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Glite Dictionary
trisagion

trisagion

9.9
A short prayer sung in Eastern Orthodox church services or for the dead
  • noun
  • /ˈtraɪsəˌɡiːən/
  • Literature
translation icon : trisagio
  • The trisagion is an important part of Eastern Orthodox rituals, often recited to honor those who have passed away.

Examples

  • Trisagion is based upon prayers frequently recited at the opening of church services.

    Blog text (32)

  • The trisagion prayer and the pannychis were to be intoned in front of the tombs.

    Academic text (1997)

  • But first, the faithful are uplifted in one consummate Feast, above the temporal into the eternal, and are called on Trinity Sunday to sing their Trisagion with the angelic hosts.

    Academic text (2017)

  • During the memorial service, the priest led the congregation in a heartfelt trisagion for the deceased.

  • At the end of the vigil, the attendees joined together to chant the trisagion, remembering their loved ones.

Synonyms

prayer
vstrisagion
187 1.7

A set of words said during a religious service

is a short Eastern Orthodox hymn used in services and memorials
church music
vstrisagion
4 2.3

Music sung or played during Christian services

is a specific short hymn used in Eastern Orthodox services and memorials
pean
vstrisagion
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A song that praises a god, often sung in ancient Greece

is used as a short Orthodox service hymn and often for memorials rather than praise
prosodion
vstrisagion
  • Specialized
9.9

A religious song sung during a church procession often in Eastern Orthodox ceremonies

is used in many services and as memorial music rather than only processions
responsory
vstrisagion
  • Specialized
9.9

A short chant sung or said as a response during a religious service

is a short hymn used in services rather than a chant sung in response

Surface Forms

trisagion singular
trisagia plural

Morphology

trisagion = tri + sagion

Although 'tri-' is a recognizable prefix meaning 'three', the remainder 'sagion' is not an English word and the liturgical sense is not derivable by an average B1 learner.

Etymology

Trisagion comes from Greek parts tris 'three times' and hagion 'holy', like the 'tri-' in 'triple' or 'triangle'. It is a short hymn that says 'holy' three times, so the name means 'three times holy'.