ECTENIA. — In Greek *‘Εκτεινής* (understood: εὐχή), in Slavonic *ekteniţă*. It is one of the litanies recited by the deacon not in the liturgy and in other offices. It is called extended (oration) because it contains extended supplications for all persons and all spiritual needs of the Christian community.
The hierarchical heads of the Church, the reigning princes, the members of the clergy and of the monastic state, the faithful, the catechumens, the living and the dead are commemorated according to the principal object of the prayer. For this reason a prolix form and a shorter one are distinguished. Each supplication begins with the words: “Again we pray for…” and the people respond with *Kyrie eleison* repeated once or more times. During this litany the priest recites secretly a short prayer called *εὐχή τῆς ἐκτεινῆς* and concludes with the effethesis or dossology in honor of the Most Holy Trinity.