Doxastikon
A Doxasticon (Greek: Δοξαστικόν "Glory sticheron")—plural: doxastica— is a type of hymn found in the Divine Services of the Orthodox Church.
Specifically, a doxasticon is a sticheron which is chanted between:
- "Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit."
and
- "Both now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen."[1]
Doxastica are normally found near the end of a series of stichera. Doxastica may be found at Vespers ("Lord, I Have Cried" and the Aposticha), at Matins (Kathisma hymns, Aposticha, Praises), and at the Divine Liturgy (the Beatitudes).
There are other instances when a hymn is found between "Glory..." and "Both now..." (i.e., Apolytikion, the Canon); however, these hymns are troparia rather than stichera, and so are not referred to as doxastica.
The subject matter of the doxasticon can be either the glorification of the Trinity, or honoring the saint of the day. Feasts of the Theotokos (Virgin Mary) often do not have doxastica, since she is honoured during the Theotokion, which is the sticheron which follows "Both now and ever...". Lower-ranking feasts of saints do not usually have doxastica, though some do.
Doxastica are always intended to be chanted in one of the eight liturgical modes, or a variation on the modes, known as an automelon.
Source
Notes
- ↑ Kallistos (Ware), Bishop & Mary, Mother (1969), The Festal Menaion, London: Faber and Faber, pp. 550, ISBN 0-571-11137-8
