Hispano-Mozarabic traditions and Eastern traditions (I): The Trisagion

[AXO]

–The Trisagion appeared in Eastern Christianity as a triple acclamation of God in the 5th century due to the tremendous earthquakes that wreaked havoc in Constantinople in 447.

–These hymns are inspired by some Scripture passages such as Is 6,3 or Rev 4,8.
The praise takes the standard form “Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us” (Sanctus Deus, Sanctus fortis, Sanctus immortalis, miserere nobis). It emphasizes three characteristics of the Lord: his infinite Holiness (cf. e.g. Josh 24,19), his infinite Mightiness (cf. Gen 33,20) and his infinite Immortality (cf. 1 Tim 1,17).

–The Trisagion was introduced into the Hispano-Mozarabic Liturgy influenced by this Eastern movement, and as an instrument to face heresies.
For instance, the Arian heresy was seriously damaging the religion in the Iberian Peninsula, brought by the Visigoths with king Leovigild in the lead. Nevertheless, the efforts of his brother St. Hermenegild and the Hispanic father St. Leander of Seville led to the solemn conversion to Catholicism of king Reccared at the III Council of Toledo (589).

–On the basis of this, the Hispanic fathers composed new texts with a strong christological sense in which the Kingship and Power of Christ were stressed.

–Its use in the Hispano-Mozarabic Liturgy is regulated by the Prænotanda (general norms) of the Missale Hispano-Mozarabicum and by the rubrics of the Offerentium (ordinary of the Mass).
The first source says that “the simplest forms could have been literally copied from a Greek, Byzantine or Alexandrine liturgy” (n. 30). This can be proved from the ancient sources, being this one Ethiopian: “…] [T]hen the priest, who baptises, says: Holy, Holy, Holy the Lord, Mighty God and Immortal, have mercy on us, oh Lord” (…] [T]um sacerdos, qui baptizat, dicit: Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus Dominus, Deus fortis et immortalis, miserere nostri, Domine) (Ordo baptismi secundum usum Æthiopum; PL 138, 937). The second source: “In the sollemnities, according to what the Proper indicates, after the hymn Gloria in excelsis, the choir chants the Trisagion” (Offerentium, n. 5).

–As a courtesy, I leave an example of the hymn, entirely chanted in Greek. This version is used in the Sollemnity of the Circumcision of the Lord (January 1), in year II.

*Hágios o Theos,
Hágios Ischyrós,
Hágios Athánatos,
eléison himas. *
V/. Sanctus Deus,
Sanctus fortis,
Sanctus immortális,
miserére nobis.
R/. Hágios Athánatos, eléison himas.
V/. Doxa Patri ke Hyio ke Hágio Pneúmati, ke nyn ai ke is tus eónas ton eónon. Amin.
R/. Hágios Athánatos, eléison himas.

 

[Thomas48]

Every rite has its own version of the Trisagion. The Syro Malabar/Chaldean version is called Kandisa Alaha or Qadisha Alaha. Thank you for sharing this information on how the Trisagion came to the Mozarabic Rite.

youtu.be/iHAkLd3b3GQ

 

[AXO]

Every rite has its own version of the Trisagion.

It should be noted that, for instance, the Roman Sanctus, albeit it contains the word “holy” three times, cannot be properly called Trisagion. It doesn’t correspond to the tradition of the Trisagion as understood by the East and inferred from the shape of the prayer. The Hispano-Mozarabic Liturgy also incorporates the canticle of the Sanctus, but this also happens with the Divine Liturgies of St. James and St. Mark. Anyway, I can get what you are trying to mean.

 

[jeannetherese]

Many Catholics also repeat these words in the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.The Chaplet of Mercy is recited using ordinary rosary beads of five decades. The Chaplet is preceded by two opening prayers from the Diary of Saint Faustina and followed by a closing prayer. posted below.

1. Make the Sign of the Cross
   In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
2. Optional Opening Prayers
   You expired, Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls, and the ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us.

(Repeat three times)
O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fountain of Mercy for us, I trust in You!
3. Our Father
Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, Amen.
4. Hail Mary
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen.
5. The Apostle’s Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; He descended into hell; on the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.
6. The Eternal Father
Eternal Father, I offer you the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your Dearly Beloved Son, Our Lord, Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.
7. On the Ten Small Beads of Each Decade
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
8. Repeat for the remaining decades
Saying the “Eternal Father” (6) on the “Our Father” bead and then 10 “For the sake of His sorrowful Passion” (7) on the following “Hail Mary” beads.
9. Conclude with Holy God (Repeat three times)
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
10. Optional Closing Prayer
Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion — inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself.

 

[ByzCathCantor]

It should be noted that, for instance, the Roman Sanctus, albeit it contains the word “holy” three times, cannot be properly called Trisagion. It doesn’t correspond to the tradition of the Trisagion as understood by the East and inferred from the shape of the prayer. The Hispano-Mozarabic Liturgy also incorporates the canticle of the Sanctus, but this also happens with the Divine Liturgies of St. James and St. Mark. Anyway, I can get what you are trying to mean.

The common Byzantine Rite Divine Liturgies of St. John Chrysostom and St. Basil the Great also demonstrate this. The Trisagion is chanted just before the readings of the day, as part of the Liturgy of the Word.

The Byzantine “Sanctus” is part of the Liturgy of the Eucharist, chanted near the beginning of the Anaphora, just before the Consecration.