John Brownlie (trans.) · 24 of 89

Cathismata of the Resurrection

I Gone is the glowing orb of day, The hues of sunset fade away, And all the world is still; The starlight sparkles to the sight, As fall the curtains of the night On every vale and hill.

II O God, 'twas night when, all too soon, The dark eclipsed the light at noon; And men, convulsed with dread, The Cross upon the hill descried On which the God-man groaned and died, With shame upon His head.

III And night prevailed with dismal gloom While, 'prisoned in the awful tomb, The Christ in stillness lay: But every night a morn precedes, And darkness into brightness leads,— And dawned the glorious day.

IV O God, in mercy, grant that we The Resurrection light may see When death's still night is past; And to the risen Christ arise, While morning fills th' eternal skies With glory that shall last.

V Gone is the glowing orb of day, The hues of sunset fade away, And dark the night descends; O God, Thy servants guard, we pray, Till morn awakes another day, And till life's journey ends.