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The Little Litany or Little Ektenia or Little Synapte is a brief ektenia
Ektenia

Ektenia , often called simply Litany, is a prayerful petition in the Eastern Orthodox/Eastern Catholic liturgy. The prevalent ecclesiastical word for this kind of litany in Greek is S??apt? Synapt?, Ektenia being the Greek word preferred in Church Slavonic language ....
 (litany) which is recited at various times during the liturgical worship of the Byzantine Rite
Byzantine Rite

The Byzantine Rite, sometimes called the Rite of Constantinople or Constantinopolitan Rite, is the liturgy used currently by all the Eastern Orthodox Churches and by the Greek-Catholic Churches ....
, as observed by the Eastern Orthodox Church
Eastern Orthodox Church

The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian communion in the world with an estimated 225 million members worldwide. It is considered by its adherents to be the Four Marks of the Church established by Jesus Christ and his Apostles nearly 2000 years ago....
 and certain Eastern Catholic Churches.

The litany is called 'Little' to distinguish it from the Great Ektenia, which often precedes it in the service. The Little Litany is composed of only three petitions, chant
Chant

Chant is the rhythmic speaking or singing of words or sounds, often primarily on one or two pitch es called reciting tones. Chants may range from a simple melody involving a limited set of note s to highly complex musical structures, often including a great deal of repetition of musical subphrases, such as Great Responsories and Offertory o...
ed by the deacon
Deacon

Deacon is a role in the Christianity that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions....
 (if there is no deacon, the priest
Priest

A priest or priestess is a person having the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities....
 says his parts).






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The Little Litany or Little Ektenia or Little Synapte is a brief ektenia
Ektenia

Ektenia , often called simply Litany, is a prayerful petition in the Eastern Orthodox/Eastern Catholic liturgy. The prevalent ecclesiastical word for this kind of litany in Greek is S??apt? Synapt?, Ektenia being the Greek word preferred in Church Slavonic language ....
 (litany) which is recited at various times during the liturgical worship of the Byzantine Rite
Byzantine Rite

The Byzantine Rite, sometimes called the Rite of Constantinople or Constantinopolitan Rite, is the liturgy used currently by all the Eastern Orthodox Churches and by the Greek-Catholic Churches ....
, as observed by the Eastern Orthodox Church
Eastern Orthodox Church

The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian communion in the world with an estimated 225 million members worldwide. It is considered by its adherents to be the Four Marks of the Church established by Jesus Christ and his Apostles nearly 2000 years ago....
 and certain Eastern Catholic Churches.

The litany is called 'Little' to distinguish it from the Great Ektenia, which often precedes it in the service. The Little Litany is composed of only three petitions, chant
Chant

Chant is the rhythmic speaking or singing of words or sounds, often primarily on one or two pitch es called reciting tones. Chants may range from a simple melody involving a limited set of note s to highly complex musical structures, often including a great deal of repetition of musical subphrases, such as Great Responsories and Offertory o...
ed by the deacon
Deacon

Deacon is a role in the Christianity that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions....
 (if there is no deacon, the priest
Priest

A priest or priestess is a person having the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities....
 says his parts). In many cases, there is a prayer
Prayer

Prayer is the act of communicating with a deity or spirit in worship. Specific forms of this may include praise, requesting divine providence, confessing sins, as an act of reparation or an expression of one's emotional expression....
 which is said silently by the priest while the litany is being recited:

  • Deacon: Again and again in peace let us pray to the Lord.
  • Choir: Lord, have mercy.
  • Deacon: Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by Thy grace.
  • Choir: Lord, have mercy.
  • Deacon: Calling to remembrance our most holy, most pure, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Theotokos
    Theotokos

    Theotokos is a title of Mary, the mother of Jesus used especially in the Eastern Orthodox Church, Oriental Orthodox, and Eastern Catholic Churches....
     and ever-virgin Mary, with all the saint
    Saint

    A saint in Christianity is a human being who has been called to holiness. The term is used differently by various denominations, with some, such as the Anglicans, Methodists, and Lutherans distinguishing between Saints and saints....
    s, let us commend ourselves, and one another, and all our life unto Christ our God.
  • Choir: To Thee, O Lord.


The priest then says an ekphonesis (audible exclamation) which sums up the prayer, after which the choir chants, "Amen
Amen

The word Amen is a declaration of affirmation found in the Hebrew Bible and New Testament. Its use in Judaism dates back to its earliest texts....
". The text of both the silent prayer and the ekphonesis will differ depending upon the point in the service at which the little ektenia occurs, but the words of the deacon and the choir remain the same.

There is also a poem called "A Little Litany" by G. K. Chesterton
G. K. Chesterton

Gilbert Keith Chesterton was one of the most influential English writers of the 20th century. His prolific and diverse output included journalism, philosophy, poetry, biography, Christian apologetics, fantasy and detective fiction....
, which is unrelated to the Byzantine liturgical usage.

Little Litany for the Departed

At funerals
Christian burial

A Christian burial is the burial of a deceased person with Ecclesiology rites; typically, in consecrated ground....
 and memorial services the Little Litany takes a special form, wherein the name of the departed in included:

  • Deacon: Again and again in peace let us pray to the Lord.
  • Choir: Lord, have mercy.
  • Deacon: Again we pray for the repose of the soul(s) of the servant(s) of God [name(s)], and that he (she)(they) may be forgiven every transgression, both voluntary and involuntary.
  • Choir: Lord, have mercy.
  • Deacon: That the Lord God will commit his (her)(their) soul(s) to where the righteous repose.
  • Choir: Lord, have mercy.
  • Deacon: The mercy of God, the kingdom of heaven, and the remission of his (her)(their) sins, let us ask of Christ the Immortal King and our God.
  • Choir: Grant this, O Lord.
  • Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord.
  • Choir: Lord, have mercy.


Meanwhile, the priest says this prayer silently to himself: O God of spirits and of all flesh, Who hast trampled down death, and overthrown the devil, and given life to Thy world: Do Thou Thyself, O Lord, give rest to the soul(s) of Thy departed servant(s) [name(s)], in a place of light, a place of green pasture, a place of repose, whence all sickness, sorrow and sighing are fled away. Pardon every sin, committed by him (her)(them) in word, deed, or thought, in that Thou art good and the Lover of mankind; for there is no man that liveth and sinneth not, for Thou alone art without sin, Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Thy word is truth.


  • Then, when the deacon and choir are finished with the litany, the priest says this Ekphonesis: For Thou art the resurrection, and the life, and the repose of Thy departed servant(s), [name(s)], O Christ our God, and unto Thee do we send up glory, together with Thine unoriginate Father, and Thy most holy and good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
  • Choir: Amen.


External links

  • article from Orthodox Wiki
  • , poem by G. K. Chesterton