Learn the English Translation of Liturgical Prayer, the "Kyrie"

Three Simple Lines of Liturgical Prayer

midsection of priest
 Pierre-Jrme Adjedj/EyeEm/Getty Images
By
Aaron Green
Aaron Green
Music Expert
  • B.A., Classical Music and Opera, Westminster Choir College of Rider University
Aaron M. Green is an expert on classical music and music history, with more than 10 years of both solo and ensemble performance experience.
Learn about our Editorial Process
Updated on 02/13/20

One of the key liturgical prayers in the Mass of the Catholic Church, the Kyrie is a simple request for mercy. Written in Latin, you only need to learn two lines, making the English translation even easier to memorize.

The Translation of the "Kyrie"

The Kyrie is actually a transliteration, using the Latin alphabet to spell out a Greek word (Κύριε ἐλέησον). The lines are extremely simple and easy to interpret into English.

Latin English
Kyrie eleison Lord have mercy
Christe eleison Chist have mercy
Kyrie eleison Lord have mercy

The History of the Kyrie

The Kyrie is used in a number of churches, including Eastern Orthodox, the Eastern Catholic Church, and the Roman Catholic Church. The simple statement of "have mercy" can be found in many gospels of the Bible's New Testament.

The Kyrie dates all the way back to 4th century Jerusalem and pagan antiquity. In the 5th century, Pope Gelasius I substituted a litany for the Common Prayer of the Church with the Kyrie as the people's response.

Pope Gregory, I took the litany and struck out the unnecessary words. He said that only "Kyrie Eleison" and "Christe Eleison" shall be sung, "in order that we may concern ourselves with these supplications at greater length."

In the 8th century, The Ordo of St. Amand set the limit at nine repetitions (which is still commonly used today). It is believed that any beyond that would be too redundant. Different forms of the Mass —from the Ordinary Mass to the Traditional Latin Mass—uses various repetitions. Some may use three while others will only sing it once. It may also be accompanied by music.

Over the centuries, the Kyrie has also been incorporated into a number of classical music pieces that were inspired by the Mass. The most famous of these is the "Mass in B Minor," a 1724 composition written by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750).

The Kyrie appears in Bach's "Mass" in the first part, known as the "Missa." In it, the "Kyrie Eleison" and "Christe Eleison" are played back and forth by sopranos and strings, then build up to a four-part choir. It sets the stage perfectly for the voluminous Gloria, which follows it.