Sedibus cœli nitidis receptos

Sing, O ye faithful, sing two athlete brothers

Saints Cyril and Methodius
7 July

The Hymns of the Breviary and Missal

Sedibus cœli nitidis receptos
Dicite athletas geminos, Fideles,
Slavicæ duplex columen decusque
Dicite gentis.
Hos amor fratres sociavit unus,
Unaque abduxit pietas eremo,
Ferre quo multis celerent beatæ
Pignora vitæ.
Luce, quæ templis superis renidet,
Bulgaros complent, Moravos, Bohemos;
Mox feras turmas numerosa Petro
Agmina ducunt.
Debitam cincti meritis coronam
Pergite o flecti lacrymis precantum:
Prisca vos Slavis opus est datores
Dona tueri.
Quæque vos clamat generosa tellus
Servet æternæ fidei nitorem;
Quæ dedit princeps, dabit ipsa semper
Roma salutem.
Gentis humanæ Sator er Redemptor
Qui bonus nobis bona cuncta præbes,
Sint tibi grates, tibi sit per omne
Gloria sæclum.

Sing, O ye faithful, sing two athlete brothers,
Welcomed above to thrones of light supernal;
Sing, of Salvation’s race, the glory twofold
And strength eternal.
One love these brethren bound in sweetest union,
By pity same their solitude is broken;
Forth they would hasten, unto many bearing
Life’s blessed token.
Soon o’er Bulgaria, Moravia, Bohemia,
Light from the heavenly temple shineth glorious.
One savage hordes, now countless flocks, to Peter
Lead they victorious.
Now with the well-earned crown your brow encircled,
Hear, blessed ones, to suppliant tears bending;
Unto the Slavs, erst by your gifts enriched,
Protection lending.
Oh, may each gen’rous land, your aid imploring,
Keep bright the faith through every generation;
Rome to that land first gave, and ever guardeth,
Life and salvation.
Lord, of our race Creator and Redeemer,
By nature good, all goods on us bestowing,
Glory to Thee through ages all, from grateful
Hearts overflowing.

Author: “Iste et sequens compositi fuerunt a R. P. Leanetti e Rmo Salvati, revisi vero a Rrmis Caprara et Tripepi” (Bishop Van der Stappen’s Liturgia Sacra Vol. 1, p. 63). No other information could be obtained. The hymns have been improperly ascribed to Pope Leo XIII, who extended the Feast of SS. Cyril and Methodius to the whole Church in 1880, at which time the hymns were probably written. Meter: Sapphic and Adonic. Translation by by the Benedictines of Stanbrook. There are three translations. Liturgical Use: Hymn for Vespers and Matins.

“Sing, O ye faithful, the two athletes admitted to the resplendent abodes of heaven; sing the two pillars and the glory of the Slavonic race.” Cyril (827-869) and Methodius (826-885) were brothers, born of noble parents in Thessalonica. Both were consecrated bishops. Read their biography in the Cath. Encycl. Columen, a pillar; fig., a support, mainstay, strength.
“One love united these brothers, one tender pity drew them forth from their solitude that they might hasten to bring to many the pledges of a blessed life.” Eremo, from their solitude, i.e., from their monastery in Constantinople.
“With the light that beams resplendent in the temples above, they fill Bulgarians, Moravians, and Bohemians; they soon lead to Peter savage hordes, a numerous throng.” Petro, i.e., to the Church.
“Wreathed with crowns well earned by your merits, may you continue to be moved by the tears of your suppliants; there is need that you, the givers, protect your former gifts to the Slavs.” Cincti: In poetry cingo, and some other verbs may, in the passive, govern the accusative (the Greek acc.; cf. Zumpt’s Grammer, 458). Prisca dona, faith. The Slavic races were converted in the 9^th cent.; this hymn was composed at the end of the 19^th.
“May every noble land that cries to you, preserve the splendor of an undying faith; Rome which first gave, will ever continue to give salvation.” Constr.: Roma ipsa salutem princeps dedit, semper dabit salutem.
“O Creator and Redeemer of the human race, who dost lovingly bestow upon us all good things, to Thee be thanksgiving, to Thee be glory forever and ever.”