Psalm 33 at the Liturgy

[Michael Astley]

My parish plans to move to new premises within the next few weeks. Until now, our Liturgy, mainly in terms of ceremonial but sometimes text, has been curtailed somewhat due to the small space in which we have worshipped. However, now that we shall have the space, we plan to restore many elements to their normal manner of execution which are currently abbreviated, adapted, or omitted.

Among other things, we plan to introduce psalm 33 in its appointed place after the prayer below the ambo (heretofore an omission at my parish). However, we're not quite sure how it works. There is the prayer below the ambo, then the threefold "Blessed be the name of the Lord...", then psalm 33. I am putting together new priest's and choir books for the Liturgy and just want to make sure I get this right. The Jordanville Horologion merely indicates that psalm 33 is sung at that point but gives neither the text nor any further information. The Old Rite prayer book inserts a "Glory...Both now..." before the commencement of the psalm but I do not know whether this is what is commonly done or whether it is peculiar to the Old Rite. I have also heard different things suggested about what is actually done during this psalm. I have read in one place that this is when the priest performs the ablutions. Another source tells me that this is when the antidoron is distributed.

Is anybody able to shed any light on this?

Thank you so much.

In Christ,
Michael

[Olga]

My observation of ROCOR practice is this:

- prayer before the ambo
- psalm 33 in its entirety, without a Glory... Both now ... preceding it
- The blessing of the Lord be upon you, always, now and forever ... and the rest of the dismissal.

Not having authority to enter the altar, I can't be sure exactly what the clergy do during the singing of Ps 33, but it could well be the ablutions. However, I have never seen the antidoron distributed at this time, but only ever after the end of the liturgy, after the faithful have venerated the priest's cross.

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

What Olga describes is what our parish does. Note that Psalm 33 (Psalm 34 in KJV) is sung according to a special melody but only through to verse 10.

I have heard of instructions about the clergy consuming the Cup during the singing of this Psalm. But since there isn't nearly enough time for this at least according to the way it is commonly done then I wait until Liturgy is finished to do this. But if you have a deacon then when he begins to consume the Cup would coincide with when Psalm 33 would be sung.

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[Michael Astley]

Within 24 hours as well. I'm so pleased.

I don't know why I don't just simply ask these questions here rather than going hunting all over the place. Thank you, Olga, and Father Raphael.

I have also found this (http://www.holy-trinity.org/liturgics/tikhon.lit1.html). I shall speak with my parish priest about the antidoron but I rather suspect he will agree that it is simply not possible (or desirable) to squeeze it in at this point.

The fact that it is only the first few verses also explains why that is all that is provided in the setting by Fr Sergei Glagolev, which is beautifully simple but which I was worried we would be unable to use because there were verses missing. Now I know better.

Thank you, both, again.

In Christ,
Michael

[Father David Moser]

What Olga describes is what our parish does. Note that Psalm 33 (Psalm 34 in KJV) is sung according to a special melody but only through to verse 10.

That special melody, btw, is commonly the akathist melody and the setting is quite easily obtainable. Although the usual setting is just the first 10 verses, the whole psalm can be sung to that melody quite easily if one desires.



I have heard of instructions about the clergy consuming the Cup during the singing of this Psalm. But since there isn't nearly enough time for this

I think that there would be time if the entire psalm were sung (not chanted) at this point - but as you mentioned that is not usually done in parishes. (I am usually able to consume and cleanse the chalice during the reading of the aftercommunion prayers however).

Fr David Moser

[Michael Astley]

There seem to be a few settings to this. We already use the Akathist chant for the Creed, which seems to work well but it's possible to overuse it, I think. I have found this (http://dowoca.org/files/music/Ps33.pdf).

[Anthony Stokes]

I think you already have good responses, but it is a practice at my parish as well. After Blessed be the Name..., we go directly into Psalm 33, the whole psalm. The shortened version is for Vigil or Great Vespers with Litya. We sing it in tone 4 at liturgy, only because I have not set the whole thing yet.

Our priest begins to consume the gifts at this time.

Sbdn. Anthony

[Michael Astley]

Thank you, Subdeacon Anthony.

I think we probably shall use the full psalm, after all. There's so much in there that is appropriate to after Communon that I think could be lost, and its appearance in full in the Old Rite book makes me suspect that the shortened form is perhaps a later abbreviation. We didn't want to be idiosyncratic about it so were happy to use the shorter form but now that we know that it is done in full elsewhere, we think we'll do the same.

In Christ,
Michael.