feast day of Polyeleos or higher rank occurring on a Sunday, Psalms 134 and 135 are replaced by Psalm 118 (KJV: ). Weekdays (On weekdays, the Polyeleos takes place in the center of the church with the clergy standing around the icon of the feast. The hymns are set in various Tones, depending upon the taste of the hymnographers) Polyeleos (Psalms 134 and 135; or Psalm 44, if it is a Great Feast of the Theotokos) Megalynarion of the feast Little Ektenia Sessional Hymn (or Ypakoë if it is a Great Feast of the Lord) Anavathmoi—almost always the first antiphon in Tone 4 Prokeimenon in the Tone of the Week "Let every breath praise the Lord" in the same tone as the Prokeimenon Matins Gospel—a lesson which is specific to the feast day Psalm 50 Troparia following Psalm 50—speicific to the feast The "Great Intercession"—an extended petition, to which the choir respond, Kyrie Eleison 40 times Rank of feast In the Orthodox ranking of feasts, a day of "Polyeleos" rank is a "Middle feast", ranking above a Great Doxology, and below an All-Night Vigil. In liturgical calendars it is symbolized by a Greek cross printed in red (). Chandelier It is in the form of a very large circle (also called a corona or horos) with many candles on it, and is often adorned with icons of numerous saints. The chandelier, or "polyelaios" ("having much oil", a pun on polyeleos) is suspended by a chain from the ceiling. During the chanting of the Polyeleos psalms (134 and 135), all of the candles are lit and it is pushed with a rod so that it turns back and forth during the singing to symbolize the presence of the angels which will only add to the joy of the service. This practice is still seen in the monasteries of Mount Athos and in other traditional Orthodox monasteries throughout the world. References External links Polyeleos article at Orthodox Wiki Explanation of the All-night Vigil Service by Fr. Victor Potapov Ranks of Feasts Genres of Byzantine music Eastern Orthodox liturgical days Liturgy of the Hours Eastern Christian hymns Byzantine Rite