Introduction

Immediately after the Nativity Hymn, the celebrant begins the solemn form of "Our Father" that ends with the doxology. "For Thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory for ever Beside its placement at the beginning of the Mars, this Lord's Prayer in the Chaldean rite is special because combines the prayer the disciples learned from Jesus with the song of the angels in heaven, "Holy, holy, Thou art holy" (ls 6:3; Rev 4:8). In the solemn form of the Lord's Prayer the thrice holy appears twice, and in the most solemn form it appears four times. The simple form of "Our Father" without the “thrice holy” and doxology is recited before communion.

The “trice holy” has a significant place among the prayers and hymns in the Chaldean liturgy. In the Mass, after the "Our Father" in the introductory rites, the "thrice holy” will appear again, in different forms, five times at various sections. Thereby, the "thrice holy” serves as a continuous reminder of the connection between the earthly and heavenly, liturgies. According to the vision of Isaiah and the author of the Book of Revelation, the heavenly liturgy consists of the angels constantly singing "Holy, holy, holy is the Land of hosts!” Both times in this setting of the "Our Father, the "thrice holy" is sung in a descending melodic motion, by giving the impression that the angels are coming down singing the hymn and inviting the earthly choir to join them.