Ton Despotin
Encyclopedia
Ton Despotin is an acclamation chanted by the cantor
or choir
in honour of a bishop
when he gives a blessing
in the Eastern Orthodox or Eastern Catholic churches. While the Divine Liturgy
may be chanted in any language, Ton Despotin is almost always chanted in the original Greek
.
The words in Greek are:
An English translation would read:
The final phrase Eis pollá étē, Déspota is usually chanted three times, each with progressively more elaborate embellishment.
There are many musical settings for the hymn, which can be roughly divided into simple and elaborate, each being used at different points during the services. Often, Ton Despótēn is chanted while the bishop, vested in full, stands on an eagle rug and blesses his flock with dikirion and trikirion
.
An abbreviated form, consisting only of plainchanting Eis pollá etē, Déspota three times, is used at less solemn blessings.
Cantor (church)
A cantor is the chief singer employed in a church with responsibilities for the ecclesiastical choir; also called the precentor....
or choir
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
in honour of a bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
when he gives a blessing
Blessing
A blessing, is the infusion of something with holiness, spiritual redemption, divine will, or one's hope or approval.- Etymology and Germanic paganism :...
in the Eastern Orthodox or Eastern Catholic churches. While the Divine 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...
may be chanted in any language, Ton Despotin is almost always chanted in the original Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
.
The words in Greek are:
- "Τον Δεσπότην και Αρχιερέα ημών, Κύριε φύλαττε, εις πολλά έτη, Δέσποτα"
- Ton Despόtēn kai Arkhieréa hēmōn, Kýrie phýlatte, eis pollá etē, Déspota
An English translation would read:
- Preserve, O Lord, our Master and Hierarch. Many years to you, Master!
The final phrase Eis pollá étē, Déspota is usually chanted three times, each with progressively more elaborate embellishment.
There are many musical settings for the hymn, which can be roughly divided into simple and elaborate, each being used at different points during the services. Often, Ton Despótēn is chanted while the bishop, vested in full, stands on an eagle rug and blesses his flock with dikirion and trikirion
Dikirion and trikirion
Dikirion and trikirion are liturgical candlesticks, used by a bishop of the Eastern Orthodox and Greek-Catholic Churches to bless the clergy and faithful...
.
An abbreviated form, consisting only of plainchanting Eis pollá etē, Déspota three times, is used at less solemn blessings.
External links
- Ton Despotin musical setting (western notation)
- Ton Despotin Greek and English text, with Byzantine musical notation.