Sticheron

A sticheron (plural: stichera) is a particular kind of hymn used in the liturgy or acolouthia of the Orthodox churches; a sticherarion is a book containing the stichera for the morning and evening services throughout the year. Stichera are also found in the Menaion and Octoechos.

Stichera are commonly written in cycles on particular themes or for use in particular liturgical contexts. Examples of such themes include:

• The Beatitudes
• Particular saints ("stichera aposticha")
• The Resurrection

Examples of liturgical contexts where stichera are commonly used include:

• Vespers (the evening office)
• The Lity
• The Praises (at the end of Orthros, the morning office)

Stichera are usually sung in alternation with verses from the psalms or other scriptural sources. In liturgical books, they are designated as having a particular tone.

Settings of stichera are frequently found in recordings of orthodox liturgical music, some by well known composers.