Hail, gladdening Light, of his pure glory poured

Hail, gladdening Light, of his pure glory poured. Greek, probably 3rd century, translated by John Keble* (1792-1866). The Greek text, of unknown authorship, dates from the early years of the Christian church (see ‘Phos hilaron’*). Keble’s translation of this simple but profound hymn succeeds in celebrating the glory of God, and Christ as the light of the world, and the lights of evening are symbols of the divine, the ‘giver of life, alone’. It was published in the British Magazine, edited by Hugh James Rose, a high churchman who supported the Oxford Movement* and who printed, among other things, the translations of Isaac Williams* and Newman*’s ‘Lead, kindly Light, amid the encircling...