Ton Despotin

"Ton Despotin" is an acclamation chanted by the cantor or choir in honour of a bishop when he gives a blessing in the Eastern Orthodox or Eastern Catholic churches. While the Divine Liturgy may be chanted in any language, "Ton Despotin" is almost always chanted in the original Greek.

The words in Greek are:
*Τον Δεσπότην και Άρχιερέα ημόν, Κύριε φύλατε, έις πολλά ετι, Δέσποτα
*"Ton Despόtin kai Arkhieréa imon, Kýrie fýlate, eis pollá eti, Déspota."

An English translation would read:
*Preserve, O Lord, our Master and Hierarch, for many years, O Lord.

The final "Eis pollá eti, Déspota" is usually chanted three times.

There are many musical settings for the hymn, which can be roughly divided into simple and elaborate, each being used at different points during the services. Often, "Ton Despotin" is chanted while the bishop stands on an eagle rug and blesses with dikirion and trikirion.

An abbreviated form, consisting only of chanting "Eis pollá eti, Déspota" three times, is used at less solemn blessings.

External links

* [http://www.saintmichaels.info/music/pdfs/Ton-Despotin.pdf Ton Despotin] musical setting (western notation)