Hymns of the Eastern Church

Wafting Him up on high,

The glorious cloud receives

The LORD of Immortality,

And earth the Victor leaves:

The Heavenly People raise the strain,

The Apostles pour the hymn again;—

GOD of our Fathers, Thou art blest

Ye faithful, tell your joys!

All hearts with gladness bound!

GOD is gone up with a merry noise,—

The LORD with the trumpet’s sound!

To Him we cry, by woes once tried,

Now glorious at the FATHER’s side,—

GOD of our Fathers, Thou art blest!

Zealous for GOD of yore,

With zeal still Moses burns:

“Come, Heavenly Spirits, and adore

The Victor Who returns;

Rise, Angel legions, rise and sing

The ancient hymn to greet the King,—

GOD of our Fathers, Thou art blest!”

Joined with the trumpet-peal, the din and shout,

Cornet flute, sackbut, dulcimer rang out,

And bade adore the golden deity:

The SPIRIT’s gentler voice gives praise to Thee,

O co-eternal One—O consubstantial Three!