
Stars of the morning, so gloriously bright,
Filled with celestial resplendence and light;
These that, where night never followeth day,
Raise the Trishagion ever and aye:
These are Thy counsellors: these dost Thou own,
GOD of Sabaoth! the nearest Thy throne;
These are Thy ministers; these dost Thou send,
Help of the helpless ones! man to defend.
p class="t0">These keep the guard, amidst Salem’s dear bowers:
Thrones, Principalities, Virtues, and Powers:
Where with the Living Ones, mystical Four,
Cherubin, Seraphin, bow and adore.
“Who like the LORD?”—thunders Michael, the Chief:
Raphael, “the Cure of GOD,” comforteth grief:
And, as at Nazareth, prophet of peace,
Gabriel, “the Light of GOD,” bringeth release.
Then, when the earth was first poised in mid-space,—
Then, when the planets first sped on their race,—
Then, when were ended the six days’ employ,—
Then all the sons of GOD shouted for joy.
Still let them succour us; still let them fight,
LORD of angelic hosts, battling for right!
Till, where their anthems they ceaselessly pour,
We with the Angels may bow and adore!
Hymns of the Eastern Church, 1866
First Line: | Stars of the morning, so gloriously bright |
Title: | Stars of the mormimg, so gloriously bright |
Greek Title: | Φωστήρες τής άϋλον ούσίς |
Author: | St. Joseph the Hymnographer |
Translator: | J. M. Neale |
Meter: | 10 S. |
Language: | English |
Copyright: | Public Domain |
Stars of the morning, so gloriously bright. St. Joseph the Hymnographer. [St. Michael & All Angels.] In the Paracletic there are several Canons of the Bodiless Ones, and all are of an ornate character. In Dr. Neale's Hymns of the Eastern Church, 1862, these stanzas appeared with the following title and note:—“Stars of the Morning. A cento from the Canon of the 'Bodiless Ones.' Tuesday in the Week of the Fourth Tone." 'In omitting the opening line of the Greek, Dr. Neale, doubtless, intended it to be understood, that he had followed the spirit rather than the letter of the original. In fact, there is no attempt to reproduce the sequence of thought as set forth in the Canon, although the ornate character of the original is imitated. Since the adoption of Dr. Neale's translation for congregational use, in H. J. Palmer's Supplemental Hymnal, 1866, the People's, 1867, Hymns Ancient & Modern, 1868, and others, it has become most popular, and is found in a large number of hymnbooks. The texts in use, however, vary considerably. Dr. Neale's authorized text is in the third edition of the Hymns of the Eastern Church, 1866. The original Greek Canon is found in modern editions of the Octoechus.
-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)