Let us now fall down before Him.

II

Men with erring sinners found Thee,
Found the only sinless One;
And upon a Cross they bound Thee,
For the good that Thou hadst done;
Come, upon the Cross adore Him,
Let us now fall down before Him.

III

We have heard the wondrous story
Of the Resurrection day,--
Christ our God, to Him be glory,
For He casts death's bands away.
Let us worship and adore Him,
Come and let us fall before Him.

IV

Come, ye faithful, come with gladness,
To your God thanksgiving pay;
For the Cross was shorn of sadness
On the Resurrection day.
Let us worship and adore Him,
Come and let us bow before Him.

{ei kai en tapho katelthes athanate}

({kontakion, Echos pl. d1})

By St. John of Damascus, 780 A.D.

I

When, O King Immortal,
Thou didst seek the gloom,
Tasting death in meekness,
Resting in the tomb--
On that dark and woful day,
Hades owned Thy kingly sway.

II

Victor! now we hail Thee,
Hail Thee Christ our God;
Thou hast burst the barrier
Of Thy dark abode;
On that glad and glorious day,
Hades owned Thy kingly sway.

III

They who bore the spices
In the early hour,
Heard the salutation
Of the Lord of power,
And His followers, sore and sad,
Found the peace that made them glad.

IV

Hail the King Immortal!
Death by death is slain,
And the weak and fallen
Rise to life again;
On this glad and glorious day
Hades owns the Victor's sway.

{Idou ho Nymphios erchetai en to meso tes nyktos}

({troparia})

I

Behold the Bridegroom cometh
At the hour of midnight drear,
And blest be he who watcheth
When his Master shall appear,
But woe betide the careless one
Asleep when He is near!

II

O soul of mine, bestir thee
Lest thou sink in slumber quite,
And the Bride