God is Gone Up

Categories: orthodox-life, hymns, feast-days

Date: 16 May 2007 21:23:18

One of my favourite choral works, composed by Finzi with words by Edward Taylor (it will be playing on my car CD player to and from work today, it being the The Feast of the Ascension of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ): you can listen to the first minute or so here.

God is gone up with a triumphant shout,
The Lord with sounding trumpets' melodies.
Sing praise, sing praise, sing praises out,
Unto our King sing praise seraphic-wise!
Lift up your heads, ye lasting doors, they sing,
And let the King of Glory enter in.

Methinks I see Heaven's sparkling courtiers fly,
In flakes of Glory down him to attend,
And hear heart-cramping notes of melody
Surround his chariot as it did ascend;
Mixing their music, making ev'ry string
More to enravish as they this tune sing.

God is gone up...

In addition, as I've noted for the past two weeks in particular, today is also the day, God willing, in under 12 hours, that The Act of Canonical Communion between Moscow and ROCOR will be signed, and where these jurisdictions will enter into full communion with each other. It truly is a joyous day, a day of unity, and of great blessing. I unfortunately can't watch the various proceedings live, being at work (and rather busy), so I'll have to watch it later, but, if the time suits, you can watch it live here. Michael has been a wonderful source of information, and prayer, as this day approaches: I commend his blog to you for further information.

A blessed Feast Day of the Ascension of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to all, and prayers in particular for the clergy and people meeting in Moscow, and for all Orthodox people, particularly those in Moscow and ROCOR.