Caelestis Urbs Jerusalem - ancient hymn for the Dedication of a Church

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This is an interestingly haunting piece sung for when a man-made house is consecrated to become the dwelling place of God Almighty... Check out the beautiful lyrics and the translation below. In this recording I combined both the Vespers and the Lauds hymn. :)

Cœlestis urbs Jerusalem,
Beata pacis visio,
Quæ Celsa de viventibus
Saxis ad astra tolleris,
Sponsæque ritu cingeris
Mille Angelorum millibus.

O sorte nupta prospera,
Dotata Patris gloria,
Respersa sponsi gratia,
Regina formosissima,
Christo jugata Principi,
Cœli corusca civitas.

Hic margaritis emicant,
Patentque cunctis ostia:
Virtute namque prævia
Mortalis illuc ducitur,
Amore Christi percitus
Tormenta quisquis sustinet

Scalpri salubris ictibus,
Et tunsione plurima,
Fabri polita malleo
Hanc saxa molem construunt,
Aptisque juncta nexibus
Locantur in fastigio.

Decus Parenti debitum
Sit usquequaque Altissimo,
Natoque Patris unico,
Et inclyto Paraclito,
Cui laus, potestas, gloria
Æterna sit per sæcula.

---translation by W.J. Irons:

Thou heavenly, new Jerusalem,
Vision of peace in prophet’s dream!
With living stones built up on high,
And rising to yon starry sky;
In bridal pomp thy form is crowned,
With thousand thousand Angels round!

O Bride, betrothed in happy hour,
The Father’s glory is thy dower;
The Bridegroom’s grace is shed on thee
Thou Queen all fair eternally;
To Christ allied, thy Prince adored,
Bright shining city of the Lord!

Behold with pearls they glittering stand
Thy peaceful gates to all expand;
By grace and strength divinely shed
Each mortal thither may be led;
Who, kindled by Christ’s love, will dare
All earthly sufferings now to bear.

By many a salutary stroke,
By many a weary blow that broke,
Or polished with a workman’s skill,
The stones that form that glorious pile,
They all are fitly framed to lie
In their appointed place on high.

Fair and well-pleasing in Thy sight,
Parent most high, enthroned in light,
And for Thine only Son most meet,
And Thee, all-glorious Paraclete,
To whom praise, power, and glory rise
Forever through the eternal skies.