The Polyeleos (Greek: Πολυέλεος, lit. "much oil" or, by connotation, "much mercy") is a festive portion of the Matins or All-Night Vigil service as observed on higher-ranking feast days in the Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine Rite Catholic Churches. The name came to be applied to this period of the festal service because at this time all of the oil lamps in the church are lit, using much oil. The Greek word for olive oil is very similar to the Greek word for mercy; hence, the natural correlation of the two ideas. The Polyeleos is considered to be the high point of the service, and contains the reading of the Matins Gospel.

The word "polyeleos" also refers to a large chandelier used in some Orthodox churches, particularly in monasteries. It is in the form of a very large circle (also called a corona or horos) with many candles on it, and is often adorned with icons of numerous saints. The polyeleos is suspended by a chain from the ceiling. During the chanting of the Polyeleos psalms (134 and 135), all of the candles are lit and it is pushed with a rod so that it turns back and forth during the singing, adding to the joy of the service. This practice is still seen in the monasteries of Mount Athos and in other traditional Orthodox monasteries throughout the world.


This Polyeleos is composed by Petros Peloponnisios (1730 - 1778) in Plagal First Mode (aneanes), which is related to arabic and turkish makam Husseini.


Lyrics (David the King):

Δοῦλοι, Κύριον, Ἀλληλούϊα.
Αἰνεῖτε τὸ ὄνομα Κυρίου, αἰνεῖτε, δοῦλοι, Κύριον, Ἀλληλούϊα.
Οἱ ἑστῶτες ἐν οἴκῳ Κυρίου, ἐν αὐλαῖς οἴκου θεοῦ ἡμῶν. Ἀλληλούϊα.
Αἰνεῖτε τὸν Κύριον, ὅτι ἀγαθὸς κύριος. Ἀλληλούϊα.
Ψάλατε τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ, ὅτι καλόν. Ἀλληλούϊα.
Ὅτι ἐγὼ ἔγνων ὅτι μέγας Κύριος. Ἀλληλούϊα.
Καὶ ὁ Κύριος ἡμῶν παρὰ πάντας τοὺς θεούς. Ἀλληλούϊα. (Ψαλμ. 134, 1-3 και 5)

[Δúli, Kírion, Alilúia.
Eníte to ónoma Kiríu, eníte δúli Kírion. Alilúia.
I estótes en íko Kiríu, en avlés íku theú imón. Alilúia.
Psálate to onómati aftú oti kalón. Alilúia.
Óti eyó éynon oti méyas o Kírios. Alilúia.
Ke o Kírios imón para pántas tus theús. Alilúia.]

(You servants of the Lord. Hallelujah.
Praise the name of the Lord;  praise him, you servants of the Lord. Hallelujah.
You who minister in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God. Hallelujah.
Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good. Hallelujah.
Sing praise to his name, for that is pleasant. Hallelujah.
I know that the Lord is great. Hallelujah.
That our Lord is greater than all gods. Hallelujah.) (Psalm. 135, 1-3 and 5)

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