Great Lent 2001

[M.C. Steenberg]

Hello to all,

Just an announcement: I have placed a short article online that deals with the Sunday of the Last Judgement, celebrated today. It is replete with several quotations from the Triodion for this Sunday.

You can find this article in the Resources for Great Lent (http://www.monachos.net/great_lent) area.

INXC,
Matthew

[bob@monachos.net]

Does anyone know if there are any special services for this week, between Sunday of the Last Judgement and Forgiveness Sunday?

--Bob

[millerr]

Yes, there are. Each day special texts take the place of some of the texts of the Octoechos. In addition on Wednesday & Friday the services are those done on fast days w/Alleluia & the Prayer of St. Ephraim. The celebration of the Divine Liturgy is forbidden on those two days.

Sbdn. Sergius Miller

[Fr. John Whiteford]

Thanks to the web master for some great Lenten material.

You might want to add a link to this on your Lenten Resources page:

http://pages.prodigy.net/frjohnwhiteford/akathistforlent.htm

See also:

http://pages.prodigy.net/frjohnwhiteford/services.htm

[M.C. Steenberg]

re: Further Lenten Resources...

Fr. John,

Glory be to Jesus Christ! Greetings to you and others at the beginning days of Great Lent. May God grant us all strength for the Fast.

Many thanks for the above URL's on additional Lenten resources; I will soon provide a link to them on the Resources for Great Lent (http://www.monachos.net/great_lent/index.shtml) page.

INXC,
Matthew

[M.C. Steenberg]

re: Changes in the divine services during Great Lent

I would just point out, as an aside note, that Peter Fekula and Matthew Williams have produced an excellent sprial-bound volume, The Order of Divine Services According to the Usage of the Russian Orthodox Church, which will be especially valuable to those curious to discover the various changes to the services during Great Lent.

This work, which is currently in its second revised edition, gives the outline and formats for services throughout the year, and offers a special section devoted to changes during the Fast, with readings, canticles for Mattins odes, etc. It does require a certain familiarity with and access to the various service books of the Church (this volume does not contain the majority of texts themselves, but rather guides on how the services fit together), but is an invaluable resource alongside them.

And contrary to what the title might suggest, the work is not limited in value only to those of a Russian 'jurisdictional affiliation' -- the text provides ample notes on variations between Slavic and Greek uses, etc.

The Order of Divine Services is available from the St John of Kronstadt Press.

INXC,
Matthew