LET US RISE IN EARLY MORNING

“Early in the morning, they came unto the sepulcher, bringing the spices which they had prepared.” Luke 24:1

John of Damascus (675-749)

Words: John of Da­mas­cus, 8th Cen­tu­ry (Ορθρίσωμεν όρθρου βαθέος); trans­lat­ed from Greek to Eng­lish by John M. Neale in Hymns of the East­ern Church.

Music: Cwm Rhondda, John Hughes, 1907 (MI­DI, score).

If you have ac­cess to a pho­to of John Hughes that we could put on­line, please click here.


John M. Neale (1818-1866)

Let us rise in early morning,
And, instead of ointments, bring
Hymns of praises to our Master,
And His Resurrection sing:
We shall see the Sun of Justice
Ris’n with healing on His wing,
Ris’n with healing on His wing.

Thy unbounded loving-kindness,
They that groaned in Hades’ chain,
Prisoners, from afar beholding,
Hasten to the light again
And to that eternal Pascha
Wove the dance and raised the strain,
Wove the dance and raised the strain.

Go ye forth, His saints, to meet Him!
Go with lamps in every hand!
From the sepulcher He riseth:
Ready for the Bridegroom stand:
And the Pascha of salvation
Hail, with His triumphant band,
Hail, with His triumphant band.