Canon for Easter Day: Ode IV
ODE IV.
by S. John Damascene.
ἐπὶ τῆς θείας φυλακῆς.
Stand on thy watch-tower, Habakkuk the Seer,
And show the Angel, radiant in his light:
'To-day,' saith he, 'Salvation shall appear,
'Because the Lord hath ris’n, as God of Might.'
The male that opes the Virgin's womb is He;
The Lamb of Whom His faithful people eat;
Our truer Passover from blemish free;
Our very God, Whose name is all complete.
This yearling Lamb, our Sacrifice most blest,
Our glorious Crown, for all men freely dies:
Behold our Pascha, beauteous from His rest,
The healing Sun of Righteousness arise.
Before the ark, a type to pass away,
David of old time danced: we, holier race,
Seeing the Antitype come forth to-day,
Hail, with a shout, Christ's own Almighty grace.