2. ‘Itāmāsǝn ‘ǝgzi’o

The prayer is included in the afternoon service of ‘Āstaseryo and in the evening services of Fāsika, except for the first day. As an echo to Genesis 18, the prayer begins with a call to separate the righteous from the sinners. It then refers to Abraham, considered a model for the righteous person who is to be saved. It goes on to state the curses that should not befall the righteous, those who pray. They should be protected from illness, death, hunger, war and exile. The text ends with a call for general deliverance. Those who pray identify themselves with those who shall pray on the Temple Mount.

The piece consists of three measured sections. The first antiphonal section is followed without interruption by a second one in which the melodic material – the same as in the first section – evolves into the hemiola pattern. The third section also follows the hemiola pattern but its melodic formulae slightly differ from those of the previous two sections. The more salient features of this prayer are the simplicity of its melodic material, dancing, rhythmic sounds of hissing, and collective performance, i.e. numerous soloists singing in turns.