A question about canons and akathists

[Robert Hegwood]

This is probably a simple liturgical question to answer.

I have a small sampling of canon and akathist booklets. Some of them have their various sections labeled according to their poetical/lyrical type (irmos, kontikion, etc). However a few label the parts as either for priest or choir. Now to me they look like similar sections in other akathists/canons that label their subsections according to lyrical type.

So my question is this: when reading/chanting/praying a canon or akathist at home and there are parts labeled as being for the priest, is it acceptable for someone who is not a priest to say them out loud?

thanks

[M.C. Steenberg]

Dear Robert, you wrote:

So my question is this: when reading/chanting/praying a canon or akathist at home and there are parts labeled as being for the priest, is it acceptable for someone who is not a priest to say them out loud?
Following normal practice for services without a priest (i.e. 'cell rule' or 'readers' services), the priestly portions are not read, but are either


skipped/omitted, for priestly prayers or proclamations
replaced with 'Lord, have mercy...' for litanies (two practices exist: one has three x 'Lord, have mercy' for Little Litanies and 12 for others; the second practice as 12 for Little Litanies and 40 for others)
replaced with 'Through the prayers of our holy fathers...' for the opening and closing blessing, and in some practices for the benediction at the end of the Our Father (though this is not universal).

The is the basic 'norm' for all priest-less services.

As to the specific practice of a home/readers rule for canons and akathists, one fairly common practice is outlined here (http://www.saintjonah.org/services/order.htm).

When one wishes or is instructed to say a canon/akathist at home as part of Little Compline, a standard order for that is found here (http://www.saintjonah.org/services/compline.htm).

INXC, Dcn Matthew

[Robert Hegwood]

Dear Fr. Deacon Matthew,

I'm not sure I was entirely clear.

Let's say I have two akathists and I lay them side by side. They are structured exactly the same way. One of the akathists has its parts labeled according to their poetical/lyrical/hymnologial form (ikos, kontikion, troparion, etc.). The other one just labels the same structures as either for priest or choir.

So what I'm trying to discern is are the parts labeled for the priest in one, really only for priests or is that just the part the priest reads if he is leading the akathist? I know in liturgy and vespers there are parts that are priest specific that must be replaced in a reader's service. But are akathists...or perhaps some akathists that specific as to who reads what part?

Here are two examples of what I mean from the site you provided:
(hymnolocial part names):http://www.antiochian.org/1103412970
(priest/choir): http://www.fatheralexander.org/booklets/english/m_akathist_e.htm

As for the instructions on reading them at home...what must be done for one akathist or canon was clear enough...but for multiples at the same time...wowzers...it looks like liturgical macrame. It would have to be a very studious and experienced layman to work that arrangement out.

[Father David Moser]

Robert,

Akathists and Canons are not liturgical services in and of themselves, however, then can be read as a part of a liturgical service (usually a molieben - or in the case of a canon it can also be read in the context of a matins service). As such there are no particular "priest's parts" and in private prayers the whole thing is read or sung by each person. In the event of a corporate or public service of the canon or akathist, there are a number of different ways that the various parts can be divided up (however there are some pretty standard customs) between clergy and laity. Again, there is nothing that is exclusive to clergy or to laity but it is important that all is done "decently and in order". If you have a text that labels the parts for a priest or choir, then that is most likely set up for a public service according to a particular custom so that everyone is doing the same thing - but that arrangement is for the convenience and "good order" of the prayer of the gathered faithful and does not create any mandate about what can and cannot be said by either priest or layman in his private prayer.

Fr David Moser

[Robert Hegwood]

Dear Fr. David,

Bless. Thank you. That was what I thought but I wanted to be sure and not just take a risk at improvising on my own.