A hymn to the Virgin Mary, sung at the communion service of the Eastern churches.
This hymn is attributed to St John Damascene, a contemporary of St Bede. It is packed with Biblical allusions, all centred on the Christian belief that God entered into the womb of the virgin Mary and there became a human child.
An eighth-century hymn of the Greek Church, for Easter Day
This Easter hymn was composed by St John Damascene (676-749), a contemporary of St Bede. According to tradition, he held a hymn-writing contest with his adopted brother Cosmas, at the end of which Cosmas cheerfully pronounced John the winner.
A hymn for Holy Saturday by the eighth-century Syrian hymnographer St John Damascene.
St John Damascene was one of the Eastern churches’ greatest hymnographers, and like his English contemporary St Bede skilled not only in poetry but also in music and the sciences. This hymn draws on his extensive Biblical learning to reflect on dying and living with Christ for Holy Saturday, Easter Eve.