(Καταβασία ). was an anthem or short hymn in the Greek offices. so called because the two sides of the choir come down (καταβαίνουσι ) into the body of the church and unite in singing it. It often occurs between the "odes" of a "canon;" and its construction is that of any other "troparion." Sometimes two "catabasive" occur together between each ode, as on the Sunday after Christmas-day, where each pair consists of the first troparion of the corresponding odes of the two canons for Christmas- day.