A hymn is a song used in Christian worship sung by large congregations in a church service. The word hymn comes from the Greek word hymnos which means “song of praise”.  The earliest fully preserved text of a hymn is the Greek song “Phos hilarion”. Written in the second century, its title means “Go, Gladsome Light”.  It is known as the ‘lamp-lighting hymn’ because it was chanted during Vespers as oil lamps were lit. You can listen to this hymn here:

According to Saint Basil the Great it was “one of our oldest and most beloved hymns.” It focuses on Jesus as the ‘light gladsome’ and the ‘holy glory of the Immortal Father’. As worshippers lit the lamps during their service, they sang about the ‘setting of the sun’ as the time when they praise God with ‘joyful voices’ and praise the Son of God as the ‘Giver of Life, for which the world glorifies Thee’.

It’s link to the Easter Story is in its focus on ‘the setting of the sun’ and the light of the risen Christ. The setting of the sun is likened to Christ’s death and the light of the lamps that shine in the darkness is the reason for their song. You can read a verbatim translation here:

O Light gladsome of the holy glory of the Immortal Father,

the Heavenly, the Holy, the Blessed, O Jesus Christ,

having come upon the setting of the sun, having seen the light of the evening,

we praise the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit: God.

Worthy it is at all times to praise Thee in joyful voices,

O Son of God, Giver of Life, for which the world glorifies Thee.

 

This ancient hymn can be found in the Book of Common Prayer:

O gracious Light,
pure brightness of the everliving Father in heaven,
O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed!

Now as we come to the setting of the sun,
and our eyes behold the vesper light,
we sing thy praises, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Thou art worthy at all times to be praised by happy voices,
O Son of God, O Giver of life,
and to be glorified through all the worlds.

 

Many poets have translated or written their own version of this hymn. John Keble’s translation starts with ‘Hail, gladdening Light’::

Hail, gladdening Light, of His pure glory poured
Who is the immortal Father, heavenly, blest,
Holiest of Holies, Jesus Christ our Lord!

Now we are come to the sun’s hour of rest;
The lights of evening round us shine;
We hymn the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit divine!

Worthiest art Thou at all times to be sung
With undefiled tongue,
Son of our God, Giver of life, alone:
Therefore in all the world Thy glories, Lord, they own.

 

 William Storey’s translation opens with ‘O radiant light, O sun divine’:

O radiant light, O sun divine
Of God the Father’s deathless face,
O image of the light sublime
That fills the heav’nly dwelling place.

O Son of God, the source of life,
Praise is your due by night and day;
Our happy lips must raise the strain
Of your esteemed and splendid name.

Lord Jesus Christ, as daylight fades,
As shine the lights of eventide,
We praise the Father with the Son,
The Spirit blest and with them one.