The word "Trisagion" is spelled with a 't', 'r', 'i', 's', 'a', 'g', 'i', and 'o', and a breve over the 'o'. In phonetic transcription, it is pronounced /trɪˈseɪdʒən/. It comes from the Greek word 'trisagion', meaning "thrice holy". This word is used in Christian liturgy, particularly in the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches. It is often associated with the hymn "Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal", which is sung during services such as the Divine Liturgy.
Trisagion is a noun derived from the Greek words "tris" meaning "three" and "hagios" meaning "holy," which collectively translate to "three times holy." It refers to a prayer or liturgical chant found in Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Christian traditions.
The Trisagion is typically recited or chanted during various religious services and is understood as an invocation to the Holy Trinity, particularly to God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit. Often recited as "Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us," this short liturgical formula expresses the sacredness, power, and mercy of the divine being and appeals for divine compassion and benevolence.
The Trisagion holds significant importance within the liturgical rites of Eastern Christianity and is often used as an act of praise, adoration, and supplication. It is commonly said to have originated from a vision of Saint Euphemia, a 4th-century Christian martyr, wherein angels were heard singing this prayer during her martyrdom. Since then, the Trisagion has become a central component of many religious services, including the Divine Liturgy, the prayer of hours (known as the Horologion), and other services of intercession and devotion.
Overall, the Trisagion is a solemn and revered prayer that encapsulates the essence of the Holy Trinity as recognized in Eastern Christian traditions, serving as a means of worship, sanctification, and spiritual connection for believers.
In the Gr. Ch., the threefold invocation of the Deity as "holy.".
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The word "Trisagion" comes from the Greek phrase "τρισάγιον" (trisagion), which means "thrice holy". The term is derived from the combination of two Greek words: "τρις" (tris), meaning "three times" or "thrice", and "ἅγιος" (hagios), meaning "holy". "Trisagion" is frequently used in Christian liturgical traditions, particularly in the Eastern Orthodox Church, to refer to a hymn that begins with the phrase "Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us".