Cherubikon
Encyclopedia
The Cherubikon, or Cherubic Hymn, is the troparion
normally sung at the Great Entrance during the Byzantine
liturgy
. The hymn is sung in the Eastern Orthodox Church
and the Eastern Catholic Churches. The hymn symbolically incorporates those present at the liturgy into the presence of the angels gathered around God's throne.
The Cherubikon is divided into two parts. The first is sung by the people before the celebrant begins the procession with the Gifts, and the second, immediately after the celebrant has completed the commemorations. The troparion begins as a solemn hymn:
Greek:
Οἱ τὰ Χερουβεὶμ μυστικῶς εἰκονίζοντες,
καὶ τῇ ζωοποιῷ Τριάδι τὸν Τρισάγιον ὕμνον προσάδοντες,
πᾶσαν νῦν βιοτικὴν ἀποθώμεθα μέριμναν,
ὡς τὸν Βασιλέα τῶν ὅλων ὑποδεξόμενοι,
ταῖς ἀγγελικαῖς ἀοράτως δορυφορούμενον τάξεσιν.
Ἀλληλούϊα, Ἀλληλούϊα, Ἀλληλούϊα.
Transliteration
I ta cherouvim mystikos eikonizondes,
kai ti zoopio triadhi ton trisaghion ymnon prosadhondes,
pasan nin viotikin apothometha merimnan,
os ton vasilea ton olon ypodhexameni,
tais angelikais aoratos dhoryforoumenon taxesin.
Allilouya, Allilouya, Allilouya.
English translation
We who mystically represent the Cherubim,
and who sing to the Life-Giving Trinity the thrice-holy hymn
,
let us now lay aside all earthly cares
that we may receive the King of all,
escorted invisibly by the angelic orders.
Alleluia
Church Slavonic
Иже херувимы тайно образующе,
и Животворящей Троицѣ трисвятую пѣснь припѣвающе,
Всякое нынѣ житейское отложимъ попеченіе.
Яко да Царя всѣхъ подъимемъ,
ангельскими невидимо дориносима чинми.
Аллилуіа
Ancient Georgian
რომელნი ქერუბიმთა საიდუმლოდ ვემსგავსენით,
და ცხოველსმყოფელსა სამებასა,
სამწმიდა არსობისა გალობასა შევსწირავთ,
ყოველივე მსოფლიო დაუტევოთ ზრუნვა,
და ვითარცა მეუფისა ყოველთასა,
შემწყნარებელსა ანგელოსთაებრ უხილავად,
ძღვნის შემწირველთა წესთასა,
ალილუია, ალილუია, ალილუია
The Cherubikon was added to the Divine Liturgy by the Emperor Justin II
(565
- 578
). However, on Holy Thursday the Cherubikon is replaced by the troparion "At your mystical supper", and the celebration of Prote Anastasis (Holy Saturday
) uses the troparion from the Liturgy of St. James, "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
". This alternate troparion is also used occasionally at the consecration of a church.
Troparion
A troparion in Byzantine music and in the religious music of Eastern Orthodox Christianity is a short hymn of one stanza, or one of a series of stanzas. The word probably derives from a diminutive of the Greek tropos...
normally sung at the Great Entrance during the Byzantine
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
liturgy
Divine Liturgy
Divine Liturgy is the common term for the Eucharistic service of the Byzantine tradition of Christian liturgy. As such, it is used in the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches. Armenian Christians, both of the Armenian Apostolic Church and of the Armenian Catholic Church, use the same term...
. The hymn is sung in the Eastern Orthodox Church
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 the Eastern Catholic Churches. The hymn symbolically incorporates those present at the liturgy into the presence of the angels gathered around God's throne.
The Cherubikon is divided into two parts. The first is sung by the people before the celebrant begins the procession with the Gifts, and the second, immediately after the celebrant has completed the commemorations. The troparion begins as a solemn hymn:
Greek:
Οἱ τὰ Χερουβεὶμ μυστικῶς εἰκονίζοντες,
καὶ τῇ ζωοποιῷ Τριάδι τὸν Τρισάγιον ὕμνον προσάδοντες,
πᾶσαν νῦν βιοτικὴν ἀποθώμεθα μέριμναν,
ὡς τὸν Βασιλέα τῶν ὅλων ὑποδεξόμενοι,
ταῖς ἀγγελικαῖς ἀοράτως δορυφορούμενον τάξεσιν.
Ἀλληλούϊα, Ἀλληλούϊα, Ἀλληλούϊα.
Transliteration
I ta cherouvim mystikos eikonizondes,
kai ti zoopio triadhi ton trisaghion ymnon prosadhondes,
pasan nin viotikin apothometha merimnan,
os ton vasilea ton olon ypodhexameni,
tais angelikais aoratos dhoryforoumenon taxesin.
Allilouya, Allilouya, Allilouya.
English translation
We who mystically represent the Cherubim,
and who sing to the Life-Giving Trinity the thrice-holy hymn
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...
,
let us now lay aside all earthly cares
that we may receive the King of all,
escorted invisibly by the angelic orders.
Alleluia
Church Slavonic
Иже херувимы тайно образующе,
и Животворящей Троицѣ трисвятую пѣснь припѣвающе,
Всякое нынѣ житейское отложимъ попеченіе.
Яко да Царя всѣхъ подъимемъ,
ангельскими невидимо дориносима чинми.
Аллилуіа
Ancient Georgian
რომელნი ქერუბიმთა საიდუმლოდ ვემსგავსენით,
და ცხოველსმყოფელსა სამებასა,
სამწმიდა არსობისა გალობასა შევსწირავთ,
ყოველივე მსოფლიო დაუტევოთ ზრუნვა,
და ვითარცა მეუფისა ყოველთასა,
შემწყნარებელსა ანგელოსთაებრ უხილავად,
ძღვნის შემწირველთა წესთასა,
ალილუია, ალილუია, ალილუია
The Cherubikon was added to the Divine Liturgy by the Emperor Justin II
Justin II
Justin II was Byzantine Emperor from 565 to 578. He was the husband of Sophia, nephew of Justinian I and the late Empress Theodora, and was therefore a member of the Justinian Dynasty. His reign is marked by war with Persia and the loss of the greater part of Italy...
(565
565
Year 565 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 565 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Byzantine Empire :* November 14 – Justin II...
- 578
578
Year 578 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 578 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Byzantine Empire :* October 5 – Tiberius II...
). However, on Holy Thursday the Cherubikon is replaced by the troparion "At your mystical supper", and the celebration of Prote Anastasis (Holy Saturday
Holy Saturday
Holy Saturday , sometimes known as Easter Eve or Black Saturday, is the day after Good Friday. It is the day before Easter and the last day of Holy Week in which Christians prepare for Easter...
) uses the troparion from the Liturgy of St. James, "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
Let all mortal flesh keep silence is an ancient chant of Eucharistic devotion based on the verses taken from Habakkuk 2:20 "Let all the earth keep silence before Him"taken from one of the books of the 12 minor prophets of Bible...
". This alternate troparion is also used occasionally at the consecration of a church.