Editing Gloria in excelsis Deo

{{Short description|Christian hymn}}
{{For|the Bach cantata|Gloria in excelsis Deo, BWV 191}}
[[File:Gloria 5 (init).png|thumb|right|200px|The melody in [[neume]] notation]]
"'''{{lang|la|Gloria in excelsis Deo|italic=no}}'''" ([[Latin]] for "Glory to God in the highest") is a [[Christianity|Christian]] [[Hymn#Christian hymnody|hymn]] known also as the '''Greater Doxology''' (as distinguished from the "Minor Doxology" or [[Gloria Patri]]) and the '''Angelic Hymn'''<ref name="ODCC">{{cite book|title=Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2005|ISBN=978-0-19-280290-3|chapter=Gloria in Excelsis|editor-first1=Elizabeth A. |editor-last1=Livingstone|editor-first2=Frank Leslie|editor-last2=Cross}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/235572/greater-doxology |title=Greater Doxology|publisher=Encyclopaedia Britannica|access-date=2012-03-11}}</ref>/'''Hymn of the Angels'''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.neamericandiocese.org/liturgical-hours/hymn-of-the-angels.aspx|title=Hymn of the Angels|publisher=North American Diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church}}</ref> The name is often abbreviated to '''Gloria in Excelsis''' or simply '''Gloria'''.

{{Listen|filename=GloriaGregorianChant.ogg|title=Gloria VIII from the Roman Gradual|description=Gloria VIII|format=[[Ogg]]}}

The hymn begins with the words that the [[angel]]s sang when announcing the birth of Christ to shepherds in {{bibleref2|Luke|2:14|DRA}}: [[Douay-Rheims Bible|Douay-Rheims]] (in Latin). Other verses were added very early, forming a [[doxology]].<ref name=CE/>

An article by [[David Flusser]] links the text of the verse in Luke with ancient Jewish liturgy.<ref>[https://wholestones.org/sanctus-and-gloria/ English translation] of an article that originally appeared in ''[https://books.google.com/books/about/Abraham_unser_Vater.html?id=kdcLtwAACAAJ&redir_esc=yAbraham Unser Vater: Juden und Christen im Gespräch über die Bibel: Festschrift für Otto Michel zum 60. Geburststag]'' (ed. Otto Betz, Martin Hengel, and Peter Schmidt; Leiden: Brill, 1963), 129–152</ref>

==History==
{{lang|la|Gloria in excelsis Deo|italic=no}} is an example of  the ''psalmi idiotici'' ("private psalms", i.e., compositions by individuals in imitation of the biblical [[Psalter]]) that were popular in the 2nd and 3rd centuries. Other surviving examples of this lyric poetry are the [[Te Deum]] and the [[Phos Hilaron]].<ref name=CE>{{CathEncy|wstitle=Gloria in Excelsis Deo}}</ref> In the 4th century it became part of morning prayers, and is still recited in the [[Byzantine Rite]] [[Matins|Orthros]] service.<ref name=ODCC/>

The [[Latin]] translation is traditionally attributed to [[Hilary of Poitiers]] ({{circa|300}}–368), who may have learned it while in the East (359–360); as such, it is part of a loose tradition of early Latin translations of the scripture known as the [[Vetus Latina]].<ref name=CE/> The [[Vulgate]] Latin translation of the [[Bible]] was commissioned only in 382.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9075790 |title=Encyclopædia Britannica Online, article ''Vulgate'' |publisher=Britannica.com |access-date=2012-03-11}}</ref> 

The Latin hymn thus uses the word ''excelsis'' to translate the Greek word ὑψίστοις – ''hypsístois'' (the highest) in {{bibleref2|Luke|2:14|DRA}}: [[Douay-Rheims Bible|Douay-Rheims]], not the word ''altissimis'', which [[Jerome]] preferred for his translation. However, this word is used near the end: ''tu solus Altissimus, Iesu Christe'' (you alone the Most High, Jesus Christ).

==Present-day Greek Orthodox text==
{{verse translation|lang=grc|italicsoff=yes|Δόξα Σοι τῷ δείξαντι τὸ φῶς.
Δόξα ἐν ὑψίστοις Θεῷ καὶ ἐπὶ γῆς εἰρήνη ἐν ἀνθρώποις εὐδοκία.{{refn|group="note"|This verse follows the [[Byzantine text-type]], which has ''εὐδοκία'' in the [[nominative case]] and thus translates to ''good will'' or ''favour''. Modern critical editions of the New Testament used by scholars and most Bible societies follow the [[Alexandrian text-type]], which has ''εὐδοκίας'' with a [[sigma]] at the end, which makes it a [[genitive case]] and renders it ''of good will'' or ''of favour''.<ref name="Luke 2:14 text analysis">{{Cite web |url=https://biblehub.com/text/luke/2-14.htm |title=Luke 2:14 Text Analysis |work=Biblehub.com |access-date=4 December 2021}}</ref>}}
Ὑμνοῦμέν σε, εὐλογοῦμέν σε, προσκυνοῦμέν σε, δοξολογοῦμέν σε, εὐχαριστοῦμέν σοι, διὰ τὴν μεγάλην σου δόξαν.
Κύριε Βασιλεῦ, ἐπουράνιε Θεέ, Πάτερ παντοκράτορ, Κύριε Υἱὲ μονογενές, Ἰησοῦ Χριστέ, καὶ Ἅγιον Πνεῦμα.
Κύριε ὁ Θεός, ὁ ἀμνὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ, ὁ Υἱός τοῦ Πατρός, ὁ αἴρων τὴν ἁμαρτίαν τοῦ κόσμου, ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς, ὁ αἴρων τὰς ἁμαρτίας τοῦ κόσμου.
Πρόσδεξαι τὴν δέησιν ἡμῶν, ὁ καθήμενος ἐν δεξιᾷ τοῦ Πατρός, καὶ ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς.
Ὅτι σὺ εἶ μόνος Ἅγιος, σὺ εἶ μόνος Κύριος, Ἰησοῦς Χριστός, εἰς δόξαν Θεοῦ Πατρός. Ἀμήν.
Καθ' ἑκάστην ἡμέραν εὐλογήσω σε, καὶ αἰνέσω τὸ ὄνομά σου εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα καὶ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τοῦ αἰῶνος.
Καταξίωσον, Κύριε, ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ταύτῃ, ἀναμαρτήτους φυλαχθῆναι ἡμᾶς.
Εὐλογητὸς εἶ, Κύριε, ὁ Θεὸς τῶν Πατέρων ἡμῶν, καὶ αἰνετὸν καὶ δεδοξασμένον τὸ ὄνομά σου εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας. Ἀμήν.
Γένοιτο, Κύριε, τὸ ἔλεός σου ἐφ' ἡμᾶς, καθάπερ ἠλπίσαμεν ἐπὶ σέ.
Εὐλογητὸς εἶ, Κύριε. δίδαξόν με τὰ δικαιώματά σου (γ').
Κύριε, καταφυγὴ ἐγενήθης ἡμῖν, ἐν γενεᾷ καὶ γενεᾷ. 
Ἐγὼ εἶπα· Κύριε, ἐλέησόν με, ἴασαι τὴν ψυχήν μου, ὅτι ἥμαρτόν σοι.
Κύριε, πρὸς σὲ κατέφυγον, δίδαξόν με τοῦ ποιεῖν τὸ θέλημά σου, ὅτι σὺ εἶ ὁ Θεός μου.
Ὅτι παρὰ σοὶ πηγὴ ζωῆς, ἐν τῷ φωτί σου ὀψόμεθα φῶς.
Παράτεινον τὸ ἔλεός σου τοῖς γινώσκουσί σε.
Ἅγιος ὁ Θεός, Ἅγιος Ἰσχυρός, Ἅγιος Ἀθάνατος, ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς (ἐκ γ').
Δόξα Πατρὶ καὶ Υἱῷ καὶ Ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι,
καὶ νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν.
Ἅγιος Ἀθάνατος, ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς.
Ἅγιος ὁ Θεός, Ἅγιος Ἰσχυρός, Ἅγιος Ἀθάνατος, ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς. 
(Verses follow that vary according to whether the celebration is on a Sunday or a weekday.)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://analogion.gr/glt/texts/Oro/Orthros.uni.htm |title=ΟΡΘΡΟΣ |publisher=Analogion.gr |date=2007-11-14 |access-date=2012-03-11 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120707102634/http://analogion.gr/glt/texts/Oro/Orthros.uni.htm |archive-date=2012-07-07 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://analogion.gr/glt/texts/Oro/OrthrosSun.uni.htm |title=Ορθροσ Εν Ταισ Κυριακαισ |publisher=Analogion.gr |access-date=2012-03-11 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120707090055/http://analogion.gr/glt/texts/Oro/OrthrosSun.uni.htm |archive-date=2012-07-07 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|Glory to you who have shown us the light.
Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will to all people.
We praise you, we bless you, we worship you, we glorify you, we give thanks to you for your great glory.
Lord, King, heavenly God, Father, almighty; Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit.
Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father who take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us, you who take away the sins of the world.
Receive our prayer, you who sit at the right hand of the Father, and have mercy on us.
For you only are holy, only you are Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Each day we bless you, and we praise your name forever and to the ages of ages.
Lord, grant that we may be kept this day without sin.
Blessed are you, Lord, God of our fathers. Your name is praised and glorified throughout all ages. Amen.
Let your mercy, Lord, be upon us, as our trust is in you.
Blessed are you, Lord, teach me your statutes (3).
Lord, you have been our refuge from generation to generation. 
I said: Lord, have mercy on me; heal my soul, for I have sinned against you.
Lord, to you have I fled; teach me to do your will, for you are my God.
For you are the source of life, and in your light we shall see light.
Extend your mercy to those who know you.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us (3).
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 
Now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.<ref name="The Service of the Sunday Orthros">{{cite web|url=http://www.goarch.org/chapel/liturgical_texts/sundayorthros/ |title=The Service of the Sunday Orthros |publisher=Goarch.org |access-date=2012-03-11}}</ref>}}

== Present-day Coptic text ==
{{Verse translation|Ⲙⲁⲣⲉⲛϩⲱⲥ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲛⲓⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲟⲥ: ϫⲉ ⲟⲩⲱ̀ⲟⲩ ⲙ̀Ⲫ̀ⲛⲟⲩϯ ϧⲉⲛ ⲛⲏⲉⲧϭⲟⲥⲓ: ⲛⲉⲙ ⲟⲩϩⲓⲣⲏⲛⲏ ϩⲓϫⲉⲛ ⲡⲓⲕⲁϩⲓ: ⲛⲉⲙ ⲟⲩϯⲙⲁϯ ϧⲉⲛ ⲛⲓⲣⲱⲙⲓ. 
Ⲧⲉⲛϩⲱⲥ ⲉ̀ⲣⲟⲕ: ⲧⲉⲛⲥ̀ⲙⲟⲩ ⲉ̀ⲣⲟⲕ: ⲧⲉⲛϣⲉⲙϣⲓ ⲙ̀ⲙⲟⲕ: ⲧⲉⲛⲟⲩⲱϣⲧ ⲙ̀ⲙⲟⲕ: ⲧⲉⲛⲟⲩⲱⲛϩ ⲛⲁⲕ ⲉ̀ⲃⲟⲗ: ⲧⲉⲛⲥⲁϫⲓ ϧⲉⲛ ⲡⲉⲕⲱ̀ⲟⲩ: ⲧⲉⲛϣⲉⲡϩ̀ⲙⲟⲧ ⲛ̀ⲧⲟⲧⲕ ⲉⲑⲃⲉ ⲡⲉⲕⲛⲓϣϯ ⲛ̀ⲱ̀ⲟⲩ. 
Ⲡ̀ϭⲟⲓⲥ Ⲡⲓⲟⲩⲣⲟ ⲉⲧ ϩⲓϫⲉⲛ ⲛⲓⲫⲏⲟⲩⲓ̀: Ⲫ̀ⲛⲟⲩϯ Ⲫ̀ⲓⲱⲧ Ⲡⲓⲡⲁⲛⲧⲟⲕⲣⲁⲧⲱⲣ: Ⲡ̀ϭⲟⲓⲥ Ⲡ̀ϣⲏⲣⲓ ⲙ̀ⲙⲁⲩⲁⲧϥ ⲡⲓⲙⲟⲛⲟⲅⲉⲛⲏⲥ Ⲓⲏⲥⲟⲩⲥ Ⲡⲓⲭ̀ⲣⲓⲥⲧⲟⲥ: ⲛⲉⲙ Ⲡⲓⲡ̀ⲛⲉⲩⲙⲁ Ⲉⲑⲟⲩⲁⲃ. 
Ⲡ̀ϭⲟⲓⲥ Ⲫ̀ⲛⲟⲩϯ Ⲡⲓϩⲏⲓⲃ ⲛ̀ⲧⲉ Ⲫ̀ⲛⲟⲩϯ: Ⲡⲓϣⲏⲣⲓ ⲛ̀ⲧⲉ Ⲫ̀ⲓⲱⲧ: ⲫⲏⲉⲧⲱ̀ⲗⲓ ⲙ̀ⲫ̀ⲛⲟⲃⲓ ⲛ̀ⲧⲉ ⲡⲓⲕⲟⲥⲙⲟⲥ ⲛⲁⲓ ⲛⲁⲛ.
Ⲫⲏⲉⲧⲱ̀ⲗⲓ ⲙ̀ⲫ̀ⲛⲟⲃⲓ ⲛ̀ⲧⲉ ⲡⲓⲕⲟⲥⲙⲟⲥ ϣⲉⲡ ⲛⲉⲛϯϩⲟ ⲉ̀ⲣⲟⲕ. Ⲫⲏⲉⲧϩⲉⲙⲥⲓ ⲥⲁⲟⲩⲓ̀ⲛⲁⲙ ⲙ̀Ⲡⲉϥⲓⲱⲧ ⲛⲁⲓ ⲛⲁⲛ.
Ⲛ̀ⲑⲟⲕ ⲙ̀ⲙⲁⲩⲁⲧⲕ ⲉⲑⲟⲩⲁⲃ: ⲛ̀ⲑⲟⲕ ⲙ̀ⲙⲁⲩⲁⲧⲕ ⲉⲧϭⲟⲥⲓ: Ⲡⲁϭⲟⲓⲥ Ⲓⲏⲥⲟⲩⲥ Ⲡⲓⲭ̀ⲣⲓⲥⲧⲟⲥ: ⲛⲉⲙ Ⲡⲓⲡ̀ⲛⲉⲩⲙⲁ Ⲉⲑⲟⲩⲁⲃ. Ⲉ̀ⲟⲩⲱ̀ⲟⲩ ⲙ̀Ⲫ̀ⲛⲟⲩϯ Ⲫ̀ⲓⲱⲧ. Ⲁ̀ⲙⲏⲛ.
Ϯⲛⲁⲥ̀ⲙⲟⲩ ⲉ̀ⲣⲟⲕ ⲙ̀ⲙⲏⲛⲓ ⲙ̀ⲙⲏⲛⲓ: ϯⲛⲁⲥ̀ⲙⲟⲩ ⲉ̀ⲡⲉⲕⲣⲁⲛ ⲉⲑⲟⲩⲁⲃ ϣⲁ ⲉ̀ⲛⲉϩ ⲛⲉⲙ ϣⲁ ⲉ̀ⲛⲉϩ ⲛ̀ⲧⲉ ⲛⲓⲉ̀ⲛⲉϩ. Ⲁ̀ⲙⲏⲛ.
Ⲓⲥϫⲉⲛ ϫⲱⲣϩ ⲁ̀ ⲡⲁⲡ̀ⲛⲉⲩⲙⲁ ϣⲱⲣⲡ ⲙ̀ⲙⲟϥ ϩⲁⲣⲟⲕ Ⲡⲁⲛⲟⲩϯ: ϫⲉ ϩⲁⲛⲟⲩⲱⲓⲛⲓ ⲛⲉ ⲛⲉⲕⲟⲩⲁϩⲥⲁϩⲛⲓ ϩⲓϫⲉⲛ ⲡⲓⲕⲁϩⲓ.
Ⲛⲁⲓⲉⲣⲙⲉⲗⲉⲧⲁⲛ ϩⲓϫⲉⲛ ⲛⲉⲕⲙⲱⲓⲧ: ϫⲉ ⲁⲕϣⲱⲡⲓ ⲛⲏⲓ ⲛ̀ⲟⲩⲃⲟⲏ̀ⲑⲟⲥ. Ϩⲁⲛⲁ̀ⲧⲟⲟⲩⲓ̀ Ⲡ̀ϭⲟⲓⲥ ⲉⲕⲉ̀ⲥⲱⲧⲉⲙ ⲉ̀ⲧ̀ⲥ̀ⲙⲏ: ϣⲱⲣⲡ ⲉⲓⲉ̀ⲧⲁϩⲟⲓ ⲛⲁϩⲣⲁⲕ ⲉⲕⲉ̀ⲛⲁⲩ ⲉ̀ⲣⲟⲓ.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tasbeha.org/hymn_library/view/1851 |title=The Praise of the Angels |access-date=2023-01-19}}</ref>|Let us praise with the angels saying, “Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, and goodwill toward men.”
We praise You. We bless You. We serve You. We worship You. We confess to You. We proclaim Your glory. We thank You for Your great glory.
O Lord who reigns over the heavens, God the Father, the Almighty. O Lord, the one only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.
O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, who bears the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
O who bears the sins of the world, accept our supplications. O who sits at the right hand of His Father, have mercy on us.
You alone are holy; You alone are the Most High, my Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Glory to God the Father. Amen.
Every day I will bless You and praise Your holy name forever and unto the ages of all ages. Amen.
Since the night my spirit seeks You early, O my God, for Your commandments are a light on the earth.
I continually pursue Your ways for You have become a help to me. In the morning You hear my voice. Early, I stand before You, and You see me.|lang=cop|italicsoff=y}}

==Present-day Latin text==
{{verse translation|Glória in excélsis Deo
et in terra pax homínibus bonæ voluntátis.
Laudámus te,
benedícimus te,
adorámus te,
glorificámus te,
grátias ágimus tibi propter magnam glóriam tuam,
Dómine Deus, Rex cæléstis,
Deus Pater omnípotens.

Dómine Fili Unigénite, Iesu Christe,
Dómine Deus, Agnus Dei, Fílius Patris,
qui tollis peccáta mundi, 
miserére nobis;
qui tollis peccáta mundi, 
súscipe deprecatiónem nostram.
Qui sedes ad déxteram Patris, 
miserére nobis.

Quóniam tu solus Sanctus, 
tu solus Dóminus, 
tu solus Altíssimus,
Iesu Christe, 
cum Sancto Spíritu: 
in glória Dei Patris.
Amen.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.usccb.org/committees/divine-worship/policies/mass-settings-texts#tab--agnus-dei | title=Texts for Order of Mass Settings &#124; USCCB }}</ref>
|Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to people of good will. 
We praise you,
we bless you, 
we adore you,
we glorify you,
we give you thanks for your great glory,
Lord God, heavenly King,
O God almighty Father. 

Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son, 
Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of The Father,
who takes away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us;
you take away the sins of the world,
receive our prayer;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father
have mercy on us. 

For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High,
Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father. 
Amen.|lang=la|italicsoff=y}}

==Liturgical use==
[[File:Angel from The Song of Bethlehem.jpg|thumb|200px|Angel with the words "Gloria in Excelsis Deo et in terra pax" by [[Dalziel Brothers]]]]

===Byzantine Rite===
In the [[Byzantine Rite]] (used by the [[Eastern Orthodox]] and some [[Eastern Catholic Churches]]), the Gloria is referred to as the ''Doxology'', and there are two forms: the Greater Doxology and the Lesser Doxology. The Greater Doxology is always sung, whereas the Lesser Doxology is read. There are certain textual differences between the two, and the order is somewhat altered in the two forms.

The Greater Doxology is used in the [[Matins|Orthros]] (Matins) on [[Sunday]]s and [[feast day]]s. The Lesser Doxology is used at Matins on simple weekdays and at the [[Compline|Apodeipnon]] (Compline), but not in the  [[Divine Liturgy]].<ref name=CE/>

=== Alexandrine Rite ===
In the [[Alexandrine Rite]] (used by the [[Coptic Orthodox Church]] and some other [[Oriental Orthodox Churches]]), the Gloria is a common congregational prayer, sometime referred to as the "Praise of the Angels". It is recited collectively by the congregation during the Morning Raising of Incense, as well as at the Matins prayer of the [[Agpeya]] (the Alexandrian Canonical [[Book of hours|Book of the Hours]]).<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |url=https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/music/coptic/200155823/200155823.pdf |title=The Divine Liturgies of Saints Basil, Gregory, and Cyril |publisher=St. Mary & St. George Coptic Orthodox Church |year=2001 |location=Tallahassee, Florida, USA |pages=29;210}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://ukmidcopts.org/kotob/Agpia.pdf |title=AGPIA |publisher=Coptic Orthodox Publication and Translation |year=2000 |location=Sydney, Australia |pages=24}}</ref> The first verse of the hymn is also recited at the dismissal of the Divine Liturgy before the chanting of the "Concluding Canon".<ref name=":0" /> 

===Roman Rite===
By contrast, in the [[Roman Rite]] this hymn is not included in the [[Liturgy of the Hours]], but is sung or recited at [[Mass (liturgy)|Mass]], after the [[Kyrie]], on Sundays outside of [[Lent]] and [[Advent]], during the [[octave (liturgy)|octaves]] of Easter and Christmas, and on [[solemnity|solemnities]] and feasts.<ref name=ODCC/>

In Masses celebrated in accordance with the 1962 [[Roman Missal]] (authorized as an [[Summorum Pontificum|extraordinary form]] of the Roman Rite), the Gloria is sung much more frequently: the 1960 [[Code of Rubrics]] require it at Mass when in the corresponding Office of the day the [[Te Deum]] is said at [[Matins]]. It is thus used not only on I and II-class feasts (corresponding to solemnities and  feasts in the [[Mass of Paul VI|post-Vatican II Mass]]) but also on III-class feasts (corresponding to [[memorial (liturgy)|memorials]] in the later form). In the 1962 form it is also said on ferias of [[Christmastide]] and [[Paschaltide]] even outside the octaves, but is omitted during the [[Septuagesima]] season, which does not exist in the post-Vatican II liturgy. The Gloria is also sung in both the pre-Vatican II and in the later form of the Roman Rite at the [[Mass of the Lord's Supper]] in the evening of [[Maundy Thursday]] and at the [[Easter Vigil]].<ref>{{cite book|editor-last1=Murphy|editor-first1=Patrick L. |title=The New Rubrics of the Roman Breviary and Missal|date=1960|publisher=Catholic Press Newspaper Co.|location=Surrey Hills, New South Wales, Australia|page=81}}</ref>

A tradition recorded in the [[Liber Pontificalis]] attributes to [[Pope Telesphorus]] (128–139?) the use of the hymn at the Mass of [[Christmas Day]] and to [[Pope Symmachus]] (498–514) its use on Sundays and the feasts of [[martyr]]s, but only by bishops; the right to use it was later extended to priests, at first only at [[Easter]] and on the day of their ordination, but by the end of the 11th century priests, as well as bishops, used it in the Mass on Sundays and feasts outside of Lent and [[Septuagesima|Pre-Lent]]. After the 12th century [[Advent]] began to be considered a penitential period in imitation of [[Lent]], to the exclusion therefore of the {{lang|la|Gloria in excelsis Deo}}.<ref name=CE/>

===Lutheran Rite===
The hymn is used in the [[Mass (liturgy)#Lutheranism|Mass]] ([[Divine Service (Lutheran)|Divine Service]]) of the [[Lutheran Church]]es.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lutheranreformation.org/worship/the-gloria-in-excelsis/|title=The Gloria in Excelsis|date=December 24, 2016}}</ref> 

===Anglican use===
In the [[Church of England]]'s [[Book of Common Prayer (1549)|1549 edition]] of the ''[[Book of Common Prayer]]'', it was used in the same position as in the Roman Rite but was later moved to the end of the service, immediately before the concluding blessing.<ref name=ODCC/> Revisions to the Prayer Book produced the [[Book of Common Prayer (1552)|1552 prayer book]] and later the [[Book of Common Prayer (1662)|1662 prayer book]], but this placement was retained by the [[Anglican Communion]] until the 20th century. ''[[Common Worship]]'' provides two Orders, one of which places the hymn in the earlier position.

The 1789 [[Episcopal Church (United States)|Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America]] prayer book placed the Gloria at the end of the psalms in Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer as an option to use of the Gloria Patri and also placed the Gloria at the end of the holy Eucharist (like the 1662 prayer book). The 1928 version removed the Gloria from Morning Prayer but retained it in Evening Prayer. This 1928 edition is still the standard in the breakaway [[Continuing Anglican]] churches. The Episcopal Church's 1979 Book moved it to the beginning, after or in place of the ''Kyrie'' in Rite One. In a Rite Two (i.e., contemporary language) service of Holy Eucharist, the Gloria, or another song of praise, is sung or said on all Sundays except those in Advent or Lent. It may also be used at other times as desired excepting Lent and Advent.

====Gloria in the Mass ordinary====
{{see also|Mass ordinary#II. Gloria}}
{{verse translation|lang=lat|Gloria in excelsis Deo et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis. Laudamus te, benedicimus te, adoramus te, glorificamus te, gratias agimus tibi propter magnam gloriam tuam, Domine Deus, Rex caelestis, Deus Pater omnipotens.
Domine Fili unigenite, Iesu Christe, Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, Filius Patris, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis; qui tollis peccata mundi, suscipe deprecationem nostram. Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris, miserere nobis.
Quoniam tu solus Sanctus, tu solus Dominus, tu solus Altissimus, Iesu Christe, cum Sancto Spiritu: in gloria Dei Patris. Amen.
|Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will. We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you, we give you thanks for your great glory, Lord God, heavenly King, O God almighty Father.
Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us; you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer; you are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us.
For You alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.}}

==Associated ceremonial==
===Roman Rite===
In the [[Tridentine Mass]], the priest is instructed, when saying the opening phrase "Gloria in excelsis Deo", to extend his hands and raise them to shoulder height and, at the word "Deo", to join them and bow his head. He is then to continue the recitation standing erect with hands joined and bowing his head to the cross at the words "Adoramus te", "Gratias agimus tibi", "Iesu Christe" (twice), and "Suscipe deprecationem nostram", and at the concluding phrase (as also at the concluding phrase of the [[Nicene Creed]] and the [[Sanctus]]), to make a large [[sign of the cross]] on himself.<ref>Ritus servandus in celebratione Missae, IV, 3 (page LVI of the [http://www.musicasacra.com/pdf/missale62.pdf 1962 typical edition])</ref> At [[Solemn Mass|High Mass]] the priest intones the opening phrase, while the deacon and subdeacon stand behind him; then they join him at the altar and together with him quietly recite the rest of the hymn,<ref>Ritus servandus in celebratione Missae, IV, 7 (page LVI of the [http://www.musicasacra.com/pdf/missale62.pdf 1962 typical edition])</ref> after which they sit down and wait for the choir to finish its singing of the same text.

The [[Roman Missal]] as revised in 1970 simplifies this, saying: "The Gloria is intoned by the priest or, if appropriate, by a cantor or by the choir; but it is sung either by everyone together, or by the people alternately with the choir, or by the choir alone. If not sung, it is to be recited either by all together or by two parts of the congregation responding one to the other."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.acbc.catholic.org.au/documents/200707031933.pdf |title=General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 53 |publisher=Acbc.catholic.org.au |access-date=2012-03-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080720091216/http://www.acbc.catholic.org.au/documents/200707031933.pdf |archive-date=July 20, 2008 }}</ref> No particular ritual gestures are prescribed.

===Byzantine Rite===
In the usage of the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]] and those [[Eastern Catholic Churches]] which follow the [[Byzantine Rite]], the Great Doxology is one of the high points of the festal Matins service. The [[priest]] puts on his [[phelonion]] (chasuble). When it comes time for the Great Doxology the [[deacon]] opens the [[Holy Doors]], and the priest raises his hands [[orans]] and exclaims: "Glory to Thee, Who hast shown us the [[Light of the World (Jesus)|Light]]!", and the choir begins chanting the Doxology, while all of the [[oil lamp]]s and candles in the [[temple]] are lit. The Great Doxology concludes with the chanting of the [[Trisagion]] and leads into the chanting of the [[Troparion]] of the Day. If the bishop is present he vests in his full [[pontifical vestments]] for the Great Doxology, and the [[subdeacons]] stand behind the [[Holy Table]] (altar) holding the lit [[dikirion and trikirion]].

When the Lesser Doxology is called for, it is simply said by the [[reader (liturgy)|reader]], the priest does not put on his phelonion, the Holy Doors remain closed and no lamps or candles are lit. The Lesser Doxology does not end with the Trisagion and is followed by an [[ektenia]] (litany).

In [[liturgical calendar]]s it is symbolized by a [[Rubric|red]] mis-shapen semicircle (with the opening to one side) with three dots inside.

== Musical settings ==
{{see also|Mass (music)#II. Gloria}}
The Gloria has been and still is sung to a wide variety of melodies. Modern scholars have catalogued well over two hundred of them used in the medieval church.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.yale.edu/adhoc/research_resources/liturgy/d_gloria.html |title=Definitions for Medieval Christian Liturgy |publisher=Yale.edu |access-date=2012-03-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090905001946/http://www.yale.edu/adhoc/research_resources/liturgy/d_gloria.html |archive-date=2009-09-05 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[Roman Missal]] indicates several different plainchant melodies. In addition, several "farced" Glorias were composed in the [[Middle Ages]] and were still sung in places when the [[Roman Missal]] was revised by order of [[Pope Pius&nbsp;V]] in 1570.  These expanded the basic Gloria by, for instance, adding to mentions of Jesus Christ a mention of some relationship between him and his mother. The use of these additional phrases in honour of the [[Blessed Virgin Mary]] was so common that in editions of the Roman Missal earlier than the 1921 revision, the text of the Gloria was followed by the rubric: "Sic dicitur {{lang|la|Gloria in excelsis Deo}}, etiam in Missis beatæ Mariæ, quando dicenda est" (When the {{lang|la|Gloria in excelsis Deo}} is to be recited, it is recited in this way, even in Masses of Blessed Mary).<ref>See, for instance, page 216 of the [https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_E7sPAAAAIAAJ <!-- quote=missale romanum. --> 1862 printing by Pustet]</ref>

Almost all polyphonic settings of the Mass include the Gloria. In addition, there are a number of settings of the Gloria alone, including: 
* [[Antonio Vivaldi]], who wrote two [[Gloria (Vivaldi)|Glorias]] that survived: the widely recorded RV 589, and the less famous RV 588
* [[George Frideric Handel]], whose setting for solo [[soprano]] and strings was rediscovered in 2001: [[Gloria (Handel)|Gloria]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://gfhandel.org/gloria.htm |title=The Newly Discovered Musical Composition by Handel |publisher=Gfhandel.org |access-date=2012-03-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120206025813/http://gfhandel.org/gloria.htm |archive-date=2012-02-06 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Camille Saint-Saëns]]
* [[Francis Poulenc]]: [[Gloria (Poulenc)|Gloria]]
* [[William Walton]]
* [[John Rutter]]: [[Gloria (Rutter)|Gloria]]
* Mike Anderson: [[Gloria (Anderson)|Gloria]]
* [[Karl Jenkins]], who interpolates other texts alongside the standard Gloria text: [[Gloria (Jenkins)|Gloria]]

A paraphrase of the text in German, the early Lutheran hymn {{lang|de|[[Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr]]}}, has also been commonly set to music, in the form of chorale preludes or as part of larger compositions. The free paraphrase "[[Ich lobe meinen Gott, der aus der Tiefe mich holt]]" became a 1979 hymn of the genre [[Neues Geistliches Lied]], similarly "[[Ich lobe meinen Gott von ganzem Herzen]]" the same year.

The popular Christmas carol "[[Angels We Have Heard on High]]" is derived from the beginning of the Gloria, which it uses as a refrain. It has been translated into several languages. 


The first phrase is also present in [[Bladee]] and [[Ecco2K]]'s track '5 Star Crest (4 Vattenrum)' from their collaborative album [[Crest (album)|''Crest'']].

==Some official English translations==
'''Book of Common Prayer (1662)'''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cofe.anglican.org/worship/liturgy/bcp/ |title=The Book of Common Prayer |publisher=Cofe.anglican.org |access-date=2012-03-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101126231739/http://www.cofe.anglican.org/worship/liturgy/bcp/ |archive-date=2010-11-26 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
{{poemquote|Glory be to God on high
And in earth peace, goodwill towards men,

We praise thee, we bless thee,
we worship thee, we glorify thee,
we give thanks to thee, for thy great glory
O Lord God, heavenly King,
God the Father Almighty.

O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesu<!--Note that "Jesu", not "Jesus", is what is used in the cited text--> Christ;
O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,
that takest away the sins of the world,
have mercy upon us.
Thou that takest away the sins of the world,
have mercy upon us.
Thou that takest away the sins of the world,
receive our prayer.
Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father,
have mercy upon us.
      
For thou only art holy;
thou only art the Lord;
thou only, O Christ,
with the Holy Ghost,
art most high
in the glory of God the Father.
Amen.}}

'''[[International Consultation on English Texts|ICET]] ecumenical version''' (1975)<ref>{{cite web |author=Felix Just, S.J. |url=http://catholic-resources.org/ChurchDocs/Mass.htm#Introductory |title=Roman Catholic Order of Mass in English (1975–2011) |publisher=Catholic-resources.org |access-date=2012-03-11 |archive-date=2011-07-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110702020254/http://catholic-resources.org/ChurchDocs/Mass.htm#Introductory |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hymnary.org/hymn/EH1982/S280 |title=Hymnal 1982: according to the use of the Episcopal Church |publisher=Hymnary.org |access-date=2012-03-11}}</ref>
{{poemquote|Glory to God in the highest
and peace to his people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King,
Almighty God and Father,
::we worship you, we give you thanks,
::we praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world:
::have mercy on us;
You are seated at the right hand of the Father:
::receive our prayer.
For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High,
::Jesus Christ,
::with the Holy Spirit,
::in the glory of God the Father. Amen.}}

'''Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople New Rome, Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.anastasis.org.uk/mat-sun.htm |title=Matins for Sundays and Feasts |publisher=Anastasis.org.uk |date=2008-11-03 |access-date=2012-03-11}}</ref>
{{poemquote|Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill among men.
We praise you, we bless you, we worship you, we glorify you, we give you thanks for your great glory.
Lord, King, God of heaven, Father almighty: Lord, only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ and Holy Spirit.
Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, who take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us; you take away the sins of the world.
Receive our prayer, you who sit on the right hand of the Father, and have mercy on us.
For you alone are holy, you alone are Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.}}

==See also==
* [[Gloria (U2 song)|"Gloria" (U2 song)]]
* [[Luke 2]]
* ''[[Phos Hilaron]]''
* [[Te Deum]]
* [[Alleluia]]
* [[Tract (liturgy)]]

== Notes ==
{{reflist|group="note"}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*{{CathEncy|wstitle=Gloria in Excelsis Deo}}

{{CatholicMass|collapsed}}
{{Catholic Prayers}}
{{Lutheran Divine Service}}
{{TridentineLatinMass}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gloria In Excelsis Deo}}
[[Category:Christian prayer]]
[[Category:Christian liturgical music]]
[[Category:Eastern Christian hymns]]
[[Category:Gospel of Luke]]
[[Category:Latin religious words and phrases]]
[[Category:Christian hymns in Latin]]
[[Category:New Testament Latin words and phrases]]
[[Category:Order of Mass]]
[[Category:Vulgate Latin words and phrases]]
[[Category:Glory (honor)]]