When Jesus summarized the law, He told us that the greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind—and to love your neighbor as yourself. This calling is beautiful, but let’s be honest—it’s overwhelming. Who among us can love so completely? The moment we hear this high standard, we are reminded of our deep need for God’s help. That’s why, right after the summary of the law, we cry out to God using ancient prayers like the Kyrie or the Trisagion.
The Kyrie: Lord, Have Mercy
The word Kyrie comes from the Greek phrase Kyrie Eleison, meaning “Lord, have mercy.” Originally, it was a joyful shout of praise, much like the Hebrew Hosanna. Thomas Cranmer preserved the Kyrie in the first English Prayer Book, placing it after the reading of the Ten Commandments as a way for the whole church to corporately confess our need for God’s mercy.
When we say the Kyrie, we are doing two things:
- We are acclaiming God’s merciful character.
- We are reminding ourselves that only God’s mercy can save us.
God’s law shows us what holiness looks like—and it also shows us how far we fall short. The good news is that Jesus has already met the demands of the law on our behalf. As Jesus said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” (Matthew 5:17)
When we cry out, “Lord, have mercy,” we are not begging for something uncertain—we are calling on a mercy that has already been secured through Christ, who died for our sins and gave us His righteousness.
The Trisagion: Holy God, Holy and Mighty
The Trisagion comes from the ancient Byzantine and Orthodox traditions and is typically used in the Anglican tradition during penitential seasons like Advent and Lent, sometimes replacing the Kyrie. The Roman Church uses the Trisagion primarily on Good Friday.
The Trisagion’s words—“Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, have mercy upon us”—direct our focus not only to God’s mercy but also to His holiness, power, and eternal nature.
The 1979 Book of Common Prayer was the first Anglican Eucharistic liturgy to formally include the Trisagion, enriching our worship with this ancient cry for mercy.
Why It Matters
Whether we pray the Kyrie or the Trisagion, we are standing in a long tradition of believers who know they need God’s mercy—and who trust that mercy is fully available in Jesus. These prayers aren’t just formalities. They are honest, heartfelt cries that draw us closer to the God who loves us and has already acted to save us.
