Our fathers thought they should welcome the evening light with something better than silence, so they gave thanks as soon as it appeared. We cannot say who composed these words of thanksgiving at the lighting of the lamps, but the people use these ancient words, and no one accuses them of blasphemy: We praise Father, Son, and God's Spirit." -- St. Basil the Great, On the Holy Spirit, par. 73.
[Note, the saint refers to the hymn we still sing in evening prayer: Joyous Light of Glory - Phos Hilaron]
No comments:
Post a Comment