Litany

A litany, in Christian worship, is a form of prayer used in church services and processions, and consisting of a number of petitions. The word comes from the Latin litania, from the Greek lite, meaning prayer or supplication.

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The frequent repetition of the Kyrie was probably the original form of the Litany, and was in use in Asia and in Rome at a very early date. The Council of Vaison in 529 passed the decree: "Let that beautiful custom of all the provinces of the East and of Italy be kept up, viz., that of singing with great effect and compunction the 'Kyrie Eleison' at Mass, Matins, and Vespers, because so sweet and pleasing a chant, even though continued day and night without interruption, could never produce disgust or weariness".

Christian worship: In Christianity, worship has been considered by most Christians to be the central act of Christian identity throughout history. Many Christian theologians have defined humanity as homo adorans, that is, the "worshipping man," and thus the worship of God is at the very core of what it means to be hu...

Church service: In Christianity, a church service is a term used to describe a formalized period of worship, often but not exclusively occurring on Sunday, or Saturday in the case of a church practicing Sabbatarianism. The church service and its conduct is seen as being a primary, although not the sole, purpose fo...

Procession: A procession (M. Eng., processioun, Fr., procession, Lat., processio, from procedere, to go forth, advance, proceed) is, in general, an organized body of people advancing in a formal or ceremonial manner. This definition covers a wide variety of such progresses: the medieval pageants, of which the L...