The word itself is derived from the Hebrew phrase “hoshi’a na,” which literally translates as “save now.” It was spoken by the Jews as a type of prayerful supplication or appeal unto God, imploring Him to send them their Savior (i.e. the Messiah). Because of its repetitive use within Jewish liturgical worship, over time, the phrase hoshi’a na eventually became abbreviated into a single word: Hosanna!
This phrase was shouted by the faithful as Jesus made His Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem (“Hosanna! Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord!” St. Mark 11:9) and is still used within every Divine Liturgy during the Anaphora.
