www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Horologion--online instructions?

Peace everyone,

I'm a Third Order Carmelite and very familiar with the Latin version of the Divine Office so I'm use to constantly flipping between ribbons.

My copy of Stamford's English translation of the Ukrainian Catholic Church's Divine Office just arrived and I'd like to include it in my daily prayer rule. Are there any online sites to help me understand the format of the Horologion?

Thanks!

http://metropolitancantorinstitute.org/DailyCycle may help; follow the links for outlines of each service.

Chance, you can probably not do much better than Father John Whiteford's instructions and resources at http://www.saintjonah.org/services

A veritable cornucopia of texts, instructions, and various other goodies. He even has tips on accumulating the liturgical library, how to do Reader's Services, etc.
FDD

I also like to compare the services found at Saint Nicholas Church in Dallas.

http://www.orthodox.net/services/index.html

Dear Chance,

As a Carmelite, I am delighted to hear that you are studying your prayer rule, and seeking to follow faithfully the Church's services.

It is interesting that the primitive Carmelite Rule, follows the ancient custom, and speaks of the "psalms appointed for each hour". Seeing the essential element of the offices of the hours as the "appointed psalms" is a way that I find very attractive, and when one is speaking about a personal prayer rule, keeping it simple (the psalter is at its heart), is such a help for a Carmelite.

I find that a good edition of the psalter, is our best prayer companion!

So much of the Divine Office (in the western Churches) and the Hours (in the Byzantine Churches) is composed of wonderful developments for full "Church services" where you you have priests, deacons, servers, chanters, and a library of books on shelves. These services are an inspiration and a school.

But for a prayer rule (for a Carmelite generally speaking), the psalter is plenty.

the unworthy,
Elias

Oh now that is nice - thank you Fr Elias - I've added that to my bookmarks

I personally don't use this one, but here is another offering from Archimandrite Ephraim Lash:

http://www.anastasis.org.uk/horologion.htm
FDD

Wow! That was quick! Those links should help, thanks all!

Elisa wrote:
Aye, a good and insightful point. Personally, I do like to complicate matters--which speaks of my own unfinished warfare with vainglory.

Ok, I give--what's a stichera and what do I do when I see something like this in the daily rubrics:

At Vespers: Kathisma 9.
At �Lord, I have cried� � 6 stichera: 3 from Octoechos and 3 of the Saints (St. Hermolaus and
others); Glory: Now: Stavrotheotokion from Menaion.

Kathisma, I believe I understand, it's the Byzantine divisions for the Psalter. The Octoeschos are the "propers" so to speak of the cycle of Eight Tones. However I'm at a loss at what to do with the stichera.

Thanks!

p.s., Elisa, hmm...simple might be the way to go.

Dear Chance,

Your repeated reference to Elisa is actually Hieromonk (Father) Elias one of our forum administrators. Thought this should be pointed out to you.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

Elijah, Elisa, Eli...who's t'know?

Father Anthony wrote:
Your repeated reference to Elisa is actually Hieromonk (Father)

My humble apologies if I have given offense. I cry your and Hieromonk Elisa's pardon.

Stikhera are poetic verses which pertain to the current feast, or are of the revolving eight tones if from the Oktoechos, or of the Triodion, Pentecostarion, and so forth.

You will find these especially used at Psalm 140 at Vespers, the Praises of Matins, etc.

They are inserted after each appropriate introductory verse from the Horologion. Here is a very brief example from this Saturday night's Vespers in Tone 6 (on Saturday evenings ten stikhera are inserted):

(10) (Note - this means there will be ten stikhera) Bring my soul out of prison, that I may give thanks to Your name! (Introductory verse from the Horologion for Vespers)

Possessing victory over hell, O Christ, since You are free among the dead, You ascended the Cross raising with Yourself those who sat in the shades of death! O Almighty Savior, Who drew life from Your own light, have mercy on us!

v. (9) The righteous will surround me; for You will deal bountifully with me. (Introductory from the Horologion)

Today Christ tramples on death, for He is risen as He said! Let us all sing this song, for He has granted joy to the world: �O Light unapproachable, O Fountain of life! Savior Almighty, have mercy on us!�

v. (8) Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord. Lord, hear my voice. (Introductory)

Where shall we sinners flee from You, for You are in all creation? In heaven You dwell! In hell You trampled on death! In the depths of the sea? Even there is Your hand, O Master!
To You we flee, and falling before You, we pray: �As You rose from the dead, have mercy on us!�

And so on.

Some feasts will have eight stikhera at Vespers, some six depending on the rank of the feast. For lesser commemorations for example you may have three from the Oktoechos and three from the Menaion (from the fixed-day feast).

In your particular example it means inserting three stikhera from the Octoechos depending on the day of the week and the tone (one of the Eight), and then inserting the three stikhera for the particular saints of the day (or use a "General Menaion" if you have one).

FDD

Opps. Missed it again.

E-L-I-A-S The -S- goes at the end!!

Don't worry. I have many blind spots and struggle with this keyboard every day.

You're doing just fine and Father Elias will adapt to his new name quite well, I'm sure.

Eli

Chance, I'll throw my newborn son Ilya's name into the mix to really confuse you...
FDD