106. Come, ye faithful, raise the strain

1 Come, ye faithful, raise the strain
Of triumphant gladness;
God hath brought His Israel
Into joy from sadness;
Loosed from Pharoah's bitter yoke
Jacob's sons and daughters;
Led them with unmoistened foot
Through the Red Sea waters.

2 'Tis the spring of souls to-day:
Christ hath burst His prison,
And from three days' sleep in death
As a sun hath risen;
All the winter of our sins,
Long and dark, is flying
From his light, to whom we give
Laud and praise undying.

3 Now the queen of seasons, bright
With the day of splendour,
With the royal feast of feasts,
Comes its joy to render;
Comes to glad Jerusalem,
Who with true affection
Welcomes in unwearied strains
Jesu's Resurrection.

4 Neither might the gates of death,
Nor the tomb's dark portal,
Nor the watchers, nor the seal,
Hold thee as a mortal;
But today amidst thine own
Thou didst stand, bestowing
That thy peace which evermore
Passeth human knowing.

Text Information
First Line: Come, ye faithful, raise the strain
Author: St John of Damascus, c. 750
Translator: J. M. Neale, 1818-66 (alt.)
Meter: 76 76 D
Language: English
Publication Date: 1986
Topic: The Christian Year: Eastertide
Source: Greek
Notes: Alternative tune ST JOHN DAMASCENE 219
Tune Information
Name: AVE VIRGO VIRGINUM
Meter: 76 76 D
Key: G Major
Source: Traditional melody; Arr.: Leisentritt's Catholicum Hymnologium Germanicum, Cologne, 1584



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