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'''Polyeleos''', from the Greek πολυέλεος, from πολυ ("much") and έλεος ("mercy"), consists of [[Psalms]] 134 and 135 ([[LXX]]).
These two psalms constitute the third reading of the [[Psalter]] at [[Matins]] on [[Great Feasts]] and certain [[Sunday]]s (in some places, on all Sundays), and on all other [[All-Night Vigil|Vigil]] or Polyeleos-rank [[feast]]s. The name "polyeleos" arises from the repetition of the phrase "for His mercy endureth forever" in Psalm 135. On the three Sundays which immediately precede [[Great Lent]], Psalm 136 (LXX) "By the waters of Babylon..." is added to the other two Psalms.<ref>''The Festal Menaion'' (Tr. Mother Mary and Archimandrite [[Kallistos (Ware) of Diokleia|Kallistos Ware]], Faber and Faber, London, 1984), p. 556ff.</ref>
In [[parish]] practice, the Psalms are usually abbreviated. This is one of the most festive moments of a Vigil, when the [[Royal Doors]] are opened, and the [[clergy]] come out of the [[altar]] and [[censer|cense]] the entire church. <ref>Fr. Victor Potapov, [http://www.stjohndc.org/Russian/liturgy/e_00_matins.htm#The Polyeleios The All-night Vigil Service—The Evening Sacrifice], September 25, 2007.</ref>