Strengthen for service, Lord, the hands. [Holy Communion.] This, in The English Hymnal, 1906, is a metrical rendering of a prayer in the Malabar Liturgy (it is also in the Liturgy of the Nestorians; see F. E. Brightman's Liturgies Eastern and Western, 1896, p. 300) said by the Deacon while the people are communicating. It was versified by Mr. C. W. Humphreys (from the prose tr. in Dr. J. M. Neale's Liturgies of S. Mark, S. James, S. Clement, S. Chrysostom and the Church of Malabar, 1859, p. 156; Canon Brightman informs me that the Syriac text is in the Rome ed., 1844, of the Uniat Missal of Malabar, which is the old Nestorian rite of the Christians of St. Thomas, as modified in South India in 1599), contributed to The English Hymnal, and partly rewritten, with his consent, by Mr. Dearmer. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.]
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, New Supplement (1907)
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Ephraem Syrus. About A.D. 307 there was born at Nisibis, in northern Mesopotamia, Ephraem or Ephraim Syrus, the most celebrated father of the Syrian church, and famous not only as a theologian, but also as a poet and hymn-writer. Historians differ as to the details of his life; but it is known that having first been a pupil of James, bishop of Nisibis, he finished his education at Edessa, where for the rest of his days he chiefly resided. He visited Basil at Caesarea, in Cappadocia, and by him he was ordained to the office of deacon. He died at Edessa in June, 373. Ephraim was a most voluminous writer of commentaries, expository sermons, hymns, and metrical homilies. Metrical Homilies, first mentioned in connection with him,… Go to person page >
Dearmer, Percy, M.A., son of Thomas Dearmer, was born in London, Feb. 27, 1867, and educated at Westminster School and at Christ Church, Oxford (B.A. 1890, M.A. 1896). He was ordained D. 1891, P. 1892, and has been since 1901 Vicar of S. Mary the Virgin, Primrose Hill, London. He has been Secretary of the London Branch of the Christian Social Union since 1891, and is the author of The Parson's Handbook, 1st edition, 1899, and other works. He was one of the compilers of the English Hymnal, 1906, acting as Secretary and Editor, and contributed to it ten translations (38, 95, 150, 160, 165, 180, 215, 237, 352, 628) and portions of two others (242, 329), with the following originals:—
1. A brighter dawn is breaking. Easter. Suggested by… Go to person page >
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