Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.
(Read three times, with the sign of the cross and bow from the waist)
In Russian: Holy God, Holy Almighty, Holy Immortal, be merciful to us.
Who is this prayer for?
This prayer is to the three persons of the Holy Trinity. By the words: Holy God, God the Father is meant; under the words: Holy Mighty - God the Son; under the words: Holy Immortal - God the Holy Spirit.
Why is the Son of God called mighty or strong?
Because by His resurrection He destroyed hell and defeated the devil.
Why is the Holy Spirit called immortal?
Because He Himself is eternal, like God, giving life to all creatures and especially spiritual, virtuous life and immortality to people.
To whom do the last words of the prayer apply: have mercy on us?
To all three persons of the Holy Trinity, because all three persons of the Holy Trinity forgive our sins and thus have mercy on us.
What is this prayer called?
Trisagion. It is also called the angel's song.
Why is this prayer called the Trisagion?
Because the word Holy is repeated three times.
Why is this prayer called an angel's song?
Because it was received from heaven from the angels themselves, who sing it before the throne of God.
When and how was this song received from heaven?
In the 5th century, during the life of the pious Tsar Theodosius II and Patriarch Proclus, a terrible earthquake occurred in Greece, causing entire villages to fall into the ground. People lived in the streets and squares out of fear. A prayer was held in the field to stop the earthquake. During the prayer service, a boy was raised into heaven from among the people by an invisible hand. Lowered again to the ground, he told the surprised people that he heard angels in heaven glorifying God with the words: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal.
The people, repeating these words, added to them: have mercy on us. After this the earthquake stopped.