PROSOMION (pl., PROSOMIA) – Also called PODOBEN. It is a Troparion (Sticheron) whose meter and melody are taken from that of an Automelon which serves as its model.
Prosómia are a large, specific group of hymns of the Eastern Orthodox Church, which are used as models and paradigms for the composition of other hymns. In laymen’s terms, a prosómion (singular) is a “hymn-tune”. When its title, which is the first words of the hymn appears above other hymn-texts, it signifies that they are to be sung to the tune of that particular prosomion. A hymn is called a prosomion – meaning in Greek “similar to” – when hymns modeled after the Original Melody match it note for note, syllable for syllable, and accent for accent. A prosomion is called Podóben in Slavonic.