www.byzcath.org Forums Mysteries: The Life of Worship Vespers, Matins & the Divine Liturgy Troparia at Small Compline

Christ is risen!

What are the proper troparia to use at Small Compline? Does it vary across traditions? I have seen a few different directives on various sites. On many sites I see

Troparion of temple, troparion of day, the "O God of our Fathers...", etc.

Or else (depending on parish):

Troparion of day, troparion of temple, the "O God of our Fathers...", etc.

On other sites, I see just the fixed "O God of our Fathers...", etc. The MCI booklet for Small Compline gives the troparion of Ss. Cyril and Methodius (the temple) in the first place, with a rubric to replace it with the Kontakion "if this is a feast."

I guess I'm confused as to whether what is given on most websites is a simplification for those who might not have all the liturgical books. I'm also curious as to whether the Menaion is used at Small Compline and on what days.

Any clarification is most welcome!

The difference in order depends on whether the place (temple) is dedicated to the Lord or the Theotokos, in which case the order is:

Troparion of the temple
Troparion of the day
"O God of our Fathers"

or dedicated to a saint, in which case the order is

Troparion of the day
Troparion of the temple
"O God of our Fathers'

In either case, if it is a feast (same criteria as Matins: Great Doxology or above), then the kontakion of the feast is sung instead.

And there are special rules on Friday evening, for the martyrs and departed.

The MCI Small Compline booklet, which was prepared for Ss. Cyril and Methodius Seminary, omits the troparion of the day to ensure that no other book is ordinarily needed. (Also, the daily troparia can be found in the Divine Liturgies book, and most are familiar enough that if the cantor starts them, the faithful can follow.)

So the Menaion is used on days of Great Doxology or above - and on ANY day, the Menaion may appoint a special canon to the saint to replace the daily canon to the Theotokos.

Jeff Mierzejewski

Christ is risen!

Thank you. One more question: when the kontakion of the feast is sung on a feast, does this kontakion replace the whole series given above?

Yes

Thank you, Father Deacon.

Christ is risen!

On Saturday nights, are the troparia replaced in Ruthenian tradition by the resurrectional troparion and kontakion, or by the hypakoe? I note that the MCI makes no special mention of this, I'm sure in order to confine Compline to one book.

Thank you in advance!

On Saturday evening, the hypakoje in the (new) tone of the week is used in place of the daily troparia at that point.

Jeff