📖 Biblical Definition
The Kyrie is the historic short pleading prayer of the Christian liturgy: Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison, Kyrie eleison — "Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy" — typically sung antiphonally near the start of worship. Its biblical origin is unmistakable. Blind Bartimaeus cried: "Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me" (Mark 10:47-48). The Canaanite woman: "Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David" (Matthew 15:22). The ten lepers: "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us" (Luke 17:13). The publican: "God be merciful to me a sinner" (Luke 18:13). The early church embedded the cry as the gathered congregation’s first liturgical word. Christian men learn it before they learn anything else.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
(Greek.) The short pleading prayer ‘Lord, have mercy’; one of the oldest forms of Christian liturgical prayer.
expand to see more
Greek Kyrie eleison is one of the few Greek phrases preserved untranslated in Latin liturgy — a sign of its antiquity.
Threefold pattern in historic liturgy: Kyrie (Lord), Christe (Christ), Kyrie (Lord) — addressed to the Trinity in three lines.
📖 Key Scripture
Mark 10:47 — "Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me."
Matthew 15:22 — "Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil."
Luke 18:13 — "God be merciful to me a sinner."
Psalm 51:1 — "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Modern Christianity often skips the cry for mercy; the Kyrie preserves it as the foundation of every approach to God.
expand to see more
Some Protestant subcultures dismiss the Kyrie as Catholic ritual, missing how thoroughly biblical the cry is — the publican, the blind men, the Canaanite woman all prayed it. The corruption is rejecting biblical vocabulary because of associations rather than receiving the cry of every needy soul that ever came to Christ.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Greek kyrie (Lord) plus eleison (have mercy).
expand to see more
Greek kyrios — lord; vocative kyrie.
Greek eleeō — to have mercy; imperative eleison.
Usage
"The publican's prayer made liturgy."
"Before any praise, the cry for mercy."
"Three lines; one breath; right posture."