Canon (hymnography) - Abbreviated Canons

Abbreviated Canons

Sometimes abbreviated canons are used. A canon consisting of only four odes is called a tetraode; a canon consisting of only three odes is called a triode. In both of these types of canons, the last two odes are always the VIIIth and IXth. The preceding ode(s) may vary with the day of the week. For instance, during Great Lent, the Lenten Triodion provides triodes at Matins on Monday through Friday: on Mondays they consist of Odes I, VIII and IX, on Tuesdays, Odes II, VIII and IX, and so on through Friday which consists of Odes V, VIII and IX. Saturdays during Great Lent have tetraodes, consisting of Odes VI, VII, VIII and IX. Because the use of triodes is so prevalent during Great Lent, the book containing the changeable portions of services that liturgical season is called the Triodion. Triodes are also used at Compline during the period between Pascha (Easter) and Pentecost. In the Russian Orthodox Church, the book containing the services for this season, the Pentecostarion, is also known as the Flowery Triodion. Triodes and tetraodes are also found during certain Forefeasts and Afterfeasts.