The main forms of the litany are: • the
Great Litany (Greek: /; Slavonic: /): • : So called not only because of its length, but because of its importance, coming near the beginning of major services such as the
Divine Liturgy,
Matins,
Vespers,
Baptism,
Great Blessing of Waters, etc. This ektenia is also called the Litany of Peace (Greek: /; Slavonic: /) because of the opening petition: "In peace, let us pray to the Lord". • the
Litany of Supplication (Greek: Πληρωτικά/
Plêrotika Slavonic: /): • : So called because most of the petitions end with the deacon saying, "...let us ask of the Lord," to which the choir responds, "Grant [it], O Lord". (Greek: /; Slavonic: /. In both languages, the verb does not require an object.) • the
Litany of Fervent Supplication (Greek: Ἐκτενὴς Δέησις/
Ektenês Deêsis Slavonic: /) also sometimes
Impetratory Litany, Augmented Litany, Fervent Litany: • : This litany is remarkable because of the fervor conveyed in the petitions, and heard audibly in the responses, as indicated by the threefold response of the choir, "Lord, have mercy" (thrice). At the divine liturgy, this litany may also be augmented with special petitions, according to need as the pastor sees fit. • the
Little Litany (Greek: / or /; Slavonic: /): • : So called because of its brevity, being only three petitions long. The Little Litany has elements of the other ektenias in it: the fervency of the Litany of Supplication, and the prayer for peace of the Great Litany, being a brief statement of the faith and hope of the church and often serving as a bridge between parts of the services. • the
Litany of the Catechumens (Greek: Δέησις ὑπὲρ τῶν Κατηχουμένων/
Deêsis yper tōn Katêkhumenōn Slavonic: /): • : At the Divine Liturgy, this litany traditionally ended the part of the service which the
catechumens were permitted to attend. This litany is composed of several petitions for the catechumens as they prepare for baptism, and concludes with a dismissal of the catechumens, and (in older times) the closing of the doors of the
temple to all but baptized members in good standing. • the
Litany of the Faithful (Greek: Δέησις ὑπὲρ τῶν Πιστῶν/
Deêsis yper tōn Pistōn Slavonic: /): • : At the divine liturgy there are a pair of these following the dismissing of the catechumens and commencing the Liturgy of the Faithful, as those remaining prepare for the mystery of
Holy Communion. These are unique in that the deacon exclaims, "Wisdom!" before the priest says the ecphonesis.
Special litanies Some litanies occur only in particular services, usually in the form of special petitions that are added to the Great Litany (such as at baptism, the special Kneeling Vespers at
Pentecost), or unique litanies that occur in only one service (such as those at
Requiem services or
Holy Unction). The
Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts contains the litanies found in the other forms of the divine liturgy, a few being altered for the context of the presanctified. One unique litany during this service is the Ektenia for Those Preparing for Illumination (i.e., for those
catechumens in the final stages of preparation for
baptism on
Pascha). There is also a special form of litany called a
lity (Greek: /; Slavonic: /) which is intoned at
great vespers, consisting of several long petitions, mentioning the names of numerous saints, to which the choir responds with "Lord, have mercy," many times. == Notes==