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The first three hymns of the [[Divine Liturgy]] are referred to as ''the antiphons''.
Following a liturgical reform in 1838, the Greek tradition (except on [[Mount Athos]]) replaced the older custom of singing verses from the Psalms and [[Beatitudes ]] with brief refrains to the Theotokos and to Christ. The Russian tradition continues to follow an older custom and replaces the Psalter and Beatitude antiphons only at great feasts or on weekdays.
The older custom followed by the Slavic churches is that on regular [[Sunday]]s, [[Typical psalms|the first two antiphons ]] are taken from the [[Psalter]], Psalm 102/103 (''Bless the Lord, O my soul'') and Psalm 145/146 (''Praise the Lord, O my soul''). In the Byzantine tradition, the third antiphon typically consists of the [[troparion]] of the day interspersed with psalm verses, while in the Slavic tradition, the third antiphon comes from the [[Beatitudes]].
Following the second antiphon, a hymn by the [[Justinian the Great|Emperor Justinian]], ''[[Only-begotten Son]]'', is always sung. It is a hymn of faith in the divinity of Christ and his incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection as "one of the Holy Trinity" for the [[salvation]] of men.
==Sources==
*[http://www.holy-trinity.org/liturgics/krivoshein-greekandrussian.html Some differences between Greek and Russian divine services and their significance] Basil Krivoshein, Archbishop of Brussels and Belgium
