The following is a close rendering of a hymn to Christ The Word, taken from a collection of hymns to The Three One God, by Bishop Nektarios, Metropolitan of Pentapolis (vide [80]Introduction, page xxi). The hymn, which is in anapaests, is at page 10 of the author's collection, where it bears the title, Ode eis ton kurion hemon Iesoun Christon. The volume was published at Athens, 1909, and is one of many similar collections written by hymn-writers in the communion of the Greek Church.

Bishop Nektarios, 1909

tr., John Brownlie

8,7,8,7 D

I

Christ The Word! Thine Incarnation

Links my nature to Thine own;

By Thy sore Humiliation,

I am lifted to Thy throne;

By Thy suffering Thou hast fired me

With a zeal to sacrifice,

And to noble life inspired me, --

Hence my grateful songs arise.

II

Word of God! Thy Crucifixion

Hath upraised me from the earth;

By Thy death and dereliction,

Thou hast given me nobler birth;

By Thy Resurrection glorious,

Life immortal now I own, --

Hence ascend my songs victorious

To Thy praise, O Christ the Son.

III

By Thy hand at the creation,

Thou didst form me from the ground,

And, to mark my kingly station,

With Thine image I was crowned;

And that hand, when pierced and bleeding,

Raised me from corruption's mire,

And, though all this love unheeding,

Decked me with divine attire.

IV

Thou who gav'st my soul its being,

Breathing in me life divine,

Didst, by Thine all-wise decreeing,

Unto death Thy life resign;

And from death my soul defending,

Thou didst sojourn with the dead,

That Thou mightst, my fetters rending,

Raise me up, Thou Glorious Head!

V

Shame be on your heads abiding,

Disobedient people now,

Who to death, and vile deriding,

Caused the Word of God to bow!

Shame! for death, nor powers infernal,

Nor the dark of hades' gloom,

Could retain the King Eternal

In the bondage of the tomb.