What is "ypakoe"

The Ypakoë (also, Hypakoë, , from the verb , "hearken" or "give ear", to "respond"; Slavonic: Ўпакои) is a troparion chanted at Orthros (Matins) and the Midnight Office on Great Feasts and Sundays throughout the liturgical year in the Eastern Orthodox Church. The Ypakoë which is chanted on Sundays is found in the Octoechos and there are eight of them, according to the Tone of the Week. The Ypakoë used at one of the Great Feasts will be written in the tone of the hymnographer's choice.

The Ypakoë, as its name suggests, illustrates the theme of being sent to proclaim the Gospel; and in particular the Resurrection of Jesus by the Myrrh-bearers (Sundays and Pascha) or the theme of the particular Feast being celebrated.

The hymn occurs in several places, depending upon the day and the service:

• On some Great Feasts it is chanted at Matins after the Little Litany which follows Canticle Three of the Canon of the Feast. Not all of the Great Feasts have an Ypakoë; sometimes, a different troparion, called a Sessional Hymn occurs at this point.
• On Sundays at Matins, it is chanted after the Kathismata (readings from the Psalter)—specifically, after the Evlogitaria of the Resurrection and the Little Litany.
• On Sundays at the Midnight Office it is read after the "Canon to the Most Holy Trinity" (this is the same Ypakoë that is chanted after the Kathismata)
• At Pascha (Easter), in addition to its place after the Third Ode of Matins, it is chanted again during the Paschal Hours and the Divine Liturgy along with the Paschal troparion and kontakion.