Last modified on December 28, 2018, at 18:09

Doxology

A Doxology is a hymn of prayer or praise to God, most often used in liturgical services.

Roman Catholic

In the Roman Catholic tradition, the greater doxology is the recitation or singing of "Glory to God in the Highest," and the lesser doxology is "Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit."

Orthodox

In the Orthodox tradition, in the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom, three separate doxologies are sung, each at successively different places in the Liturgy by the priest and the people responsively:

"Blessed is the kingdom of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and unto the ages of ages."
"Amen."
"For to thee belong all glory, honor, and worship to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever and unto the ages of ages."
"Amen."
"For thou art Holy our God, and to thee we give glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever and unto the ages of ages."
"Amen."
— From The Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom
An English translation from the Greek, with commentary, of The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom (stsophia.org) pdf

Protestant

In the Protestant tradition, doxologies are generally sung in mainline denominations, and far less so (if at all) in the other groups (Evangelical, fundamentalist, and Pentecostal/charismatic). The doxology most commonly heard in Protestant churches is "Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow", sung to the traditional melody Old Hundredth:

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow,
Praise Him, all creatures here below,
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host,
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.