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I have one observation and one question:

The liturgy begins:

Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever. Amen.

This benediction is consistent with the berakhah, "Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, king of the universe" and the Shema "Hear O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one..."

Now the question:

What is the Amidah? I know that literally this translates to "Standing Prayer." I know that it has to do with 18 benedictions, and has been deemed the prayer par excellence Ha-Tefillah Can someone (Sharon maybe) supply an English translation?

Does it have any relation to our Akathists?

John

I've found the general text. I still would like to discuss its relation to Byzantine style of prayer.

http://chebar0.tripod.com/id75.htm

Another version and explanation is:

http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=612&letter=S

John