The Cherubic Hymn is the primary cherubikon, or song of the angels, sung during every Divine Liturgy of the year except those of Holy Thursday and Holy Saturday. It occurs after the Gospel reading and is interrupted by the Great Entrance. During the period of the fourth to sixth centuries, the shape of the Eastern Divine Liturgy reached its fi nal form under the gidance of liturgists such as St. John Chrysostom. In this same period the major formative changes occurred, most of which resulted in liturgical components that corresponded to the Church's developing theological understanding. Among them were the hymn Only-Begotten Son and the addition of the Nicean-Constantinopolitan Creed (countering heresies), and The Trisagion Hymn refl ecting the Trinitarian theology being currently defi ned. In this period and on through the ninth century, hymns were composed and added to the Divine Liturgy, such as the Cherubic Hymn, sung while the priest recited the prayer that is now called The Prayer of the Cherubic Hymn.

Voicing:

SATB