Dec 22
A forgotten Christmas hymn?
The popularity of a limited range of carols has, even in churches where traditional hymns are appreciated, pushed out some of the older hymnody. Some such forgotten hymns are often rather richer in theology than those that have displaced them. Here’s one I have always rather liked, and often use in personal prayer.
A great and mighty wonder,
a full and holy cure!
The virgin bears the infant
with virgin-honour pure:Repeat the hymn again!
“To God on high be glory,
and peace on earth shall reign.”The word becomes incarnate,
and yet remains on high!
And cherubim sing anthems
to shepherds from the sky.While thus they sing your monarch,
those bright angelic bands,
rejoice, you vales and mountains,
you oceans clap your hands.Since all he comes to ransom,
by all be he adored,
the infant born in Bethl’em,
the Saviour and the Lord.
It’s by St Germanus, Patriarch of Constantinople in the 8th century. There is a final verse, not usually published in Anglican hymnals, which reflects disputes he was engaged in about the use of true images versus idols (and which led up to the iconoclast controversies).
And idol forms shall perish,
and error shall decay,
And Christ shall wield His sceptre,
our Lord and God for aye.
This hymn is usually sung to the tune “Es ist ein Ros entsprungen.”