The Sanctus — Throughout History until Today

Text and Liturgy

Abstract

The Trisagion, the opening line of the Christian hymn of praise called the Sanctus, is familiar also to the Hebrew practice of prayer, where it is used to include the community in the laud of the angels. The Sanctus as we use it today is derived from the following Bible excerpts: Is 6:3, Rev 4:8, Mt 21:9 and Ps 118, 25–25a. Already since the fourth century, the Sanctus has had its place in the Eucharistic Prayer, preserved by both the Churches of the East and of the West until this day. In the Roman Rite, the community gathered for the celebration of the Eucharist exalts its Creator and Redeemer at the end of the Preface of the Mass together with the Angels and Saints, gives thanks to Him for his work of creation and redemption and declares His holiness, power and glory. At the same time, in the Sanctus the community proclaims Christ’s first coming, which filled heaven and earth with God’s glory, and awaits His coming under the species of bread and wine, as also at the end of time, while it goes forth to meet the Lord.