Phos Hilaron (“O Gladsome Light” or “Gladdening Light”) is an ancient Christian lamplighting hymn, likely written in the 2nd or 3rd century, and has been used at Evening Prayer in most Christian traditions since then. A version is included in most hymnals (e.g., Our Great Redeemer’s Praise, #679).
O gladsome Light,
pure brightness of the everliving Father in heaven,
O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed!
Now as we come to the setting of the sun,
and our eyes behold the vesper light,
we sing your praises, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
You are worthy at all times to be praised by happy voices,
O Son of God, O Giver of Life,
and to be glorified through all the worlds.
An Anglican chant from the 1982 hymnal:
The traditional text with a contemporary flair:
A beautiful choral arrangement:
A Byzantine (Eastern) chant:
A women’s sextet arrangement: