Greek Orthodoxy - Liturgical Dictionary

DISMISSAL HYMN

The main hymn of a feast sung at the end of Vespers just before the dismissal of the congregation and sung again on the feast day itself at the beginning of Matins and during the Liturgy at the Small Entrance.

DOXASTIKON HYMN

A hymn sung at the end of Matins and introduced with the refrain "Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holly Spirit."

EXAPOSTILARION

A hymn sung toward the end of Matins and related to the feast of a saint or to the theme of the Sunday Matin Gospels.

KONTAKION

A hymn commemorating the saint of a feast, or an event in the life of Christ, usually read during Matins and sung during the Liturgy after the Small Entrance.

MATINS

A service consisting of psalms, petitions, hymns, prayers and, usually, a biblical reading, celebrated in the early morning before the Liturgy.

OCTOECHOS

A hymnbook containing daily vesper and matin hymns for eight sequential weeks according to the eight tones which is used, in continual cycles throughout the liturgical year. This hymnbook is also known as the Paraklitiki.

TONE 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

A series of eight musical tones on which the entire hymnology of the Orthodox Church is based.

VESPERS

An evening service consisting of psalms, hymns. petitions and other prayers, usually related to the feast of a saint.

From the book:    
A Year of the Lord