Φως Ιλαρόν - Phos Hilaron

I came across the text of this hymn in my reading today. It is the oldest recorded hymn of the Christian Church (outside the Biblical text), dating to around 150 AD or perhaps even earlier, and the oldest song still in continual use--it is likely that the traditional Greek setting given in the recording above has been directly passed down from the ancient church.

Φῶς ἱλαρὸν ἁγίας δόξης ἀθανάτου Πατρός,
οὐρανίου, ἁγίου, μάκαρος, Ἰησοῦ Χριστέ,
ἐλθόντες ἐπὶ τὴν ἡλίου δύσιν, ἰδόντες φῶς ἑσπερινόν,
ὑμνοῦμεν Πατέρα, Υἱόν, καὶ ἅγιον Πνεῦμα, Θεόν.
Ἄξιόν σε ἐν πᾶσι καιροῖς ὑμνεῖσθαι φωναῖς αἰσίαις,
Υἱὲ Θεοῦ, ζωὴν ὁ διδούς· διὸ ὁ κόσμος σὲ δοξάζει.

Joyful light of the Holy Glory
Of the Father Everlasting,
Jesus Christ

Having come to the setting of the sun,
And seeing the evening light,
We praise the Father and the Son,
And the Holy Spirit of God.

It behooveth to praise Thee,
At all times with holy songs,
Son of God, who hast given life;
Therefore the world glorifieth Thee

Comfortably Numb

I've gone back and forth on whether to mention this, but I guess it's become noticeable that I've stopped writing about my feelings. The reason is because I haven't got any: I've been taking antidepressants.

I tried long and hard to avoid this. But in the end, I had to. I started to say that it was a choice between this and suicide, but really this is suicide.

"It is no good talking to hobbits about dragons: they either disbelieve you, or feel uncomfortable; and in either case tend to avoid you afterwards."

-- J.R.R. Tolkien

"For strength is made perfect in weakness, rendering him a better man who by means of his infirmity becomes acquainted with the power of God."

-- Irenaeus

"The word of truth is free, and carries its own authority, disdaining to fall under any skilful argument, or to endure the logical scrutiny of its hearers."

-- Justin Martyr

My daughter's biopsy is negative: no cancer. <phew>

Another prayer answered. Thank you.

Psalm 23 (Goodall) -- Choir of Wells Cathedral