ECTENIA. – In Greek Ἑκτενῆς (with εὐχή understood), in Slavonic ektemià. It is one of the litanies recited by the deacon in the liturgy and in other offices. It is called extended (prayer), because it contains supplications extending to all the persons and all the spiritual needs of the Christian community.
The hierarchical heads of the Church, the reigning princes, the members of the clergy and the monastic orders, the faithful, the catechumens, the living and the dead are commemorated according to the principal object of the prayer. For this reason, a lengthy formula and a shorter one are distinguished. Each supplication begins with the words: Let us pray again for... and the people respond with Kyris elvison, repeated once or several times. During this litany the priest secretly recites a brief prayer called εὐχή τῆς ἐκτενοῦς and concludes with the ekphonesis, or doxology, in honour of the Most Holy Trinity.
Placido de Meester