I came across a beautiful hymn somewhat recently, possibly one of the oldest hymns in the church: the Phos Hilaron. It was originally written in Koine and has been used in Vespers (Evening Prayer) for probably 1850 years. Phos Hilaron is widely sung in the Orthodox, Catholic, Anglican, and Lutheran church. The Hymn was sung during the lamp lighting in the tomb of Christ in Jerusalem (The light shining showed that He was alive) and later became a song for the lighting of candles, among various other liturgical practices in the church.
Φῶς Ἱλαρόν
Φῶς ἱλαρὸν ἁγίας δόξης ἀθανάτου Πατρός,
- οὐρανίου, ἁγίου, μάκαρος, Ἰησοῦ Χριστέ,
- ἐλθόντες ἐπὶ τὴν ἡλίου δύσιν, ἰδόντες φῶς ἑσπερινόν,
- ὑμνοῦμεν Πατέρα, Υἱόν, καὶ ἅγιον Πνεῦμα, Θεόν.
- Ἄξιόν σε ἐν πᾶσι καιροῖς ὑμνεῖσθαι φωναῖς αἰσίαις,
- Υἱὲ Θεοῦ, ζωὴν ὁ διδούς· διὸ ὁ κόσμος σὲ δοξάζει.
And the English version “O gracious Light” (BCP1979):
O gracious 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.
Sweet!