From the Organist & Choirmaster

The Book of Common Prayer is almost entirely in English but there is one exception where we see another language. Do you know what it is? It’s scattered in many places throughout the BCP and is only three words. It has settled itself as part of our liturgy in Advent where we would normally sing the Gloria in excelsis, the Kyrie! Greek is right in front of us! The Kyrie is in Greg in the BCP because it originated in the early Christian liturgies of the Eastern Church where Greek was the primary language. It cemented itself in Greek when the Western Church adopted the practice, retaining the Greek phrase rather than translating it into Latin. This is most likely because of the deep theological meaning and already established use of the Kyrie. “Kyrie” is the vocative form of the Greek word “Kyrios” meaning “Lord,” “Eleison” means “have mercy.” It is a powerful invocation of God’s mercy, that I find to be especially meaningful during Advent as we await the coming of the Christ Child.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.