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Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center

Kontakion / Kontakia

The "Kondakion" are short poetic hymns (chants) that presents the theme of the remembered devotion or event .These are short poetic hymns that present the theme of the day.
On Sundays, the troparia are hymns praising the Resurrection. There are eight resurrectional troparia corresponding to the eight modes of Greek chant used in our church. There are kondakia for each day of the calendar year. On major feast days. the kondakia extol the mystery celebrated on that particular feast. On saint days. the kondakia ask the saints to intercede for the people of God.

Default Kondakia

The default Kondakia is the following.
"O never failing Protectress of Christians and their ever-present intercessor before the Creator, despise not the petitions of us sinners, but in your goodness extend your help to us who call upon you with confidence. Hasten, O Mother of God, to intercede for us, for you have always protected those who honor you."
or
"O neverfailing protectress of Christians, and their everpresent advocate before the Creator: Turn not away from the prayers of us sinners, but in your goodness extend your help to us who call upon you with faith. Hasten to intercede for us, O Theotokos, you who always protect those who honor you."

Original Form

Originally, the Kontakion was a long poem. It consisted of a short preliminary stanza and was followed by some 18 to 24 strophes, each known as an ikos. The stanza and the ikos concluded with the same refrain. Today, all what remains is the stanza (the current Kontakion) followed by the first ikos.

When Sung

Canon at Matins, between Ode Six and Seven.
Divine Liturgy - The Kontakion without the ikos

• Immediately after the Little Entrance, the choir or cantor sings the "Troparion" and then the "Kondakion".
• Immediately after the priest pours the zeon (warm water) crosswise into the holy chalice, The choir or cantor sings the "Kondakion" or "Communion Hymn". These are the Kinonika of the week.

Author

The most famous author of kontakia is St. Romanos the Melodist.

Name

Kontakion is the singular form. Kontakia is the plural form.
Kontakion means "from a pole". Originally, this long poem was rolled arpund a pole. When the poemm was read, the paper was slowly unwound from around the pole.

The Final Kontakion to be sung is as follows:

September 1 - Kontakion of the New Year
September 2 to 6 - Nativity of the Mother of God
September 7 - Vigil of the Nativity of the Mother of God
September 8 to 12 - Nativity of the Mother of God
September 13 - Dedication of the Basilica of the resurrection
September 14 to 21 - Exaltation of the Holy Cross
September 22 to September 30 - O never-failing Protectress … Kontakion of the Paraclisis
October 1 - Protection of the Mother of God
October 2 to November 7 - O never-failing Protectress … Kontakion of the Paraclisis
November 8 to 19 - Entrance of the Mother of God into the Temple
November 20 - Preparation of the Entrance of the Mother of God into the Temple
November 21 to 25 - Entrance of the Mother of God into the temple
November 26 to December 8 - Preparation of the Nativity of Our Lord
December 9 - Maternity of Anne
December 10 to December 23 - Preparation of the Nativity of Our Lord
December 24 - Paramony of the Nativity
December 25 to December 31 - Nativity of Our Lord

More Information

CyberTypicon by Reverend Father / Abouna Peter Boutros. "CyberTypicon" is a computer program automating the practices and prayers of the Catholic Melkite Church. Beside the automation, CyberTypicon will also attempt to simplify the task of defining the prayers traditionally practiced by the Byzantine Eastern Christians."
"CyberTypicon" Definitions Please click on these terms.

Primer for Melkite Worship and Ritual by Reverend Father / Abouna Philaret Littlefield
Material for inclusion in the St. George Melkite (Byzantine) Greek Catholic Church, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States Sunday Bulletin

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Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center is dedicated to my cousins: Bucky (Richard C. Liles), Shirley (Shirley Jean Liles Buck), and Donna (Donna Bertha Liles Campbell). Bucky fell asleep in the Lord on Dec. 12, 2000, Shirley fell asleep in the Lord on Nov. 8, 2001, and Donna fell asleep in the Lord on March 9, 2020.
O God of all spirits and of all flesh, who have destroyed death, overcome the devil, and given life to the world: grant, O Lord, to the souls of your servants Bucky and Shirley, who has departed from this life, that it may rest in a place of light, in a place of happiness, in a place of peace, where there is no pain, no grief, no sighing. And since You are a gracious God and the Lover of Mankind, forgive him/her every sin he/she has committed by thought, or word, or deed, for there is not a man who lives and does not sin : You alone are without sin, your righteousness is everlasting, and your word is true. You are the Resurrection and the Life, and the repose of your departed servants Bucky and Shirley. O Christ our God, and we send up glory to You, together with your eternal Father and your all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and always and for ages upon ages. Amen.

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