Holy, Holy, Holy

Our Song Shall Rise to Thee

Holy, Holy, Holy was written by Reginald Heber (1783-1826). He composed this Trinity Sunday hymn in Hodnet, in the west of England, where he served as Vicar from 1807 to 1823. He left there when he was appointed the Bishop of Calcutta, India. He died 3 years later while in service to that Diocese. The photo to the left is of St. Paul's Cathedral in Calcutta (Kolkata). Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty! is sung to the 1861 tune, Nicaea by Anglican Clergyman, John B. Dykes (1823-1876). The tune was written specifically for Heber's text, and purposely named after the Council of Nicaea where the Church defended and affirmed the Apostles' teaching of the Trinity. In the Liturgy of the Hours, Holy Holy, Holy is used on Trinity Sunday.



HOLY, HOLY, HOLY by Reginald Heber, 1826 (Public Domain)

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessèd Trinity!

Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,
Who was, and is, and evermore shall be.

Holy, holy, holy! though the darkness hide Thee,
Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see;
Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee,
Perfect in power, in love, and purity.

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All Thy works shall praise Thy Name, in earth, and sky, and sea;
Holy, holy, holy; merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessèd Trinity!