The 50th psalm is chanted at most Sunday Matins (Orthros) services throughout the year. Although there is modern music for it, most psaltai chant it by-heart, in fast tempo, faster than Heirmologic. In the books it is often described that it is chanted "Chyma" (Freely"). There is some variation in how psaltai chant this psalm nowadays. What is the most traditional way to chant this psalm? What do they do at the Patriarchate?

Διάφορες περιπτώσεις εκτελέσεων: / Variations of current practice:

Some psaltai chant it fast but rhythmically. This seems to be the Patriarchal practice. Notice the tempo slow down at the end of each verse.

Note: "Idou Gar Alitheian" is always chanted slowly when there is a Bishop/Patriarch presiding to give time for the Gospel to come out of the Altar and the Bishop to venerate it. Eis polla is chanted at the end of that verse. Then, back to fast tempo.

Some psaltai chant it relatively slowly. This trend probably came from churches with large congregations taking time to kiss the Gospel. In some local churches in great feasts that can take up to half an hour! But many modern psaltai chant the psalm slowly regardless. The especially slow down in verses like "Kyrie Ta Cheilh mou Anoixeis" etc. which they perform solo and slower, in a kallophonic manner.

Note: Angelos Boudouris mentions that Iakovos Nafpliotis would often chant the 50th psalm in Barys Diatonic mode.

D. Koubaroulis:It has become customary to append some text to the beginning and the end of the chanted version of the psalm. In the beginning we add "Elehmon" and at the end we add "kai Elehson me o Theos". How traditional are those additions and why were they added? I don't know.

S. Gugushvili: Apart of the 2nd mode versions there're also ones in barys. According to Fr. Rigas in the Great Lent the 50th psalm is done in the Pl.4 evidently because "Tis metanoias..." is in Pl.4. As far as appending text to the Psalm verses is concerned, that's how all Psalms or Biblical odes were chanted in ancient times (remember also adding Allelouia to e.g. Douloi Kyrion verses). Maybe "kai eleison me o Theos" is a remnant (?) of this practice.

D. Koubaroulis: Apostolos Konstas mentions both text additions in his Typikon (early 19th century).

G. K. Michalakis: The 50th psalm and the 2 troparions which follow should last the time necessary for all to HEAR the psalm while venerating the TEXTUAL SOURCE of salvation they're asking for, the EVANGELION. ...As far as appending text to the Psalm verses is concerned, notice that I have done 2 versions of each of the FIRST and LAST verses. According to some, the last verse addition, "kai eleison me O Theos" has been added because the melody is LIMP (is missing syllables). For those who argue in this sense, it's an addition of MUSICAL necessity and not of any other traditional origin.. the same goes for the first verse. Compare the two (ALL my teachers have chanted thushow..; SOME, however, did not always use "ELEIMON" when chanting the TROPARIONS (as opposed to ALWAYS using this addition on the first verse of the psalm).