The Rite
The Kyrie (from “Kyrie, eleison” or “Lord, have mercy”) is a cry to the Lord for help and strength. In ancient times, the crowds would shout as the king entered their town. The church has taken over this prayer to greet its King Jesus Christ in the Divine Service. As the people long ago expected help from their king, so we Christians expect blessings from our Savior. This is our prayer that God would never stop offering that mercy we heard about just few moments ago in the declaration of grace. It is our recognition that we live only by His mercy, and we know that our only hope lies in His continuing mercy.
In Lutheran Service Book, Divine Service, Settings Three and Four is a threefold Kyrie while Settings One and Two use the Ektene[1] form of the Kyrie. This form came to the Western Mass from the Eastern Church. This became a litany[2] in which petitions would be introduced by the deacon and the congregation would respond to each one by praying “Kyrie, eleison.” Historically, we find this form in use in the Roman church already in the fourth century. It appears that during the time of Gregory the Great (sixth century), that only the “Kyrie, eleison” was used without the supplications, hence the threefold form in Settings Three and Four.
The Ceremony
In an old Norwegian custom the arms are crossed over the chest during the Kyrie, otherwise, the hands are held together in the customary posture for prayer.
________________________
[1] Greek for “earnest” or “fervent”
[2] From the Greek, litaneia or “supplication”
The Liturgiologist 