Trisagion
The Trisagion, meaning “thrice-holy,” is a hymn used in Coptic worship, understood as addressed to Christ and sung or recited in forms that vary with the service and feast.[^1][^3]
Also known as: Thrice-holy
Structured reference
Hymn details
- Annual / Kiahk / Holy Week / Pascha usage
- From Christmas Eve to the Feast of the Circumcision, verse 1 is repeated three times, followed by verses 4 and 5; verses 2 and 3 are omitted.[^3]
- Long / short variants
- The Byzantine form repeats the holy acclamations three times and concludes with the lesser doxology. The Coptic form includes clauses concerning Christ’s birth from a virgin, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension.[^1][^2]
- Position in the service
- Verses 1–10 are recited during the canonical hours; verses 1–5 are sung before the prayer of the Gospel in the Divine Liturgy.[^3]
- Preceding / following responses
- In altar consecration, the Trisagion follows Hebrews 13:10–16 and precedes the intercession of the Gospel and Matthew 16:13–19.[^4]
Name and character
The Trisagion takes its name from the Greek for “thrice-holy” and is a hymn used in Coptic worship. The whole hymn is understood as addressed to Christ.13
The Byzantine form repeats “Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy upon us” three times, followed by the lesser doxology. The Coptic form includes clauses referring to Christ’s birth from a virgin, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension.12
Text and languages
There is a ten-verse Coptic form, with verses 1–5 in Greek and verses 6–10 in Coptic. Its opening verse is translated: “Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, Who wast borne of a virgin, have mercy upon us.” The second and third verses repeat the holy acclamations with, respectively, “Who wast crucified for us” and “Who rose from the dead and ascended into the heavens.”2
The fourth verse gives glory to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; the fifth petitions the Holy Trinity for mercy. The remaining verses ask for mercy and forgiveness, healing for the sick, rest for the departed, divine assistance, and acceptance of prayer, concluding with petitions for mercy and blessing.2
Liturgical use
Verses 1–10 are recited during the canonical hours, while verses 1–5 are sung in the Divine Liturgy before the prayer of the Gospel. The hymn also precedes that prayer in many other church services.3
From Christmas Eve to the Feast of the Circumcision, the first verse is repeated three times and followed by verses four and five; the second and third verses are omitted.3
In the consecration of an altar, the deacons sing the Trisagion after the Pauline reading, Hebrews 13:10–16. A priest then recites the intercession of the Gospel, followed by the reading from Matthew 16:13–19.4
The Holy Friday burial hymn “Golgotha” preserves the words “Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, Who was crucified for us, have mercy upon us,” attributing this praise to Joseph and Nicodemus as they buried Christ.5
Historical accounts and traditions
There are different accounts concerning the hymn’s origin and the crucifixion clause. In the Byzantine tradition, the Trisagion came into use during the episcopate of Proclus of Constantinople (434–446). Peter the Fuller, patriarch of Antioch, is remembered for adding “Who wast crucified for us.”6
A different tradition, recorded in the thirteenth century by Ibn Siba‘ in his Kitab al-Jawharah, places the acclamation at Christ’s burial. In this narrative, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus hear angels proclaiming the three holy acclamations; Christ opens His eyes, and the two men add “Who wast crucified for us, have mercy upon us.”7
The crucifixion clause became a focus of controversy: one historical account describes riots in Constantinople against its liturgical use and subsequently reports that Emperor Anastasius was compelled to restore the Trisagion without the addition.910
Traditional interpretation
Ibn Siba‘ explains the threefold repetition by reference to the Holy Trinity and the nine occurrences of “Holy” in the opening three verses by reference to the nine angelic orders. The account also describes the senior ecclesiastical dignitary present saying the first verse alone, with the people singing the remainder.8
References
Sources
- 1.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 7 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 592)
TRISAGION, Greek for "thrice-holy," a hymn used in Coptic worship. The Byzantine form of the Trisagion is as follows: "Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy upon us," to be reiterated three times, followed by the lesser doxology.
- 2.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 7 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 592)
But the Coptic form of the Trisagion is as follows (verses 1-5 are in Greek; verses 6-10 are in Coptic): (1) Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, Who wast borne of a virgin, have mercy upon us. (2) Holy God, etc., Who wast crucified for us, have mercy upon us. (3) Holy God, etc., Who rose from the dead and ascended into the heavens, have mercy upon us. (4) Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, both now and always and unto the ages of the ages. Amen. (5) Holy Trinity, have mercy upon us. (6) All-Holy Trinity, have mercy upon us; Holy Trinity, have mercy upon us.
- 3.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 7 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 592)
The whole hymn is understood as being addressed to Christ. The choice of verses varies according to the service and the holiday. For example, verses 1-10 are recited during the canonical hours, whereas verses 1-5 are sung in the Divine Liturgy before the prayer of the Gospel; from Christmas Eve to the Feast of the Circumcision, the first verse is repeated thrice, followed by the fourth and fifth verses (without the singing of the second and third verses), and so on. It is sung before the prayer of the Gospel in many church services.
- 4.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 1 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 275)
Then Psalms 25, 26, 83, and 92 are read, followed by the Pauline Epistle (Heb. 13:10-16). The deacons sing the Trisagion and a priest recites the intercession of the Gospel. The Gospel reading is taken from Matthew 16:13-19
- 5.Understanding the Liturgy — Father Athanasius Iskander (p. 20)
The part attributed to the holy Joseph and Nicodemus is preserved for us in the beautiful burial hymn of Holy Friday called "Golgotha" The two righteous men, Joseph and Nicodemus, came and took the Body of Christ. They anointed Him with spices, shrouded Him, and placed Him in a tomb. They praised Him, saying, “Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, Who was crucified for us, have mercy upon us.”
- 6.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 7 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 592)
According to the Byzantine tradition, it was in the time of Saint Proclus, bishop of Constantinople (434-446), that the Trisagion came into use (Salmon, 1974). Saint Peter the Fuller (d. 488), patriarch of Antioch, is chiefly remembered for his addition to the Trisagion of the clause Ho staurotheis di humas ("Who wast crucified for us").
- 7.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 7 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 593)
In the thirteenth century, however, Ibn Siba‘ in his Kitab al-Jawharah noted a tradition that Saints Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, while giving burial to the body of Christ, heard the angels saying, "Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One," and at the words "Holy Immortal One," Christ opened His eyes in their face. Then Joseph and Nicodemus said, "Who wast crucified for us, have mercy upon us."
- 8.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 7 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 593)
Ibn Siba‘ also said that the Trisagion is repeated thrice to accord with the number of the Holy Trinity and that the word "Holy" in the Trisagion (verses 1-3) is repeated nine times in reference to the nine angelic orders, whose worship in heaven is the prototype of the worship of the church. Hence, the dignitary present (whether he be a senior priest, a bishop, or the patriarch), as a head of the earthly angels or heavenly men, alone says the first verse of the Trisagion, "Holy God . . . , Who wast borne of a virgin, have mercy upon us," and the people sing the rest.
- 9.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 1 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 113)
This incident, followed by riots in Constantinople against the use of the Monophysite addition to the Trisagion ("who was crucified for us") in services, showed that the Henoticon was proving inadequate to maintain religious unity in the Byzantine empire.
- 10.The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 1 — Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 114)
Meanwhile, Vitalian had extended his hold over the European provinces of Scythia, Moesia, and Thrace, and Anastasius had been forced to restore the Trisagion without the "Monophysite" addition.
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