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The '''Biblical Odes''' (also called ''canticles'') are nine hymns that are taken directly from Scripture, excluding the Psalms. They are chanted at [[MatinsOrthros]], and form the basis of the [[Canon (hymn)|Canoncanon]], a major component of MatinsOrthros.
The Nine Odes are as follows:
*Ode Seven — The Prayer of the [[Three Holy Children]] (Daniel 3:26-56])<ref>In many Protestant versions of the Bible, this is found separately in the [[Deuterocanonical Books|Apocrypha]].</ref>
*Ode Eight — The Song of the Three Holy Children (Daniel 3:57-88)<ref>Ibid.</ref>
*Canticle Nine — The Song of the [[Theotokos]] (the ''Magnificat'': {Luke 1:46-55)); the Song of [[Zacharias]] (the ''Benedictus'' {Luke 1:68-79))
Originally, these Odes were chanted in their entirety every day, with a short refrain inserted between each verse. Eventually, short verses ([[Tropariontroparion|troparia]]) were composed to replace these refrains, a process traditionally inaugurated by Saint [[Andrew of Crete]].<ref>Ware, Kallistos, ''The Festal Menaion'' (Faber and Faber, London, 1969), p. 546.</ref> Gradually over the centuries, the verses of the Biblical Canticles were omitted (except for the ''Magnificat'') and only the composed troparia were read, linked to the original canticles by an [[Irmos]]. During [[Great Lent]] however, the original Biblical Canticles are still read.
==Notes==
