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Acathistus

noun Ac·a·this·tus \ ˌakəˈthistəs \

variants: or Acathistos \äˈkäthēˌstȯs\ or less commonly Akathist \ˈakəˌthist\ or Akathistos \äˈkäthēˌstȯs\

Definition of Acathistus

plural Acathisti \ˌakəˈthiˌstī, -(ˌ)stē\ or Acathistoi \äˈkäthēˌstē\ also Akathists \ˈakəˌthis(t)s\ or Akathistoi \äˈkäthēˌstē\

:any of several Lenten hymns of the Eastern Orthodox Church sung with the people standing in honor of Christ, the Virgin Mary, or one of the saints

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Origin and Etymology of acathistus

Middle Greek akathistos (hymnos), literally, standing hymn, from akathistos standing, from a- ²a- + -kathistos (from Greek kathizein to seat, set, sit, from kata down + -izein -ize)

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First Known Use: circa 1721

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Acathist hymn

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