Idiomela of S. John the Monk

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What joy of life abideth

Translator: John Brownlie
Published in 1 hymnal

Representative Text

What joy of life abideth,
Without the smart of woe?
What glory lingers fadeless
Upon our world below?

All is a fleeting shadow,
And all a fitful gleam,
For death with cruel swiftness,
Dissolves the illusive dream.

O Christ a light unfailing,
A beauty lasting, rare,
Shines in Thy face to charm us,
And cheer us everywhere.

Where Thou art aye abiding,
Where we that light may see,
Grant us, O Christ our Saviour,
For evermore to be.

Hymns of the Holy Eastern Church, 1902

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Translator: John Brownlie

Brownlie, John, was born at Glasgow, Aug. 6, 1857, and was educated at Glasgow University, and at the Free Church College in the same city. In 1884 he was licensed by the Presbytery of Glasgow; in 1885 he became Assistant Minister of the Free Church, Portpatrick, and on the death of the Senior Minister in 1890 he entered upon the full charge of the Church there. He has interested himself in educational matters, became a Member of the local School Board in 1888, a governor of Stranraer High School in 1897, and Chairman of the governors in 1901. His hymnological works are:— 1. The Hymns and Hymnwriters of the [Scottish] Church Hymnary, 1899. This is a biographical, historical, and critical companion to that hymnal, and is well done and… Go to person page >

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Text Information

Text Information

First Line:	What joy of life abideth
Title:	Idiomela of S. John the Monk
Greek Title:	ποία τοῦ βίου τρυφὴ διαμένει λύπης ἀμέτοχος;
Translator:	John Brownlie
Meter:	7.6.7.6
Source:	Euchologion, p. 413
Language:	English
Publication Date:	1902
Copyright:	This text is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before 1929.