#axion

• Axion — An archaic, regional, or phonetically corrupted form of the liturgical term 'axion' (derived from the Greek 'axion', meaning 'it is worthy'). It represents a religious hymn of praise dedicated to the Mother of God, sung during the Orthodox Divine Liturgy within the eucharistic ritual. In old popular speech, the term also designated the solemn moment in the service when the entire community offered their thanksgiving.
• Axion — A solemn religious hymn of praise and glory chanted in the Orthodox Church during the Holy Liturgy, immediately after the consecration of the Holy Gifts, dedicated to the hyperdulia and delicate veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The name originates from Greek, from the first words of the liturgical chant 'Axion estin' ('It is truly meet' or 'Worthy it is'). Historically, the text is structurally formed of two distinct parts: the first being an Athonite introduction from the 10th-11th centuries, and the second an irmos composed in the 8th century by Saint Cosmas the Melodist.