Phos Hilaron ( foss hill-a-ron ) "Gracious Blessed Gladdening Light", is one of the oldest known Christian hymns, and was sung in the catacombs in the Second Century. Saint Justin the Martyr cites the text of the hymn around 150 in his dialogue with Trypho. The "Lamp-lighting hymn" was described by Saint Basil around the year 365 as a hymn used centuries before him. Saint Athenogenes and ten disciples sang the Phos Hilaron in joy amidst the flames of martyrdom at Sebaste under the Emperor Diocletian in the year 305.

Although it pre-dated the Byzantium, it is referred to as "Byzantine" since the hymn was used in the Byzantine vespers liturgy. It is clearly Greek in its musical form and composition while it has a text that is Jewish in origin and conforms to the Jewish calendar in which the day ends and begins at sunset.

Phos Hilaron is still sung in Greek Orthodox churches. It did not become part of the Western tradition until around 1700 and is now included in the Anglican Hymnal. The earliest English translation was made in 1675. Translations following the line scheme of the original Greek were made by John Keble in 1834 and by Robert Bridges, poet laureate of England, in 1890.

The version on this album is from the 1982 Hymnal of the Episcopal Church.

1. Humbly I Adore Thee
2. O Sons and Daughters
3. Call to Prayer
4. Phos Hilaron
5. Anoint and Cheer
6. Song of Gladness
7. Kyrie
8. Oneness
9. The Mystery Telling
10. O Heavenly Word

Listen to: the entire album.

Release date: 4/29/2005
Paul Avgerinos lives in Connecticut USA

Tagged as: Ambient, New Age, Christian, Space Music

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2. Future Forever by Ion: clean, crystalline ambient
3. Spectral Navigator by Ray Carl Daye: atmospheric ambient/electronic music
4. Rapid Ear Movement by Ray Carl Daye: atmospheric ambient/electronic music
5. Journey to Other Worlds by Satori: healing, meditative ambient new age
6. The sea and the sky by DAC Crowell: deeply ambient new music
7. Synchronicity by Ion: clean, crystalline ambient
8. Nest by Robert Rich: groundbreaking ambient and dark-ambient
9. Electric Ladder by Robert Rich: groundbreaking ambient and dark-ambient
10. Poetry of the Unnamed by Rildrim: electronic music becomes poetry
11. Dreamed Rules by Rildrim: electronic music becomes poetry
12. Golden Dreams by Satori: healing, meditative ambient new age
13. Silver Lights by Solar Cycle: a summer cocktail of Chill out, Electronica and Ambient
14. A Balm for Sisyphus by Luke Gartner-Brereton: music for minds
15. Lost Horizons by Mike McGuill: Diverse, intelligent electronica from London
16. Paradox_ by Love Amplifier: Lose yourself in the electronic
17. Dub Protection by Dubmaster Conte: Dub, reggae, electronica, downtempo, chill out, trip hop
18. Out of Thin Air by Intersonic Subformation: Deep Space auditory exploration as seen through a prism of primeval human emotions

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