The
Apolytikion or
Dismissal Hymn is a
troparion (
hymn) said or sung at
Orthodox Christian worship services. The apolytikion summarizes the
feast being celebrated that day. It is
chanted at
Vespers,
Matins and the
Divine Liturgy; and it is
read at each of the
Little Hours. The name derives from the fact that it is chanted for the first time before the
dismissal (Greek:
apolysis) of Vespers. In the Orthodox Church, the liturgical day begins at sunset, so Vespers is the first service of the day. The term apolyikion is used in Greek tradition. In Slavic tradition the term troparion is specifically used to stand for Apolytikion, whilst troparion is of more generic usage in Greek tradition.