Introduction to
Greek (Byzantine) Hymnody


Hymnody of the Eastern (Greek; Byzantine) Church to ca. 950 CE

See Greek Hymnody.

The earliest Christian hymns are of two types:

  • certain passages of scripture which are thought by scholars to be liturgical hymns (see Early Hymnody)
  • "extra-Biblical" hymns which have remained in use in either the Eastern (Greek) or Western (Roman Catholic) church

The earliest extra-Biblical hymns were in Greek but are known in the West today because they were translated into Latin sometime before c. 300 C.E. and incorporated into the Latin (Roman Catholic) liturgy (Mass, Divine Office).

After about 300 C.E. the Christian church polarized at two centeres: Constantinope (Greek) and Rome (Latin). The two "churches" did not officially separate until 1472 in an event known as "The Great Schism."

Early Greek (Byzantine) hymnody took three forms:

  • troparion
  • kontakion
  • kanon

Troparion were single-stanza prayers used as responses associated with the Psalms.

Kontakion. These were metrical sermons or commentaries consisting of as many as 18 - 30 stanzas in a consistant structure and ending with a refrain.

Kanon were long and complex hymns consisting of smaller sections called odes. There were usually 8 odes (9 during Lent) and each ode was based on one of the Biblical (or appocryphal) canticles. Each ode consisted of from 3 - 20 (or more) stanzas. Consequently, kanon were extremely long and took a lot of time to perform. [Time was and is not an issue for Orthodox Christians. Orthodox services often last 2 - 3 hours during which time people often stand or kneel on stone floors with no kneeling pads or rails. -- WDL]

[From A Survey of Christian Hymnody, p. 7]

An important center for the development of Greek hymnody was the monastary of Mar Saba. Here are some hymn writers associated with that location:

Andrew of Crete (660 - 732)

Christian, Dost Thou See Them

John of Damascus (d. c. 780)

The Day of Resurrection (MH 303)
Come, Ye faithful, Raise the Strain - (MH 315)

Other writers of early Greek hymns:

Clement of Alexandria (c. 160 - c. 215): Shepherd of Eager Youth (Bridle of Colts Untamed)
Synesius of Cyrene (c. 375 - c. 430): Lord Jesus Think on Me

A 2nd century liturgical manual associated with the early Greek Church is known as the Didache ("Teaching of the 12 Apostles"). F. Bland Tucker paraphrased a section from this book of prayers in 1932 and created a modern hymn, "Father, we thank you, for you planted." -- UMH 565

A church was established in Jerusalem by the early 2nd century and from the liturgy associated with that church is derived another important hymn: "Let all mortal flesh keep silence." -- UMH 626.[This liturgy is know as "The liturgy of St. James" who is traditionally regarded as the half-brother of Jesus.]

The Septuagint was the version of the Bible (Old Testament) which was used by the early church. In particular the Septuagint was the scriptural source with is quoted by the writers of the New Testament when an Old Testament scriptural reference is used.

[From Siing with Understanding, pp. 81 - 85]

See Greek Hymnody.
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