St. Joseph the Hymnographer and the Happy Band of Pilgrims!
Today the Roman Catholic Church honours Saint Joseph the Hymnographer ! I already hear you say, who!? He was a monk of the ninth century. He is one of the greatest liturgical poets and hymnographers of the Eastern Orthodox Church. He is also known for his confession of the Orthodox Faith in opposition to Iconoclasm and is often called "the sweet-voiced nightingale of the Church". His feast day is celebrated on April 3 among the Eastern Christians. He reportedly possessed the "gift of discernment" because of which Photius appointed him the spiritual father and confessor for priests, recommending him as, "A man of God, an angel in the flesh and father of fathers." He died peacefully in great old age on the eve of Holy and Great Thursday in either 883 or 886 AD. Joseph composed numerous canons and hymns for many saints, and is credited with approximately 1,000 works. His hymns are still sung, not only by Eastern Christians, but by Western Christians as ...
