When Christ's Appearing Was Made Known

Representative Text

1 When Christ’s appearing was made known,
King Herod trembled for his throne;
but he who offers heavenly birth
sought not the kingdom of this earth.

2 The eastern sages saw from far
and followed on his guiding star;
by light their way to Light they trod,
and by their gifts confessed their God.

3 Within the Jordan’s sacred flood
the heavenly Lamb in meekness stood,
that he, to whom no sin was known,
might cleanse his people from their own.

4 And O what a miracle divine,
when water reddened into wine!
He spake the word, and forth it flowed
in streams that nature ne’er bestowed.

5 All glory, Jesus, be to thee
for this thy glad Epiphany:
whom with the Father we adore
and Holy Ghost forevermore.

Source: Common Praise (1998) #163

Translator: J. M. Neale

John M. Neale's life is a study in contrasts: born into an evangelical home, he had sympathies toward Rome; in perpetual ill health, he was incredibly productive; of scholarly tem­perament, he devoted much time to improving social conditions in his area; often ignored or despised by his contemporaries, he is lauded today for his contributions to the church and hymnody. Neale's gifts came to expression early–he won the Seatonian prize for religious poetry eleven times while a student at Trinity College, Cambridge, England. He was ordained in the Church of England in 1842, but ill health and his strong support of the Oxford Movement kept him from ordinary parish ministry. So Neale spent the years between 1846 and 1866 as a warden of Sackvi… Go to person page >

Author: Coelius Sedulius

Sedulius, Coelius. The known facts concerning this poet, as contained in his two letters to Macedonius, are, that in early life, he devoted himself to heathen literature; that comparatively late in life he was converted to Christianity; and that amongst his friends were Gallieanus and Perpetua. The place of his birth is generally believed to have been Rome; and the date when he flourished 450. For this date the evidence is, that he referred to the Commentaries of Jerome, who died 420; is praised by Cassiodorus, who d. 575, and by Gelasius, who was pope from 492 to 496. His works were collected, after his death, by Asterius, who was consul in 494. They are (1) Carmen Paschale, a poem which treats of the whole Gospel story; (2) Opus Paschale,… Go to person page >

Timeline

Media

The Cyber Hymnal #7356
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Instances

Instances (1 - 8 of 8)
TextPage Scan

Common Praise (1998) #163

Credo Hymnal #154

Hymnal #217

Text

Lutheran Worship #81

Page Scan

Our Great Redeemer's Praise #210

TextScoreAudio

The Cyber Hymnal #7356

The Hymnal 1982 #131

The Hymnal 1982 #132

Include 3 pre-1979 instances
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