Hail, Gladdening Light [From way, way back!]
What’s the oldest Christian hymn still being sung today? It’s not possible to know what for sure, because hymns and lyrics change over time. But the Joslin Grove Bible Society has offered this list of the top ten oldest (https://bestlovedhymns.com/blogs/reflections-71a102fb-7361-4a65-9767-1632ea9da65d/posts/7245408/the-top-10-oldest-hymns-still-sung-today)
Here are the top three.
*O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. An advent hymn from the 8th or 9th century.
*Hail, Gladdening Light. Third or fourth century, this Orthodox hymn might truly be the oldest on the list.
*The Day of Resurrection. Written by John of Damascus in the 8th century.
I’m surprised they left off the Irish hymn, Be Thou My Vision, that takes us back to the seventh or eighth century… but it wasn’t translated till early in the 20th.
Oh, two of these, I have never heard, but O Come, O Come, I had heard years ago. Nice to hear again.
I always post it around Christmas-time.
Great info, thanks!