Daily Reading for December 4 • John of Damascus, Priest, c. 760
Thou New Jerusalem, arise and shine!
The glory of the Lord on thee hath risen!
Sion, exult! rejoice with joy divine,
Mother of God! Thy Son hath burst His prison!
O heavenly Voice! O word of purest love!
‘Lo! I am with you alway to the end!’
This is the anchor, steadfast from above,
The golden anchor, whence our hopes depend.
O Christ, our Pascha! greatest, holiest, best!
God’s Word and Wisdom and effectual Might!
Thy fuller, lovelier presence manifest,
In that eternal realm, that knows no night!
From Ode 9 of the Canon for Easter Day (“Golden Compass”) of John of Damascus. Found at http://www.ccel.org/ccel/neale/easternhymns.johndmsc.html