Akathist

What it means

Akathist (Greek for “not sitting”) denotes a Byzantine hymn in honor of the Mother of God, named for the tradition of the congregation standing while it is sung or heard, whereas sitting is permitted during most other Orthodox liturgical chants.

The best-known and namesake Akathist Hymn probably dates from the 6th or early 7th century and remains part of Byzantine liturgy today. It consists of 24 stanzas following the Greek alphabet, alternating longer stanzas punctuated by the refrain “Rejoice” (Greek Chaire) with shorter stanzas ending in “Alleluia.”

Musical use

In the Orthodox Church, the Akathist is sung above all during Great Lent before Easter, especially on the fifth Saturday of Lent, which is accordingly known as “Akathist Saturday.” It is performed in Byzantine chant, usually alternating between a cantor and the congregation or choir.

The Akathist should be distinguished from other hymn forms of Byzantine liturgy such as the kontakion, from whose tradition it formally developed, but from which it differs through its fixed 24-stanza structure and its particular occasion. Later hymns following the same literary pattern were written in honor of other saints, so that the term “akathist” is now also used as a genre label for hymns of this form.

Performance practice

If you study Byzantine church music, listen for the alternation between the longer “Chaire” stanzas and the shorter Alleluia refrains in an Akathist: it shapes the structure and the listening experience of the whole hymn.