Polyeleos Totally Explained

Everything about The Polyeleos totally explained

The Polyeleos (Greek: Πολυέλεος, lit. "much oil" or, by connotation, "much mercy") is a festive portion of the Matins or All-Night Vigil service as observed on higher-ranking feast days in the Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine Rite Catholic Churches. The name came to be applied to this period of the festal service because at this time all of the oil lamps in the church are lit, using much oil. The Greek word for olive oil is very similar to the Greek word for mercy; hence, the natural correlation of the two ideas. The Polyeleos is considered to be the high point of the service, and contains the reading of the Matins Gospel. Because of its liturgical importance, beautiful settings for the Polyeleos have been composed by Sergei Rachmaninoff and others.

Psalms

Specifically, the Polyeleos consists of Psalms 134 and 135 (Septuagint numbering; King James Version: Psalms and ), which are solemnly chanted in a festive melody, with refrains Alleluia chanted between each verse. The refrain for Psalm 134 is "Alleluia.". The refrain for Psalm 135 is "Alleluia, alleluia. For His mercy endureth forever. Alleluia." This repeated chanting of the word "mercy" is another reason for the chanting of these psalms to be called Polyeleos.
In its fullest musical setting, it can last up to over an hour

. Nowadays, the psalms are usually shortened to only a few select verses each, except in certain monasteries.
   During the chanting, Holy Doors are opened, and the clergy come out of the sanctuary to stand in front of the icon of the feast, which lies on an analogion in the center of the nave. The deacon (or priest, if there's no deacon) censes the icon of the feast being celebrated. However, if it's a Sunday service, the Holy Doors are opened, the clergy remain in the sanctuary and the priest censes the front of the Holy Table (altar).
   On feast days, the Polyeleos is followed by selected verses of other psalms which are relevant to the feast. In the Greek Orthodox tradition, these verses are referred to as the eklogarion; in the Russian Orthodox usage a hymn called the megalynarion (magnification) is chanted between these selected verses, while the clergy perform a a full censing of the church.
   On Sundays, in place of the eklogarion, a hymn called the evlogitaria is chanted in honor of the Resurrection, commemorating the journey of the Myrrhbearers on their way to the Tomb of Christ and the announcement of the Resurrection of Jesus. If a feast day day with megalynarion falls on a Sunday, only the refrain of the megalynarion is chanted, once, after which the evlogitaria are chanted. (If, however, a Great Feast of the Lord falls on a Sunday, nothing of the ordinary Sunday service is chanted, but everything is chanted for the Great Feast, and the order follows that of weekdays.)
   On the three Sundays before the beginning of Great Lent, Psalm 136 (KJV: ), "By the waters of Babylon", is added to the Polyeleos. This psalm recounts the sorrow of the Jews during the Babylonian captivity, and their yearning for Jerusalem; and is prescribed by the Church at this time to bring forth in the faithful sorrow over their captivity to sin and yearning for the Heavenly Jerusalem.
   In the Greek usage, Psalm 44 (KJV: ) replaces Psalms 134 and 135 on feasts of the Theotokos (Mother of God).

Portion of the service

In a wider sense, the term Polyeleos refers to an entire section of the Matins service which falls after the readings from the psalter and before the chanting of the canon. Services below the rank of Polyeleos are missing this section entirely (with the exception of Psalm 50, which is read every day except during Bright Week). The specific outline of the Polyeleos differs depending upon the day of the week:

Sundays

(On Sundays, the Polyeleos takes place in the sanctuary, with the clergy standing around the Holy Table, which represents the Tomb of Christ. Almost all of the hymns are chanted in the Tone of the Week) ť Polyeleos (Psalms 134 and 135)

   (Megalynarion, if any) ť Evlogitaria of the Resurrection—hymns based on Psalm 118

   Little Ektenia (Litany) ť Ypakoë—hymn reflecting the obedience of those sent to proclaim the Resurrection

   Sessional Hymns—a type of hymn which follows readings from the Psalter ť Anavathmoi—hymns based on the Psalms of Degrees

   Prokeimenon in the Tone of the Week ť "Let every breath praise the Lord" in the same tone as the Prokeimenon

   Matins Gospel-one of the 11 lessons recounting the Resurrection Appearances of Jesus ť "Having Beheld the Resurrection of Christ"—a Resurrectional hymn

   Psalm 50 (KJV: Psalm 51) ť Troparia following Psalm 50—paschal hymns in honour of the Resurrection (these differ during Great Lent but are the same for the rest of the year)

   The "Great Intercession"—an extended petition, to which the choir respond, Kyrie Eleison 12 times
   During certain seasons of the year, if there's no feast day of Polyeleos or higher rank occurring on a Sunday, Psalms 134 and 135 are replaced by Psalm 118 (KJV: ).

Weekdays

(On weekdays, the Polyeleos takes place in the center of the church with the clergy standing around the icon of the feast. The hymns are set in various Tones, depending upon the taste of the hymnographers) ť Polyeleos (Psalms 134 and 135; or Psalm 44, if it's a Great Feast of the Theotokos)

   Megalynarion of the feast ť Little Ektenia (Litany)

   Sessional Hymn (or Ypakoë if it's a Great Feast of the Lord) ť Anavathmoi—almost always the first antiphon in Tone 4

   Prokeimenon in the Tone of the Week ť "Let every breath praise the Lord" in the same tone as the Prokeimenon

   Matins Gospel—a lesson which is specific to the feast day ť Psalm 50

   Troparia following Psalm 50—speicific to the feast ť The "Great Intercession"—an extended petition, to which the choir respond, Kyrie Eleison 40 times

Rank of feast

In the Orthodox ranking of feasts, a day of "Polyeleos" rank is a "Middle feast", ranking above a Great Doxology, and below an All-Night Vigil. In liturgical calendars it's symbolized by a Greek cross printed in red.

Chandelier

The word "polyeleos" also refers to a large chandelier used in some Orthodox churches, particularly in monasteries. It is in the form of a very large circle (also called a corona or horos) with many candles on it, and is often adorned with icons of numerous saints. The polyeleos is suspended by a chain from the ceiling. During the chanting of the Polyeleos psalms (134 and 135), all of the candles are lit and it's pushed with a rod so that it turns back and forth during the singing, adding to the joy of the service. This practice is still seen in the monasteries of Mount Athos and in other traditional Orthodox monasteries throughout the world.

Further Information

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