Here is one of the earliest Christian hymns we still possess, perhaps the very earliest. English poet Robert Bridges happily rendered the Greek as "O Gladsome Light."
You wrote, "One thing you’ll notice about pretty much any hymn written before 1000, if not 1500: it’s likely to focus entirely on God, not on the feelings of the singer. " I agree with this 100%.
This is a beautiful hymn. Anglicans recite the Phos Hilaron during evening prayer. I also appreciated what you said about the focus of hymns in the early church being God, not our own feelings.
You wrote, "One thing you’ll notice about pretty much any hymn written before 1000, if not 1500: it’s likely to focus entirely on God, not on the feelings of the singer. " I agree with this 100%.
‘…light, the first of creation, “offspring of Heaven first-born.”’
That line shines!
Hauntingly beautiful...the words, and music, and story.
This is a beautiful hymn. Anglicans recite the Phos Hilaron during evening prayer. I also appreciated what you said about the focus of hymns in the early church being God, not our own feelings.
This hymn is sung or recited as part of vespers in the Ordinariate’s Divine Office book!