Hymns from the Greek Office Books

The Trisagion, or Cherubic Hymn, has been in use in the worship of the Eastern Church from the very earliest. No form of adoration is of such frequent occurrence in all the offices of the Church. Originally the Trisagion (Thrice Holy), was in the exact form found in Isaiah iv. 3, but as the years passed, additions were made to it to express doctrine both orthodox and heterodox. The accompanying form is the one found in the service books, and is in common use at the present time.

The Trisagion

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy upon us.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy upon us.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy upon us.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;

Both now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

All Holy Trinity, have mercy upon us. O Lord, be gracious unto our sins; O Master, forgive our transgressions; O Holy, look down and heal our infirmities, for Thy name’s sake.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;

Both now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Our Father which art in heaven: Hallowed be Thy name: Thy Kingdom come: Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on the earth: Give us this day our bread for support; and forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors; And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from the evil one;

Priest. For of Thee is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, now and ever, and to the ages of ages.

Choir. Amen.

The Creed of Nicea, which is the Confession of Faith of the Eastern Church, was largely formulated at the Council of Nicea, 325 A.D. It was based upon the ancient creed of Caesarea, one phrase being added to combat the Arian heresy, viz., Consubstantial (ὁμοούσιον) with the Father; and it ended with, And in the Holy Ghost. The concluding clauses were added at the Council of Constantinople (381 A.D.). The insertion by the Council of Toledo (589 A.D.), of FILIOQUE (and from the Son) after from the Father, and its subsequent adoption in the West, was made the cause of the separation of Eastern and Western Christianity, which has continued from the eleventh century till now.

The Creed of Nicea

We believe in One God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only begotten, who was begotten of the Father before all the ages. Light of light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, consubstantial (ὑμοούσιον) with the Father, by whom all things were made.

Who for men, and for our salvation, came down from the heavens, and was incarnate of the Holy Ghost, and the Virgin Mary, and was made man (ἐνανθρωπήσαντα).

And was also crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried.

And rose again the third day, according to the scriptures.

And ascended into the heavens, and sitteth at the right hand of the Father.

And shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead, and of whose kingdom there shall be no end.

And in the Holy Ghost, the Lord, the Life-Giver, who proceedeth from the Father, who with the Father and the Son is together worshipped and glorified, who spake by the prophets.

In One Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.

We acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins.

We look for the Resurrection of the dead.

And the life in the ages to come.