This evening around Zakynthos, the first Hairetismous as we say in Zakynthos, began.
Known as the A’ Hairetismous, which is the first part of an akathist ( in Greek, akathistos meaning not sitting). It is a hymn dedicated to a saint, holy event, or one of the persons of the Holy Trinity. It is sung as part of the Salutations to the Theotokos service (used in the Byzantine tradition during Great Lent) which was written in the 6th century. As we are in Great Lent now, this hymn is split into four parts and sung at the “Salutations to the Theotokos” on the first four Friday evenings during Great Lent; then the entire Akathist is sung on the fifth Friday evening.
Traditionally it is included in the Orthros of the fifth Saturday of Great Lent. In monasteries of Athonite tradition, the whole Akathist is usually inserted nightly at Compline.
The four sections into which the Akathist is divided correspond to the themes of the Annunciation, Nativity, Christ, and the Theotokos herself.
The hymn itself forms an alphabetical acrostic—that is, each oikos (“house,” possibly from the Syriac terminology) begins with a letter of the Greek alphabet, in order—and it consists of twelve long and twelve short oikoi. Each of the long oikoi include a seven-line stanza followed by six couplets, employing rhyme, assonance, and alliteration, beginning with the word Haire (translated as either “Hail!” or “Rejoice!”) and ending with the refrain, “Hail, Bride without a bridegroom!” In the short oikoi, the seven-line stanza is followed by the refrain, “Alleluia!”
So as the salutaions of the Theotoko Hym begin you will here Zakynthian choirs sing in Byzantine style across the Island…