Early Christian Music:Greek

Ignatius of Antioch:Letter to Polycarp 3:2

• There is only one physician,• Of flesh, yet spiritual,• Born yet unbegotten,• God incarnate,• Genuine life in the midst of death,• Sprung from Mary as well as from God,• First subject to suffering, then beyond it,• Jesus Christ, our Lord.

• Be on the alert for Him who is above time,

• The Timeless, the Unseen,

• The One who became visible for our sakes,

• Who was beyond touch and passion,

• Yet who for our sakes became subject to suffering,

• And endured everything for us.

Melito of Sardis:Fragment 13 On the Pasch

• Such is he who made heaven and earth,• who in the beginning fashioned man,• who was foretold by the Law and the prophets,• who took flesh in the Virgin,

• who was hanged on the tree,• who was buried in the earth,• who was awakened from among the dead,• who ascended to the heights of heaven,

• who sits at the Father’s right hand,• who has power to judge and save all men,• through whom the Father created all things• from the beginning to eternity!

• He is the Alpha and the Omega,• he is the beginning and the end,• beginning that cannot be expressed,• and end that is beyond our understanding!

• He is the Christ,• he is the King,• he is Jesus,• the leader and the Lord!

• He is risen from among the dead,• he sits at the Father’s right hand,• he possesses the Father and is possessed by the

Father.• To him be glory and power forever!

• Amen.

Clement of Alexandria(c. 150-215 CE)

“Bridle-bit of colts untamed,• Thou Wing of birds not straying;• Firm Rudder of our ships at sea,• Thou Shepherd of God’s regal sheep.• Thy simple children• Gather round Thee.• They would sing holily,• They would hymn truthfully,• With lips never stained,• To Thee, O Christ, their Guide.

• O Thou King of saints,

• Word of Father on high,

• Thou Governor of all things,

• Ruling ever wisely,

• Balm for all labors,

• Source of endless joy,

• Jesus, Holy Savior

• Of men who cry to Thee:

• Thou Shepherd, Thou Husbandman,• Thou Rudder, Thou Bridle-bit,• O Wing, heaven leading• The flock of innocence;• Fisher of men• Drawn safely in• From ocean of sin;• Snaring to spotless life• Fish unstained by• Sea of hostile foe;

• O all-hallowed Shepherd,• Guide us, Thy children,• Guide Thy sheep safely, O King!

• The footsteps of Christ• Are pathway to heaven,• Of ages unbounded,• Everlasting Word,• Light of eternity,• Well-spring of Mercy,

• Who virtue instills

• In hearts offering God

• The gift of their reverence,

• O Jesus, our Christ!

• Milk of the bride,

• Given of heaven,

• Pressed from sweet breasts –

• Gifts of thy wisdom –

• These Thy little ones

• Draw for their nourishment;

• With infancy’s lips

• Filling their souls

• With spiritual savor

• From breasts of the Word.

• Let us all sing

• To Christ, our King,

• Songs of sweet innocence,

• Hymns of bright purity,

• Hallowed gratefulness

• For teachings of life;

• Let us praise gladsomely

• So mighty a Child.

• Let us, born of Christ,

• Chant out in unison,

• Loud chorus of peace,

• We, undefiled, pure flock,

• To God, Lord of peace.”

• Paidagogos [Christ the Tutor] 3, 12, 101

Greek Acts of Thomas 135

• This is the baptism of the remission of sins;• This is the bringer-forth of new men;• This is the restorer of understandings,• and the mingler of soul and body,• and the establisher of new man in the

Trinity• and which becomes a participation in

the remission of sins.

Glory to you, (you) hidden power of baptism!• Glory to you, (you) hidden power that

communicates with us in baptism!• Glory to you, (you) power that are visible in

baptism!• Glory to you, (you) new creatures who are

renewed through baptism • who draw near to it in love!•  • Glory to you, (you) beloved Fruit!• Glory to you, (you) name of the Messiah!• Glory to you, (you) hidden power that dwells in

the Messiah!

Greek Acts of Thomas 158

• Your holy body that was crucified for our sake, we eat,

• And your life-giving blood that was shed for our sake, we drink.

• Let your body be to us for life• And your blood for the remission of sins.• For the gall which you drank for us,• Let the bitterness of our enemy be taken away

from us.

• And for your drinking vinegar for our sake,• Let our weakness be strengthened.• And (for) the spit that you received for us,• Let us receive your perfect life.• And because you received the crown of thorns for

us,• Let us receive the crown that does not wither.• And because you were wrapped in a linen cloth

for us,• Let us be girt with your mighty strength that

cannot be overcome.

• And because you were buried in a new sepulcher for our mortality,

• Let us too receive intercourse with you in heaven.

• And as you arose, let us be raised,

• And let us stand before you at the judgment of truth.

Apostolic Constitutions VII, 39:Evening Meal Prayer

• Thou art blessed, O Lord, who nourishest me from my youth,

• Who givest food to all flesh.• Fill our hearts with joy and gladness• That at all times, having all sufficiency,• We may abound to every good work• In Christ Jesus our Lord:• With whom to thee (be) glory, honor, and might,• Forever and ever. Amen.

Apostolic Constitutions VII, 47:Morning Hymn

• Glory in the highest of God,• And on earth peace,• Among men well-pleasedness!• We praise thee,• We bless thee,• We worship thee,• We glorify thee,• We thank thee,• Because of thy almighty glory.

• O Lord, heavenly King,• O God, Father Almighty,• O Lord, only begotten Son,• Jesus Christ,• And Holy Spirit!• O Lord God,• O Lamb of God,• O Son of the Father,• Who takest away the sins of the world,• Pity us!• Who takest away the sins of the world,• Receive this prayer of ours!

• Who sittest at the right hand of the Father,

• Pity us!

• For thou only art holy,

• Thou only art Lord,

• Jesus Christ,

• To the glory of the Father! Amen.

Apostolic Constitutions VII, 48:Night Hymn

• Praise the Lord, O ye his servants,• Praise the name of the Lord;• We praise thee, we hymn thee, we bless thee• For thy great glory.• O Lord the King, the Father of Christ, the Lamb

without blemish,• Who taketh away the sin of the world,• To thee belongeth praise, to thee belongeth the

hymn, to thee belongeth glory,• The Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.• Throughout all ages. Amen.

• Now lettest thou thy servant depart, O Lord,

• According to thy word, in peace:

• For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

• Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people,

• A light to lighten the Gentiles, and (to be) the glory of thy people Israel.

Phos hilaron

• Joyous light of the holy glory• Of the immortal Father,• [Who is] heavenly, holy, blessed:• Jesus Christ!

• Having come to the setting of the sun,• Seeing the evening light,• We praise the Father and the Son• And the Holy Spirit of God.

• It is right that at all times You

• Be praised with holy sounds,

• O Son of God, Giver of life,

• Therefore the world glorifies you.