Great Doxology
Encyclopedia
The Great Doxology is an ancient hymn of praise to the Trinity
which is chanted or read daily in the Eastern Orthodox
and Greek-Catholic Churches.
The opening of the hymn is based on , in which the angelic host appears to the shepherds and announces to them the Nativity
of Christ. The hymn also incorporates verses from and .
The hymn is one of the most famous liturgical exclamations of praise (doxology
) in the history of the Christian Church.
The Great Doxology comes from an ancient Greek hymn dating from at least the 3rd century, and perhaps even the 1st century. A very similar form is found in the Codex Alexandrinus (5th century) and in Pseudo-Athanasius (sometime prior to the 4th century). The hymn has been extended further than these earlier examples (and what could be interpreted as allusions to subordinationism
have been corrected).
The Great Doxology has some similarities to Polycarp
's final prayer before his martyrdom, as it is recorded by Eusebius. "I praise Thee for all, I bless Thee, I glorify Thee..." Polycarp is said to have been martyred 156-167 A.D.
As currently used, the hymn is found in several different forms:
on Sundays and Feast days. The Great Doxology ends with the Trisagion
.
. The verses are slightly rearranged from the Great Doxology, the verse from Psalm 119 is repeated in a different manner, and the Trisagion at the end is replaced by a different doxology.
, when it is sung) every day at Vespers
.
At each of these hymns, the words “Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this day without sin,” will be altered to correspond with the time of day:
There is a Latin version of the first part of the hymn (as far as the Amen), the Gloria in Excelsis Deo
, which has come into wide use in the Western liturgical tradition. According to tradition, the Latin translation was made by St. Hilary of Poitiers
(300 to 367). St. Hilary had been banished to Phrygia
for four years (c. 356) by the emperor Constantius II
because of his defense of the faith against Arianism
. In the East he would have been exposed to the hymn during his exile, and could very easily have brought a version of it back with him.
Trinity
The Christian doctrine of the Trinity defines God as three divine persons : the Father, the Son , and the Holy Spirit. The three persons are distinct yet coexist in unity, and are co-equal, co-eternal and consubstantial . Put another way, the three persons of the Trinity are of one being...
which is chanted or read daily in the Eastern Orthodox
Eastern Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church, officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the second largest Christian denomination in the world, with an estimated 300 million adherents mainly in the countries of Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece,...
and Greek-Catholic Churches.
- Glory to you who has shown us the light.
- Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill to all people.
- We praise you, we bless you, we worship you, we glorify you, we give thanks to you for your great glory.
- Lord, King, heavenly God, Father, almighty; Lord, the only‑begotten Son, Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit.
- Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father who take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us, you who take away the sins of the world.
- Receive our prayer, you who sit at the right hand of the Father, and have mercy on us.
- For you only are holy, only you are Lord
- Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.
- Each day we bless you, and we praise your name forever and to the ages of ages.
- Lord, grant that we may be kept this day without sin.
- Blessed are you, Lord, God of our fathers. Your name is praised and glorified throughout all ages. Amen.
- Let your mercy, Lord, be upon us, as our trust is in you.
- Blessed are you, Lord, teach me your statutes (3).
- Lord, you have been our refuge from generation to generation. I said: Lord, have mercy on me; heal my soul, for I have sinned against you.
- Lord, to you have I fled; teach me to do your will, for you are my God.
- For you are the source of life, and in your light we shall see light.
- Extend your mercy to those who know you.
- Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us (3).
- Glory . . . Now and forever . . .
- Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.
- Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.
The opening of the hymn is based on , in which the angelic host appears to the shepherds and announces to them the Nativity
Nativity of Jesus
The Nativity of Jesus, or simply The Nativity, refers to the accounts of the birth of Jesus in two of the Canonical gospels and in various apocryphal texts....
of Christ. The hymn also incorporates verses from and .
The hymn is one of the most famous liturgical exclamations of praise (doxology
Doxology
A doxology is a short hymn of praises to God in various Christian worship services, often added to the end of canticles, psalms, and hymns...
) in the history of the Christian Church.
The Great Doxology comes from an ancient Greek hymn dating from at least the 3rd century, and perhaps even the 1st century. A very similar form is found in the Codex Alexandrinus (5th century) and in Pseudo-Athanasius (sometime prior to the 4th century). The hymn has been extended further than these earlier examples (and what could be interpreted as allusions to subordinationism
Subordinationism
Subordinationism is a doctrine in Christian theology which holds that the Son and the Holy Spirit are subordinate to God the Father in nature and being...
have been corrected).
The Great Doxology has some similarities to Polycarp
Polycarp
Saint Polycarp was a 2nd century Christian bishop of Smyrna. According to the Martyrdom of Polycarp, he died a martyr, bound and burned at the stake, then stabbed when the fire failed to touch him...
's final prayer before his martyrdom, as it is recorded by Eusebius. "I praise Thee for all, I bless Thee, I glorify Thee..." Polycarp is said to have been martyred 156-167 A.D.
As currently used, the hymn is found in several different forms:
Great Doxology
The Great Doxology—Chanted by the choir, at MatinsMatins
Matins is the early morning or night prayer service in the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran and Eastern Orthodox liturgies of the canonical hours. The term is also used in some Protestant denominations to describe morning services.The name "Matins" originally referred to the morning office also...
on Sundays and Feast days. The Great Doxology ends with the Trisagion
Trisagion
The Trisagion , sometimes called by its opening line Agios O Theos or by the Latin Tersanctus, is a standard hymn of the Divine Liturgy in most of the Eastern Orthodox Churches, Oriental Orthodox Churches and Catholic Churches.In those Churches which use the Byzantine Rite, the Trisagion is chanted...
.
Lesser Doxology
The Lesser Doxology—Read by the Reader on simple weekdays at Matins and at ComplineCompline
Compline is the final church service of the day in the Christian tradition of canonical hours. The English word Compline is derived from the Latin completorium, as Compline is the completion of the working day. The word was first used in this sense about the beginning of the 6th century by St...
. The verses are slightly rearranged from the Great Doxology, the verse from Psalm 119 is repeated in a different manner, and the Trisagion at the end is replaced by a different doxology.
Vouchsafe, O Lord
Vouchsafe, O Lord—a much more abbreviated form (essentially, the last half of the Lesser Doxology), which is read (except during Bright WeekBright Week
Bright Week or Renewal Week is the name used by the Eastern Orthodox Church and Eastern Catholic Churches of the Byzantine Rite for the period of seven days beginning on Pascha and continuing up to the following Sunday, which is known as Thomas Sunday...
, when it is sung) every day at Vespers
Vespers
Vespers is the evening prayer service in the Western Catholic, Eastern Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and Lutheran liturgies of the canonical hours...
.
At each of these hymns, the words “Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this day without sin,” will be altered to correspond with the time of day:
- At Matins: "this day"
- At Vespers: "this evening"
- At Compline: "this night"
There is a Latin version of the first part of the hymn (as far as the Amen), the Gloria in Excelsis Deo
Gloria in Excelsis Deo
"Gloria in excelsis Deo" is the title and beginning of a hymn known also as the Greater Doxology and the Angelic Hymn. The name is often abbreviated to Gloria in Excelsis or simply Gloria.It is an example of the psalmi idiotici "Gloria in excelsis Deo" (Latin for "Glory to God in the highest")...
, which has come into wide use in the Western liturgical tradition. According to tradition, the Latin translation was made by St. Hilary of Poitiers
Hilary of Poitiers
Hilary of Poitiers was Bishop of Poitiers and is a Doctor of the Church. He was sometimes referred to as the "Hammer of the Arians" and the "Athanasius of the West." His name comes from the Latin word for happy or cheerful. His optional memorial in the Roman Catholic calendar of saints is 13...
(300 to 367). St. Hilary had been banished to Phrygia
Phrygia
In antiquity, Phrygia was a kingdom in the west central part of Anatolia, in what is now modern-day Turkey. The Phrygians initially lived in the southern Balkans; according to Herodotus, under the name of Bryges , changing it to Phruges after their final migration to Anatolia, via the...
for four years (c. 356) by the emperor Constantius II
Constantius II
Constantius II , was Roman Emperor from 337 to 361. The second son of Constantine I and Fausta, he ascended to the throne with his brothers Constantine II and Constans upon their father's death....
because of his defense of the faith against Arianism
Arianism
Arianism is the theological teaching attributed to Arius , a Christian presbyter from Alexandria, Egypt, concerning the relationship of the entities of the Trinity and the precise nature of the Son of God as being a subordinate entity to God the Father...
. In the East he would have been exposed to the hymn during his exile, and could very easily have brought a version of it back with him.