Scripture Verse

God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5

Introduction

portrait
Gregory of Nazianzus
325–390

Words: Gre­go­ry of Na­zi­an­zus (325–390) (Ατερ αρχης τον απεραντον, a cen­to from Σε τον αφθ­ιτον μοναρχην). Trans­lat­ed from Greek to Eng­lish by John Brown­lie, Hymns of the Greek Church, 1900.

Music: Wa­ver­ton Ro­bert Jack­son, 1876 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Robert Jackson
1840–1914

Lyrics

O light that knew no dawn,
That shines to endless day,
All things in earth and Heav’n
Are lustered by Thy ray;
No eye can to Thy throne ascend,
Nor mind Thy brightness comprehend.

Thy grace, O Father, give,
That I might serve in fear;
Above all boons, I pray,
Grant me Thy voice to hear;
From sin Thy child in mercy free,
And let me dwell in light with Thee.

That, cleansed from stain of sin,
I may meet homage give;
And pure in heart, behold
Thy beauty while I live;
Clean hands in holy worship raise,
And Thee, O Christ my Savior, praise.

In supplication meek
To Thee I bend the knee;
O Christ, when Thou shalt come,
In love remember me,
And in Thy kingdom, by Thy grace,
Grant me a humble servant’s place.

Thy grace, O Father, give,
I humbly Thee implore;
And let Thy mercy bless
Thy servant more and more.
All grace and glory be to Thee,
From age to age eternally.