Cherubikon

DIMITRI CONOMOS

The troparion that accompanies the Great Entrance in the divine liturgy. For ordinary celebrations the hymn “We who represent the cherubim,” a 6th-century addition to the service, is used. During Lent and Holy Week proper hymns are used such as “Now the powers of heaven” for the Presanctified Liturgy (perhaps the earliest ordinary Cherubikon, later replaced by the Cherubic chant); “At your mystic supper” on Holy Thursday (introduced ca. 574); and “Let all mortal flesh keep silent” (borrowed from the Liturgy of Saint James) for Holy Saturday. The earliest melodies for these chants exist in 13th- and 14th-century Byzantine choir books.

SEE ALSO: Troparion

REFERENCES AND SUGGESTED READINGS

Conomos, D. (1974) Byzantine Trisagia and Cheroubika of the 14th and 15th Centuries. Thessaloniki.

Taft, R. (2004) A History of the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, Vol. 2: The Great Entrance. A History of the Transfer of Gifts and Other Preanaphoral Rites. Rome: Edizioni Orientalia.