TheotokionA theotokion (Greek: Θεοτοκίον; pl. Greek: Θεοτοκία, romanized: Theotokia) is a hymn to Mary the Theotokos (Greek: Θεοτόκος, lit.'God-bearer'), which is a troparion or sticheron read or chanted during the canonical hours and Divine Liturgy of the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic churches, as well as in the praises of the Oriental Orthodox churches.
Canon (hymnography)A canon (Greek: κανών, romanized: kanōn) is a structured hymn used in a number of Eastern Orthodox services. It consists of nine odes, based on the Biblical canticles. Most of these are found in the Old Testament, but the final ode is taken from the Magnificat and Song of Zechariah from the New Testament.
Byzantine music6th century Byzantine depiction of performing musicians at a banquet.Byzantine music (Greek: Βυζαντινή μουσική, romanized: Vyzantini mousiki) originally consisted of the songs and hymns composed for the courtly and religious ceremonial of the Byzantine Empire and continued, after the fall of Constantinople in 1453, in the traditions of the sung Byzantine chant of Eastern Orthodox liturgy.
VespersVespers (from Latin vesper'evening') is a liturgy of evening prayer, one of the canonical hours in Catholic, Orthodoxy (Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox), Anglican, and Lutheran liturgies. Vespers typically follows a set order that focuses on the performance of psalms and other biblical canticles. Eastern Orthodox liturgies recognised as vespers (εσπερινός, esperinós) often conclude with Compline, especially the all-night vigil.
Greek languageIndo-European languageGreek (Modern Greek: ελληνικά, romanized: elliniká; Ancient Greek: ἑλληνική, romanized: hellēnikḗ) is an Indo-European language, constituting an independent Hellenic branch within the Indo-European language family.
StanzaIn poetry, a stanza (; from Italianstanza, Italian:; lit.'room') is a group of lines within a poem, usually set off from others by a blank line or indentation. Stanzas can have regular rhyme and metrical schemes, but they are not required to have either. There are many different . Some stanzaic forms are simple, such as four-line quatrains. Other forms are more complex, such as the Spenserian stanza.
Religious musicReligious music (also sacred music) is a type of music that is performed or composed for religious use or through religious influence. It may overlap with ritual music, which is music, sacred or not, performed or composed for or as a ritual. Religious songs have been described as a source of strength, as well as a means of easing pain, improving one's mood, and assisting in the discovery of meaning in one's suffering.
HymnA hymn is a type of song, and partially synonymous with devotional song, specifically written for the purpose of adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification. The word hymn derives from Greekὕμνος (hymnos), which means "a song of praise". A writer of hymns is known as a hymnist or hymnodist. The singing or composition of hymns is called hymnody. Collections of hymns are known as hymnals or hymn books.
Church SlavonicChurch Slavonic is a Slavic language belonging to the South-Slavic linguistic sub-branch of Balto-Slavic languages, in the Indo-European family. It is used, both historically and in the modern era, as a liturgical language by various Eastern Christian denominations. During medieval and early modern periods, it was also used as a literary language among Slavs.
Georgian languageOfficial language of the country of Georgia
Eastern OrthodoxyEastern Orthodoxy, otherwise known as Eastern Orthodox Christianity or Byzantine Christianity, is one of the three main branches of Chalcedonian Christianity, alongside Catholicism and certain forms of Protestantism. Like the Pentarchy of the first millennium, the mainstream (or "canonical") Eastern Orthodox Church is organised into autocephalous churches independent from each other.
PsalmsBook of sacred songs in the Hebrew BibleScroll of the Psalms*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.