from death my soul defending,
Thou didst sojourn with the dead,
That Thou mightst, my fetters rending,
Raise me up, Thou Glorious Head!

V

Shame be on your heads abiding,
Disobedient people now,
Who to death, and vile deriding,
Caused the Word of God to bow!
Shame! for death, nor powers infernal,
Nor the dark of hades' gloom,
Could retain the King Eternal
In the bondage of the tomb.

{Deute kai mimesometha en te parouse heorte.}

Another rendering from the Greek of Bishop Nektarios. The original is on
page 68 of his collection, where it is entitled, {Hymnos eis ten baptisin
tou kyriou hemon Iesou Christou}. The hymn is obviously based on the
troparian and contakion for the Feast of the Theophany, or Epiphany
(January 6), and the contakion for the Feast of St. John Baptist (January
7). The latter contakion reads thus:--

"At Thy bodily presence Jordan was driven back in fear; John shook with
trembling as he fulfilled his prophetic ministry; the host of angels were
amazed at seeing the Baptized in the flesh, and all that were in the dark
shades [of hades] received light, and praised Thee Who hast appeared, and
hast lightened everything." (Menaeon, Venice edition, page 81.)

I

Come, keep this Feast, who holy things revere,
And with pure minds, your Lord adore with fear.

II

Lo, to the Jordan on this sacred day,
The Bridegroom from His chamber took His way.

III

Jordan affrighted, on its course was stayed;
The Baptist heard His voice and was dismayed.

IV

"How can I hold that sacred Head of Thine,
O Word of God, Immortal, and Divine?"

V

Then, from the Father, in the heaven above,
The Holy Ghost descended as a Dove.

VI

While on the Christ the dove-like form abode,
And Jordan's parted waters o'er Him flowed.

VII

"This is my Son," the Father spake from heaven,
"Who, for the lost of Adam's race was given."

VIII

Illumine us, we sing, O Christ the Lord,
Glory to Thee, O Thou Incarnate Word!

_BY THE SAME AUTHOR. Crown