The True Christ

TWO GREAT EVENTS UNDER PATRIARCH PROCLUS

ORIGIN OF THE TRISAGION HYMN

    When St. Proclus, a friend and disciple of St. John Chrysostom, was Patriarch of Constantinople, he governed the church in wisdom and piety. Two events occurred during his tenure in the fifth century. The first event was the translation of the relics of St. John Chrysostom from Comana to Constantinople. The emperor, Theodosius the Younger with his wife Pulcheria  and the patriarch all desired the event of this translation.

     The second event being miraculous, was when Constantinople and the surrounding country were experiencing a terrible earthquake. People were terrified and many outstanding and beautiful buildings were destroyed. The Patriarch with the faithful conducted a barefoot procession seeking help from the Lord. The tremors increased dramatically. While this was going on a young child was taken high up into the heavens and became invisible to the human eye. After a while the child returned and came to the ground very gently. He told them of the miraculous event that had occurred and which he was transmitting to them. Upon being asked where he went, the child said that he was raised up to the heavens among the angels, and listened as they sung: “Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal have mercy upon us.”  He said that a voice commanded him to tell the Patriarch that the people should make their supplication with this hymn. Upon hearing it sung by the child the Patriarch and people joined in singing the new trisagion hymn, and as they sang at once the earthquake ceased.

    This wonderful and heavenl;y hymn glorifying the Holy Trinity was adopted by the Church and is frequently used in the churches until this very day. It is called the Trisagion (Thrice Holy) Hymn. It is used at the end of the Doxology during Orthos and at other times. Also before the reading of the epistle in the Divine Liturgy.  St. Proclus peacefully entered eternal rest in 446 AD.