ECTENE, ec'ten-î or -ê (late Gk. ektenē [euchē], "earnest prayer"; cf. proseuchē ektenēs, "prayer without ceasing," Acts xii. 5): A prayer in the form of a litany which occurs in the liturgy and other public functions of the Eastern Church. It consists of a varying number of short petitions said by the deacon, to which the choir or congregation respond with Kyrie eleison, or in the supplicatory one with "Grant us, O Lord." All forms end with a request for the intercession of the Virgin and all the saints, followed by an ascription of praise to the Holy Trinity.