lite means a prayer; whence (litanos) one who prays; litaneuo to be a person who prays; litaneia a continued prayer. Thus Litany has the meaning of "prolonged prayers."
In the (Greek) Liturgy of S. James, there are three Bidding Prayers (besides the "Diptychs"), which have something of the Litany Form. The following suffrages are selected from the one to which we have referred:
"The Deacon. Let us beseech the Lord in peace.
The Laity. Lord, have mercy.
The Deacon. O God, by thy love grant us safety, mercy, compassion, and protection. The Laity. Lord, have mercy.
The Deacon. For the peace that is from above, for the love of God towards man, and for the safety of our souls, let us beseech the Lord. The Laity (after each suffrage). Lord, have mercy.
The Deacon. For the peace of the whole world, and the unity of all the holy churches of God, let us &c.
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For those who bear fruit and do good in the holy churches of God, those who remember the poor, the widows, and fatherless, strangers and needy persons, and for those who have bidden us to remember them in our prayers, let us &c.
For those who are in old age and weakness, by disease or illness, for those who are oppressed by unclean spirits, for their speedy recovery and safety through God's help, let us &c.