Canon for Easter Day: Ode VII
ODE VII.
by S. John Damascene.
Ὁ παῖδας ἐκ καμίνου.
Who from the fiery furnace saved the Three,
Suffers as mortal; that, His Passion o’er,
This mortal, triumphing o’er death, might be
Vested with immortality once more:
He Whom our fathers still confest
God over all, for ever blest.
The women with their ointment seek the Tomb:
And Whom they mourned as dead, with many a tear,
They worship now, joy dawning on their gloom,
As Living God, as mystic Passover;
Then to the Lord's Disciples gave
The tidings of the vanquished grave.
We keep the festal of the death of death;
Of hell o’erthrown: the first-fruits pure and bright,
Of life eternal; and with joyous breath
Praise Him that won the victory by His might:
Him Whom our fathers still confest
God over all, for ever blest.
All hallowed festival, in splendour born!
Night of salvation and of glory! Night
Fore-heralding the Resurrection morn!
When from the tomb the everlasting Light,
A glorious frame once more his own,
Upon the world in splendour shone.