Many years

[Michael Astley]

My parish has, until recently, not sung the "Many years" at the end of services. I'm referring not to that which is sung on people's name days and other significant events in people's spiriutual lives but to the short prayer for the hierarchy, local church, and all Orthodox Chrisians, as may be heard at the Milan Synod chapel here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80_cDIPAtMo

We have recently begun doing it at my parish but, after having done it for a few weeks after Saturday Vespers, I have noticed that the Horologion only stipulates it for the end of the Liturgy. Neither my parish priest nor I can remember what is done at the cathedral, and our local Antiochian and Greek parishes don't do it. Is anybody able to offer commet on what is customary in various traditions?

Thank you.

[Paul Cowan]

Sorry, I don't do utube.

If this is the song done while the priest is saying the final prayers before the temple main icons we do it at the end of Liturgy as father is saying the closing blessing. The song is about as long as his commemoration. This is the only time I hear this song.
Paul

[Anthony Stokes]

The Greeks and Antiochians do not do the same thing as the Russians.

At our parish, we do it after Vespers, Matins (unless the 1st hour is done), Vigil, and Liturgy. I'm not sure where that comes from though. Maybe our bishop?

Sbdn. Anthony

[Nicolaj]

In our russian orthodox cathedral and as well as the cathedral in Cherkassy (Ukraine), and in the Kiev Pechersk Lavra Monastery (Ukraine), it is always sung at the end of liturgy. Definitely in all churches I have been in from the russian orthodox church.

In Christ, Nicolaj

[Father David Moser]

We have recently begun doing it at my parish but, after having done it for a few weeks after Saturday Vespers, I have noticed that the Horologion only stipulates it for the end of the Liturgy. Neither my parish priest nor I can remember what is done at the cathedral, and our local Antiochian and Greek parishes don't do it. Is anybody able to offer commet on what is customary in various traditions?

There should be a text for that commemoration that was sent out as an ukase from Synod (or perhaps from your diocese) following the reconciliation - that ukase may include the instructions for how/when to use it. In our parish we sing this at the end of vigil or daily vespers as well as at the end of the liturgy immediately following the dismissal.

Fr David Moser

[Michael Astley]

Thank you, all, for the interesting comments about varations in practice. Subdeacon Anthony, it seems that OCA retains the Russian custom here, from what you say.

Father David, you're right. The text is here (http://www.russianorthodoxchurch.ws/synod/eng2008/5encommemoration.html), and it does say "at the end of services" rather than specifically "at the end of Liturgy", while the instructions for the other commemorations are very specific.

I'm particularly interested by your comment, Paul. Are you saying that you sing this during the dismissal commemorations by the priest so that the two overlap?

In Christ,
Michael

[Anthony Stokes]

That's a practice that is widely done in Greek churches, and I guess in Antiochian as well. I usually only here it in Greek though, so I have never paid close attention to what it is that they are saying.

Sbdn. Anthony



Thank you, all, for the interesting comments about varations in practice. Subdeacon Anthony, it seems that OCA retains the Russian custom here, from what you say.

Father David, you're right. The text is here (http://www.russianorthodoxchurch.ws/synod/eng2008/5encommemoration.html), and it does say "at the end of services" rather than specifically "at the end of Liturgy", while the instructions for the other commemorations are very specific.

I'm particularly interested by your comment, Paul. Are you saying that you sing this during the dismissal commemorations by the priest so that the two overlap?

In Christ,
Michael

[Olga]

I'm particularly interested by your comment, Paul. Are you saying that you sing this during the dismissal commemorations by the priest so that the two overlap?


Greeks sing the Many Years at the same time as the priest chants the dismissal commemorations, Slavs sing it after the end of the dismissal.

[Paul Cowan]

I'm particularly interested by your comment, Paul. Are you saying that you sing this during the dismissal commemorations by the priest so that the two overlap?

In Christ,
Michael

Like I said, I don't do u-tube so I did not listen to what was sung, but the description I gathered from you was yes, this is sung as an overlap as father does the closing prayers on the solea. The typically start and finish at the same time. SOmetimes he goes a tad longer than they do.

Paul