Definitions for "Irmos"
Keywords:  ode, stanza, canon, troparia, canticle
The opening hymn of each ode of a canon. In the original Greek text, all the remaining troparia in the ode follow the same meter as the irmos.
In the canon sung in Matins an irmos is a stanza setting the pattern for those following it. 'Eirmos' = 'series'.
(pl. Heirmoi, Irmosi) a hymn that stands as the first troparion in each ode of a kanon and serves as a thematic link between the Scriptural canticles and the feast being celebrated. In the Greek originals, the h. established the melodic and metric model used in subsequent stanzas of each ode.