Jordanville Prayer Book

[David L Watkins]

Hello All, Can anyone tell me the origin of the prayers in the Jordanville Prayer Book? Such as the authors and dates? I know many of the morning and evening prayers and pre-communion rule prayers are marked with names. Specifically, though, I am wondering about the Canon of Repentance. How do I find out about its composition?

Thanks! Any help appreciated.
David

[Fr Averky]

Dear David CHRIST IS RISEN!

The prayers in the Jordanville prayerbook are those which are actually universal to the Orthodox Church. I live at Holy Trinity Monastery, and can find out as much as I can for you when I return home, for I am visiting family and friends at the moment. The Canon of Repentance is a composition of St.Tikhon of Zadonsk, if I am noty incorrect, but I shall make sure and let you know.

Hieromonk Averky

[David L Watkins]

Father Averky, father bless! Thank you for responding. Forgive my slow response.

Someone told me the Canon of Repentance was composed by St. Andrew of Crete. I don't know either way. I was asking for a Protestant inquirer I know.

I would still be interested in the source of the common prayers. I know some of them are ascribed to certain authors.

Thank you again.
David

[Fr Averky]

There is the Great Canon of repentance, which is said during Greal Lent, and that is indeed by St. Andrew of Crete. There is another, shorter one. I am sorry, it was a while back since your enquirey - look into it.

Fr. Averky

[Albion]

I am looking for a prayer book in English, and the Amazon reviews sing highly the praises of this one. I happen to be Greek Orthodox, by accident of living and having been baptised in Cyprus, so I'm wondering whether, being a ROCOR book, it would make any difference to me in my daily devotions. I would think that, theoretically, it should not. Thoughts? Suggestions?

[Christophoros]

Whether one is following the Greek or Russian tradition, it shouldn't matter. In fact, the old edition of the Jordanville prayerbook (translated by Archimandrite Lazarus Moore) is on the official Orthodox Church of Greece website.

[Jason H.]

I'm Antiochian and I use it. It's a great Prayer book and I know a lot of other Orthodox laity and monks who use it.

[Albion]

Sounds good to me. Thanks.

[Jason Hunt]

I think the two best prayer books are the Jordanville Prayer book translated from the Slavonic following Slavic usage, and the one published by Holy Transfiguration Monastery (www.thehtm.org (http://www.thehtm.org)) from the Greek following Greek usage. I honestly like them both for different reasons. The Jordanville Prayer book, following Slavic usage, has a long rule of Morning Prayers and Prayers Before Sleep (about 20-30 min each) that are unique to the Slavic tradition. The HTM Prayer Book, following Greek practice, has much smaller rule of morning prayer, containing some of the same prayers used in the Jordanville book but which can be completed in about 10 min. Also in Greek practice, as can be seen in the HTM Prayer Book, Small Compline is typically used in the evenings instead of a long rule of Prayers Before Sleep as is found in the Jordanville PB. In the Jordanville PB, I really like the Canon of Repenance (and boy to I need it!). This is not included in the HTM PB, but what I like about the HTM PB is that they fit into this small book (about the same size as the Jordanville PB) almost the entire fixed portions of Matins, Vespers, Small Compline, and the Divine Liturgy. I think this is wonderful, though most parishes would not follow their usages so this is only helpful if you plan to do these services at home. One could comment on which wording one prefers between the books (Unoriginate vs. Beginningless, Mother of God vs. Theotokos, etc.), but I don't want to drag this on too long. In my opinion, both PB's are very good and very useful.

In Christ,

Jason

[Christophoros]

The HTM Prayer Book, following Greek practice, has much smaller rule of morning prayer, containing some of the same prayers used in the Jordanville book but which can be completed in about 10 min.

It should be noted that the morning prayers contained in the Holy Transfiguration Monastery edition is somewhat shortened from the version commonly found in Greek Proseuchetarion. It's missing the prayer, "Glory be to Thee, O Almighty God and King..." which comes after "As I rise from sleep...", and the reading of troparia with the Six Psalms and Doxology following the prayer of St. Basil, "Thee do we bless...".

[Jason Hunt]

It should be noted that the morning prayers contained in the Holy Transfiguration Monastery edition is somewhat shortened from the version commonly found in Greek Proseuchetarion. It's missing the prayer, "Glory be to Thee, O Almighty God and King..." which comes after "As I rise from sleep...", and the reading of troparia with the Six Psalms and Doxology following the prayer of St. Basil, "Thee do we bless...".

The six psalms and the doxology can still be found in the matins service of the prayer book, but it is interesting that the morning prayers in the HTM PB do not mention or recommend adding these to the morning prayer rule. As far as the prayer "Glory be to Thee, O Almighty God and King...", it is strange that this isn't in the HTM PB since it is part of the morning prayers in the HTM Horologion.

In Christ,

Jason