Last week we explored the summary of the law and we heard Jesus tell us that the greatest commandment is to Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind and to love your neighbor as yourself. This is a daunting task. Who can love so completely? After hearing the summary of the law it is clear that we are in need of God’s help. This is the motivation for crying out to God with the Kyrie or the Trisagion.
The Kyrie
The Celebrant and people pray
Lord, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy. Kyrie eleison.
Christ, have mercy upon us. or Christ, have mercy. or Christe eleison.
Lord, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy. Kyrie eleison.
or this
The Trisagion
Holy God,
Holy and Mighty,
Holy Immortal One,
Have mercy upon us.
The Celebrant and people pray
Lord, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy. Kyrie eleison.
Christ, have mercy upon us. or Christ, have mercy. or Christe eleison.
Lord, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy. Kyrie eleison.
or this
The Trisagion
Holy God,
Holy and Mighty,
Holy Immortal One,
Have mercy upon us.
The Kyrie is short for the Greek Kyrie Eleison, which translates to: “Lord have Mercy.” The Kyrie was originally an acclamation or shout of praise much like the hebrew Hosannah. Thomas Cramner carried the Kyrie over into the original English prayerbook from the Latin Mass. He included it after the decalogue (Ten Commandments) as a corporate penitential act after hearing the law. We use these ancient words to acclaim God and His merciful character. We also use them to remind ourselves that it is God’s power alone that can save us. If God’s law is the standard by which we are saved then we are in desperate need of His mercy!
We know that we have received His mercy through the faithful obedience of Jesus. Jesus is the fulfillment of the law. Jesus says, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” Matthew 5:17 When we call on the mercy of Christ we know we are in need of that mercy and that the same mercy has already come. Jesus, who was without sin, has died for our sin and granted us mercy.
The Trisagion is a carryover from the Byzantine or Orthodox liturgy. In the Roman Church is is used only on Good Friday. The 1979 BCP was the first Anglican Eucharistic Liturgy to include the Trisagion. Typically the Trisagion is used in penitential seasons in place of the Kyrie.
This week as we come before our God let us fall down before Him remembering the great cost that he bore for our mercy.
God’s peace,
Fr. Paul
We know that we have received His mercy through the faithful obedience of Jesus. Jesus is the fulfillment of the law. Jesus says, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” Matthew 5:17 When we call on the mercy of Christ we know we are in need of that mercy and that the same mercy has already come. Jesus, who was without sin, has died for our sin and granted us mercy.
The Trisagion is a carryover from the Byzantine or Orthodox liturgy. In the Roman Church is is used only on Good Friday. The 1979 BCP was the first Anglican Eucharistic Liturgy to include the Trisagion. Typically the Trisagion is used in penitential seasons in place of the Kyrie.
This week as we come before our God let us fall down before Him remembering the great cost that he bore for our mercy.
God’s peace,
Fr. Paul
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