Semi-Autonomous: The Apolytikion (Greek: Ἀπολυτίκιον) or Dismissal Hymn is a troparion (a short hymn of one stanza) said or sung at Orthodox Christian worship services.
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 the first service of the liturgical day, Vespers, the liturgical day beginning at sunset in the Orthodox Church.
[1] The apolytikion of the Feast of the Nativity (December 25): Your birth, O Christ our God, dawned the light of knowledge upon the earth.
[2]The apolytikion for the Feast of the Annunciation (March 25): Today is the crowning of our salvation and the manifestation of the Mystery which is from eternity; the Son of God becometh the Son of the Virgin, and Gabriel announceth the glad tidings of grace: wherefore let us cry out with him to the Mother of God; Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee!The apolytikion of Pascha (Easter): Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life!There are also eight Resurrectional Apolytikia for the Lord's Day, Sunday [3] written in each of the Eight Tones.