Choir of the Cathedral in honor of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Kirovograd
Who is the great God, like our God?/ You are God, you work miracles.
Verse 1: Thou hast spoken Thy power among men.
Verse 2: And he said: “Today this has begun, the betrayal of the right hand of the Most High.”
Verse 3: I will remember the works of the Lord, as I will remember Your wonders from the beginning.
Who is the great God, like our God?/ You are God, you work miracles.
Verse 1: Thou hast spoken Thy power among men.
Verse 2: And he said: “Today this has begun, the betrayal of the right hand of the Most High.”
Verse 3: I will remember the works of the Lord, as I will remember Your wonders from the beginning.
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A prokeimenon is called great if it has 3 verses (whereas an ordinary prokeimenon has one verse) and is therefore sung 4½ times. The great prokeimenon is used only at Vespers and only on the following occasions: on Saturday evenings (“The Lord reigns...” at Sunday vigil, which is the most frequent great prokeimenon and is sung 51 times a year), at vespers of the twelve feasts of the Lord and Antipascha (7 days in total), on the week of the evening of Pentecost (6 days), on all days of Bright Week (6 days). Thus, the great prokeimenon is sung 70 times a year.
Whenever the Great Prokeimenon is sung, the entrance to Vespers is performed for its sake. According to the Charter, the prokeimenon and its verses must be proclaimed (sung) by the canonarch in the center of the temple; according to our practice, this is done by the deacon, being in the altar next to the High Place.
In addition to the great prokeimenon proper, in the services of the Orthodox Church there are hymns that are not called prokeimenon in the books, but in fact are great prokeimenon: “God is the Lord...” at Matins, “May my prayer be corrected...” at the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts and “Arise, O God, judge of the earth...” at the liturgy of Holy Saturday.
The Great Prokeimenon “Who is great God, even as we are our God; You are God, do miracles” (Ps. 77:12-15) according to the Charter, it is performed 4 times a year:
- the evening of the Nativity of Christ,
- Easter,
— Antipascha (Fomina Sunday),
- Pentecost.
It is interesting that all of the indicated 4 cases of singing this prokeimenon are already noted in the Studio-Alexievsky Typikon (XI century), which reflects the original edition of the Studio Charter.
In addition, in practice, the great prokeimenon “Who is the great God...” can be sung in the service of the Passover. In addition, in a slightly modified form (with the addition of the word “one” at the end) it is sung in the “Rite of the Triumph of Orthodoxy,” which is performed after the liturgy on the 1st week of Lent.