www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Are there Byzantine Liturgy of the Hours Books like in the Latin rite?

Xaipe! I am new to the Byzantine Catholic Church. I have always know the Latin rite and am discerning my vocation and am looking into an order that uses the Byzantine rite for the Divine Office, and the Latin rite for Mass. I don't know very much about the Byzantine Liturgy of the Hours. I know where I can buy the 4 book Latin rite set, but where can I get the Byzantine ones that have all the hours? If someone can help, thank you!

Dear Margaret,

Welcome to ByzCath. In answer to your question, what you seek is called a "Horologion" or Book of the Hours. There are several different renditions of this volume and maybe some posters can give you some suggestions to where to purchase one.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

Thank you, Fr. Anthony! May God bless you.

In my parish we use what are termed Divine Praises, which include the first, third, sixth, and ninth hour, as prayed in the Byzantine Catholic Church. There is also a Compline service which we less frequently do. Our source for the Praises is a version that originated at Holy Resurrection Monastery, but there are probably others available, possibly from the seminary in Pittsburgh or Byzantine Seminary Press.

We also have a women's monastery, Holy Theophany, in Olympia, WA, which is a sister to Holy Resurrection, and which prays the hours daily as part of their office.

XaipeMaria, I researched this a bit, and from what I can tell, I think what you (and I) (and a lot of people) might be looking for is:

according to Deacon Lance on this thread:

https://www.byzcath.org/cgibin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=002977

and others on other threads.

Here is a more thorough description than what you get on the publisher's site:

http://dogbert.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=450001586&searchurl=sts%3Dt%26y%3D0%26kn%3Dhorologion%26x%3D0

Hope this helps. I ordered mine today from ecpubs.com (the publisher, $30) so I'll let you know what I think (as I try to teach a group of people to pray the Roman Divine Office, and try to teach myself how to pray this one. )

Talitha

This is a nice daily office book; I used it for some years, along with Archbishop Raya's _Byzantine Daily Worship_. The compiler has abbreviated the services according to what he felt a good daily order of prayer would include.

Talitha and XaipeMaria - if you send me your mailing address privately (PM to ByzKat, or email to ByzKat@stny.rr.com) I will send you a couple of back issues of the Plainchanter newsletter, which has information on liturgical books, and on setting up the proper parts of Matins and Vespers according to the Typikon.

Yours in Christ,
Jeff Mierzejewski

There are several good ones out there. The "Unabbreviated Horologion" is printed by Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville and available from several sources and is my personal favorite.

Another "Horologion or Book of the Hours" is printed by St. Tikhon's Press. I have this one also and its main feature is that festal and fasting period variations of the services (Little Hours, Vespers, Matins) are included separately which may be less confusing for some.

Probably the most complete one-volume in English is the Mega Horologion or "Great Book of the Hours" from Holy Transfiguration Monastery. This is the English version of the Athonite usage. I don't own this one but my pastor uses this one and it is his favorite.

The Jordanville book runs for about $45; St. Tikhon's for about $70; and the Mega Horologion for about $120. Byzantine Daily Worship is in the 60-70$ range as I recall also; and it is certainly a good book as well.

There is a very nice softbound book called "The Hours of Prayer-A Book of Devotion" that is published by the American Carpatho-Russian diocese (ACROD) and is a wonderful book containing the common (usual parts) of most of the regular offices as well as some Roman and Byzantine devotional prayers interspersed as well, morning and evening prayers, etc.

It is very reasonable at about $15 and used to be available (at least when I got mine) from St. Vladimir's Seminary Press bookstore. It has a very nice "Common Office" in it that can be used for Vespers, Matins, etc. when one does not have any other books of propers.

The Ukrainian Diocese of Stamford has one at
http://stamforddio.org/index.cfm/NewsItem?ID=94163&From=Home

Maria,

Welcome to the Forum. I am fascinated by the description of the order to which you are discerning a vocation. If you don't mind my asking, who are they?

Many years,

Neil

Sorry to bring back an old thread, but this is the one that turned up through a Google search. Since this thread is from 2005, are there any new editions/recommendations? Thank you.

The Melkites have a nice one:
https://melkite.org/products-page/horologion

Thank you Fr. Deacon Lance!