Nkosi yiba nenceba - Kyrie eleison by Archdiocese of Pretoria Catholic Church Choir

Описание: In the Catholic Church, Kyrie Eleison (Greek for "Lord, have mercy") is one of the most ancient and essential prayers used in the liturgy.

Liturgical Use
The Mass: It is typically used during the Penitential Act at the beginning of the Holy Mass. It serves as a humble acknowledgment of human sinfulness and a petition for God’s compassion before moving into the Liturgy of the Word.

Structure: The prayer follows a responsive "three-fold" pattern:
Kyrie, eléison (Lord, have mercy)
Christe, eléison (Christ, have mercy)
Kyrie, eléison (Lord, have mercy)

Traditional Latin Mass: In the older Tridentine form, the Kyrie is a nine-fold petition (each of the three phrases is repeated three times).

Significance and History
Language: It is the only part of the traditional Roman Rite that remains in Greek rather than Latin. This highlights the Church's ancient roots in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Biblical Roots: The phrase appears throughout the Bible, notably in the Psalms (e.g., Psalm 51) and the Gospels, where individuals such as the blind men of Jericho or the Canaanite woman cry out to Jesus for healing.
Purpose: It is not merely a confession of guilt but a "plaintive cry" of hope and trust in God’s goodness.

Musical Tradition
The Kyrie has been set to music by nearly every major composer of sacred music throughout history. It is famously performed as:

Gregorian Chant: The monophonic, ancient vocal music of the Church.
Polyphonic Masses: Elaborate choral works by composers like Palestrina, Mozart, and Bach.
Contemporary Hymns: Modern vernacular and local translations used in parishes today.