www.byzcath.org Forums Mysteries: The Life of Worship The Kliros Weekday Prokimena and Alleluia Verses

Is anyone familiar with the Typikon directives for the Prokimenon and Alleluia Verses at weekday Liturgies? I've just been using the Tone of the Week when it is not a feast day, but I don't know what should be taken.

Thanks!

Phil, the monthly menaions from M.C.I. are one way to get around the question of what is appropriate for the prokiemena and alleluia. They are included for every day of the month, along with the saint(s) tropar, etc. That doesn't specifically answer your question, but it is a way around it that will get you to the same place, I think. There are now 12 monthly menaions, and if memory serves, they can all be downloaded as PDF files from the M.C.I. website.

Glory to Jesus Christ!

There are two alternate systems for daily prokeimena and alleluiaria:

(1) the preferred is to sing the texts which go with the feast day being observed (most of which will come from the common of the saints);

(2) the other method, esp. if the proper texts are lacking, is to sing the texts of the "day:"
i.e., Monday, angels; Tuesday, forerunner; Wednesday, Cross and Theotokos; Thursday, apostles and St. Nicholas; Friday, Cross; Saturday, all saints and faithful departed.

Given the availability of the correct texts, it seems that usage (2) is less than desirable.

The directions for the correct usage for each day is given in the TYPICON published by the Rev. Dr. David Petras. You can also find the usage of the TYPICON written out in the 12-volume "Monthly Menaion" available from the MCI.

Prof. J. Michael Thompson
Byzantine Catholic Seminary
Pittsburgh, PA

Glory to Jesus Christ!

The texts published by the Liturgical Commission of the Sisters of Saint Basil the Great (Uniontown) -- specifically, the Festal Menaion, Pentecostarion, and Triodion -- would contain the proper texts for each Feast. These books would be an excellent addition to your collection as a Cantor.

The Typikon, published by Archpriest David Petras, gives the formats to be taken for the Prokimenon and Alleluia Verses - which is especially helpful when several Feasts are commemorated on the same day.

Once you have the texts, it would be relatively easy to set them to the melodies in common use in our Eparchy. You will also find that many are used multiple times in the Liturgical Year, in which case, you may already have the music that was provided via the Liturgical Music mailings from our Administrator.

The MCI materials, previously mentioned by other Forum contributors, would be using the new translation of the IELC and, in some cases, the words may be different than the Prokimena in the current Faithful's Book. These materials would also use the musical settings, in most cases, that follow from work of the IEMC. Some are drastically different than the current [English] settings known and used by the Faithful (in that they are closer to the original Church Slavonic arrangements). To the best of my knowledge, neither have been approved for use in the Eparchy of Passaic.

Another suggestion would be to check with your Pastor and/or Eparchial Liturgical Commission representative to receive direction on what materials have been approved for provisional use in the Eparchy of Passaic. (Most parishes currently use the texts from the Sisters with the current music.)

Hope that this helps,

~ Cantor JKF

While I agree that the afore-mentioned books from the Sisters of Saint Basil the Great are quite worthwhile, they do not contain the hymns proper to the Divine Liturgy (the prokeimena with verses, the alleluia verses, and the Communion hymns for each day).

Father David's Typikon provides common hymns for the various classes of saints, as given in the Ruthenian Apostol.

Yours in Christ,
Jeff Mierzejewski

Thanks, Jeff. I, perhaps, could have been clearer in my original post.

The "proper texts" I referred to in my first paragraph were the other propers of the Office and Divine Liturgy - which are in the books published by the Sisters.

In my second paragraph, I was suggesting that Father David's Typikon be used as the source for the Prokeimena (with verses), Alleluia (with verses), and the Communion Psalm for each day.

Father David's Typikon & the above-mentioned texts from the Sisters of Saint Basil the Great should be a part of every Cantor's collection. Both are worthwhile sources to help one prepare to lead the music at the Divine Services.

~ Cantor JKF

Thank you to all who have so helpfully responded.

I have been using the Uniontown Sisters "Matins" book, which contains an abbreviated series of Menaia with a Troparion and Kontakion for each day. Now that I have become comfortable with these propers, I am looking to expand our use of the proper texts.

I do use Fr. David's Typikon for Sundays, but up to now I have not used the "Common Typikon," which I believe is what the daily notices would point me towards. Mastering that will become my next task!