift up thy head!

Patriarchs from the distant ages,

Saints all longing for their heaven,

Prophets, psalmists, seers, and sages,

All await the glory given.

4.  Life eternal! O what wonders

Crowd on faith; what joy unknown,

When, amidst earth’s closing thunders,

Saints shall stand before that throne!

O to enter that bright portal,

See that glowing firmament,

Know, with thee, O God immortal,

“Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent!”

Above:  Easter Vigil, St. Martin in the Fields Episcopal Church, Atlanta, Georgia, March 31, 2013

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

(https://plus.google.com/photos/114749828757741527421/albums/5861636071859841105/5861631937773272002?banner=pwa&pid=5861631937773272002&oid=114749828757741527421)

Words (1931) by Percy Dearmer (1867-1936)

Hymn Source = The Methodist Hymnal (1935)

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1.  Life is good, for God contrives it,

Deep on deep its wonder lies;

Death is good, for man survives it,

Lives again in better guise:

This they knew the night they hailed Him,

When He came thro’ that which veiled Him,

Alleluia, Alleluia!

Smiling, wonderful, and wise.

2.  Failure cuts the way to triumph,

Winter shapes the leaves of spring;

Easter came because the Master

Loved the light of truth to bring.

Vainly priests in hatred slew Him;

He came back, His loved ones knew Him,

Alleluia, Alleluia!

Where, O death, is now thy sting?

3.  Lord, in Thee shines man’s perfection–

King and selfless, strong, and brave;

And Thy life and resurrection

Tells of joy beyond the grave.

All mankind is nobled thro’ Thee;

All are brothers coming to Thee,

Alleluia, Alleluia!

Thine the power to guide and save.

Above:  Easter Vigil, St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church, Atlanta, Georgia, March 31, 2013

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

(https://plus.google.com/photos/114749828757741527421/albums/5861968701435894753/5861971650597386290?banner=pwa&pid=5861971650597386290&oid=114749828757741527421)

Original text by Friedrich von Spee (1591-1635)

English translation by Percy Dearmer (1867-1936)

Hymn Source = The Hymnal 1982, of The Episcopal Church

“Hilariter” is Latin for “joyfully.”

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1.  The whole bright world rejoices now,

Hilariter, hilariter!

The birds do sin on every bough,

Alleulia, alleulia!

2.  Then shout beneath the racing skies,

Hilariter, hilariter!

To him who rose that we might rise,

Alleuluia, alleluia!

3.  And all you living things make praise,

Hilariter, hilariter!

He guideth you on all your ways,

Alleluia, alleluia!

4.  To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

Hilariter, hilariter!

Our God most high, our joy and boast,

Alleluia, alleluia!