Nikolaus Decius (ca. 1485-after 1546) was a monk and prior who became a Lutheran pastor. While teaching school in Braunschweig in 1522-23, he wrote Low German versions of three chants of the Mass: the Gloria in Excelsis (LSB 947), the Sanctus, and the Agnus Dei. These are among the first evangelical hymns, written before Luther called for vernacular songs in 1523. Decius studied theology in Wittenberg, became a pastor in Stettin in 1527, and later served in East Prussia; one early account says he died there by poisoning. His hymn expands John the Baptist's words, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29), and turns them into personal prayer with the closing words "O Jesus." Through Luther's German Mass it replaced the Latin Agnus Dei in many churches. Decius probably wrote the tune himself, adapting a Gregorian chant; it was first printed in 1542. In parts of nineteenth-century Germany it was sung on Good Friday after the sermon while all the church bells rang, and Bach set it above the double chorus in the opening movement of his St. Matthew Passion. LSB appoints it for Monday in Holy Week and for Good Friday, when its stanzas answer the Reproaches.
Sung at Our Saviour
2026