The opening prayers of Orthodox services and prayer rules, built around the thrice-holy hymn 'Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal.'
Tagged: Liturgical Prayer Praise Prayer
The Text
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Glory to thee, our God, glory to thee.
O heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of truth, who art everywhere present and fillest all things, treasury of blessings and giver of life: come and abide in us, and cleanse us from every impurity, and save our souls, O good One.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (three times)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
O most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our transgressions. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for thy Name's sake.
Lord, have mercy. (three times)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
The prayers then continue with the Lord's Prayer.
Historical Context
The Trisagion ('thrice-holy') hymn 'Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us' entered Byzantine worship by the 5th century, echoing the seraphim's cry in Isaiah 6:3 and Revelation 4:8, and tradition associates its adoption with Constantinople under Patriarch Proclus (434–446). In Byzantine practice a fixed sequence of opening prayers — the invocation, the prayer to the Holy Spirit ('O heavenly King,' omitted between Pascha and Pentecost), the Trisagion sung three times, prayers to the Trinity, and the Lord's Prayer — begins nearly every service and private prayer rule.
Use and Practice
Orthodox Christians begin morning and evening prayers and almost every church service with the Trisagion Prayers. The Trisagion hymn itself is also sung in the Divine Liturgy and in funeral and memorial services.
References
- OrthodoxWiki — Jesus Prayer (on the Orthodox prayer rule) Free / open access
- StudyLight — dictionaries and encyclopedias Free / open access
Related Prayers and Creeds
- Jesus Prayer — A short, repeated invocation of Jesus asking for mercy, central to the Orthodox hesychast tradition.
- The Lord's Prayer (Our Father) — The prayer Jesus taught his disciples in Matthew 6 and Luke 11, shared by Christians of every tradition.
- Glory Be (Gloria Patri) — A short doxology praising the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, used across Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant worship.
- Te Deum — An ancient Latin hymn of praise to God, sung on occasions of solemn thanksgiving in Catholic and Anglican worship.
Related Across the Site
- Amidah Prayer or Creed — The standing prayer at the center of every Jewish prayer service, recited silently while standing.
- Anglican Collects (Book of Common Prayer) Prayer or Creed — The short, structured prayers of the Book of Common Prayer appointed for each Sunday and feast, exemplified by the Collect for Purity.
- Glory Be (Gloria Patri) Prayer or Creed — A short doxology praising the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, used across Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant worship.
- Kaddish Prayer or Creed — An Aramaic prayer sanctifying God's name, best known in its form recited by mourners.
- Norito Prayer or Creed — Formal ritual prayers in classical Japanese, recited by priests to the kami at shrine festivals and rites.
- Salah Prayer or Creed — The ritual prayer performed five times daily, with fixed postures, recitations, and the closing testimony (Tashahhud).
- Te Deum Prayer or Creed — An ancient Latin hymn of praise to God, sung on occasions of solemn thanksgiving in Catholic and Anglican worship.
- The Lord's Prayer (Our Father) Prayer or Creed — The prayer Jesus taught his disciples in Matthew 6 and Luke 11, shared by Christians of every tradition.