Wordie: Kyrie: Comments

Comment by mollusque, about 1 month ago

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 16:38:49 +0000

From behind the iconostasis Father Mike entered. He was wearing a bright turquoise robe with a red heart embroidered on his back. He crossed the solea and came down among the parishioners. The smoke from his cener rose and curled, fragrant with antiquity. "Kyrie eleison," Father Mike sang. "Kyrie eleison." And though the words meant nothing to me, or almost nothing, I felt their weight, the deep groove they made in the air of time.
—Jeffrey Eugenides, 2002, Middlesex, p. 357

Comment by rolig, 2 months ago

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 15:17:18 +0000

The Russian version is Господи помилуй – Góspodi pomíluy.

Comment by reesetee, 2 months ago

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 13:43:21 +0000

But these days only when that part is sung (rather than spoken). At least in my area.

Comment by chained_bear, 2 months ago

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 12:29:41 +0000

Also the Kyrie is the only part of the Catholic Mass that's in Greek.

Comment by logos, 2 months ago

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 23:56:07 +0000

rolig, what a nice thought!

Comment by rolig, 2 months ago

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 23:11:36 +0000

Yes. Specifically, it is the first word – and hence the common name – of the Eastern Orthodox prayer, Kyrie, eleison, "Lord, have mercy," which in the Orthodox mystical Hesychast tradition was repeated with every breath until it became automatic. In this way, the pious sought to achieve a state of "praying without ceasing," as the Apostle Paul commanded.

Comment by logos, 2 months ago

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 19:30:56 +0000

Greek for Lord?