St. Joseph the Hymnographer

St. Joseph the Hymnographer
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Short Name: St. Joseph the Hymnographer
Full Name: Joseph the Hymnographer, Saint, ca. 810-ca.886
Birth Year: 810
Death Year: 886

Joseph, St., the Hymnographer. A native of Sicily, and of the Sicilian school of poets is called by Dr. Neale (in his Hymns of the Eastern Church), Joseph of the Studium, in error. He left Sicily in 830 for a monastic life at Thessalonica. Thence he went to Constantinople; but left it, during the Iconoclastic persecution, for Rome. He was for many years a slave in Crete, having been captured by pirates. After regaining his liberty, he returned to Constantinople. He established there a monastery, in connection with the Church of St. John Chrysostom, which was filled with inmates by his eloquence. He was banished to the Chersonese for defence of the Icons, but was recalled by the empress Theodora, and made Sceuophylax (keeper of the sacred vessels) in the Great Church of Constantinople, through the favour of the patriarch Ignatius. He stood high also in the favour of Photius, the rival and successor of Ignatius, and accompanied him into banishment. He died at an advanced age in 883. He is commemorated in the Calendars of the Greek Church on April 3rd. He is the most voluminous of the Greek hymnwriters. There are more than two hundred Canons under the acrostic of his name, in the Menaea. Cardinal Pitra says he is reported to have composed a thousand. There is some difficulty in distinguishing his works from those of the brother of Theodore of the Studium, Joseph of Thessalonica. This latter poet, and not the more celebrated Joseph the Hymnographer, was named Joseph of the Studium. [Rev. H. Leigh Bennett, M.A.]

-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

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Wikipedia Biography

Saint Joseph the Hymnographer (Greek: Όσιος Ιωσήφ ο Υμνογράφος) was a Greek monk of the ninth century. He is one of the greatest liturgical poets and hymnographers of the Eastern Orthodox Church. He is also known for his confession of the Orthodox Faith in opposition to Iconoclasm. As a poet he is often confused with Joseph, the Archbishop of Thessalonica and brother of Theodore the Studite, who were one generation older than he was, so that in many cases, attribution of specific hymns to him is uncertain.

Texts by St. Joseph the Hymnographer (16)sort ascendingAsAuthority LanguagesInstances
Wafting Him Up on HighJoseph the Hymnographer (Author)English1
The things of the earth in the earth let us layJoseph the Hymnographer (Author)English5
Stars of the morning, so gloriously brightJoseph the Hymnographer (Author)English38
Safe home, safe home in portSt. Joseph the Hymnographer (Author)English5
Of Twofold Natures, Christ, the GiverJoseph the Hymnographer (Author)English1
O happy band of pilgrimsJoseph the Hymnographer (Author)English28
Let us now our voices raiseJoseph the Hymnographer (Author)English8
Let the saints new anthems raiseSt. Joseph the Hymnographer (Author)English4
Let our Choir new anthems raiseJoseph the Hymnographer (Author)English31
Jesus, Lord of Life EternalJoseph the Hymnographer (Author)English7
Holy Gift, Surpassing ComprehensionJoseph the Hymnographer (Author)English1
Exalt, Exalt, the Heavenly GatesJoseph the Hymnographer (Author)English2
Christians, come, new anthems raiseJoseph the Hymnographer (Author)2
And wilt Thou pardon, LordJoseph the Hymnographer (Author)English4
And wilt Thou hear, O LordJoseph the Hymnographer (Author)English4
After three day Thou didst riseJoseph the Hymnographer (Author)English1

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