Lenten changes in the "Old Orthodox Prayer Book"

[Andrew McQuillen]

Hello- I recently purchased the "Old Orthodox Prayer Book" which I love. It is my favorite "one stop shop" prayer book. However, I am curious as to rules regarding the hours during Great Lent. Do they include kathismata and the prayer of St. Ephrem? I have another book with the hours in it, but I like using mainly one book, especially when traveling. I am also confused by the rubrics regarding prostrations during Lent in the prayer book, though I think I can figure that out with a few minutes of writing them out. Since I am not by any means Old Rite I do not feel obligated to complete all the prostrations, but is helpful sometimes. If I am just oblivious and missed easily accessible information in the book, I apologize.

In Christ,
Andrew

[Owen]

Get hold of The Lenten Triodion by Met. Kallistos (Ware). In the Preface, he gives rules concerning the recitation of the Prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian. He also details, in the texts of the services, when and how often to prostrate.

[Andrew McQuillen]

Thanks for the reply. I am still wondering though if the rules are the same for the Old prayer book? I have been meaning to pick up a copy of the Lenten Triodion for a while, thanks for reminding me!

[Anthony Stokes]

Thanks for the reply. I am still wondering though if the rules are the same for the Old prayer book? I have been meaning to pick up a copy of the Lenten Triodion for a while, thanks for reminding me!

Is your Old Rite Prayer Book in Slavonic and English? If so, then I will check on this tonight when I get home and let you know. I have several different prayer books and the triodion and rubrics books, etc.

Sbdn. Anthony

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

Hello- I recently purchased the "Old Orthodox Prayer Book" which I love. It is my favorite "one stop shop" prayer book. However, I am curious as to rules regarding the hours during Great Lent. Do they include kathismata and the prayer of St. Ephrem? I have another book with the hours in it, but I like using mainly one book, especially when traveling. I am also confused by the rubrics regarding prostrations during Lent in the prayer book, though I think I can figure that out with a few minutes of writing them out. Since I am not by any means Old Rite I do not feel obligated to complete all the prostrations, but is helpful sometimes. If I am just oblivious and missed easily accessible information in the book, I apologize.

In Christ,
Andrew

On weekdays (ie Monday through Friday) of Great Lent the kathisma and prayer of St Ephraim are done.

However the variations involved mean that it would be best for you to consult a very good instructional manual or liturgical calendar.

Note also that there are differences between Old Rite usage and 'new rite' Russian.

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[Andrew McQuillen]

Subdeacon- Yes, it is in both. I have the famous prayer book published by the Church of the Nativity. I would appreciate any help you have to offer regarding its proper use.
Father- That is what I suspected, though I wasn't sure simply because none of that information is included in the book itself. It seems odd to me that the Lenten variations wouldn't be included? Where would such a manual be obtained?

Thank you both for your replies! This is all very interesting and useful.

Andrew

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

Andrew McQuillen wrote:


Where would such a manual be obtained?

For instructions on how to do the kathisma during Great Lent- usually there is a table for this printed at the back of an Orthodox Psalter (in other words you need to purchase an Orthodox Psalter or else find the table from another source).

For the Prayer of St Ephraim- this only done on the weekdays of Great Lent from Sunday evening Vespers through to Friday evening Pre-sanctified (or Vespers if you are unable to do Pre-sanctified). Basically in the Russian tradition the Prayer of St Ephraim is usually done with the three divisions each accompanied by three great prostrations- then the whole prayer again followed by a great prostration. On Sunday evening though and for the 9th Hour Monday- Friday the prayer is said only once with the three divisions each accompanied by three great prostrations.

This saying of the Prayer only once also occurs at Vespers, Matins, the Hours & Typika for certain feasts such as the Finding of the Head of St John the Baptist, 40 Martyrs of Sebasteia & the Annunciation. This gets pretty complicated though so to be confident that you're doing the right thing you need to purchase a liturgical calendar for the year. A number of jurisdictions publish these.

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[Father David Moser]

Subdeacon- It seems odd to me that the Lenten variations wouldn't be included? Where would such a manual be obtained?

I realize that you are asking about the Old Rite Prayerbook, however, one of the most complete sources for the unchanging liturgical material - including all the lenten variations - that I use is the Unabridged Horologion from Holy Trinity Monastery (Jordanville). It includes all of the non-lenten and lenten variations for how the services are chanted (the only thing I can think of that isn't there is the exact table of which kathisma to chant at which services on which days - but that is found in the psalter).

Fr David Moser

[Andrew McQuillen]

As I own both a Psalter and the Jordanville Horologion I will look at those carefully. I didn't really even think about it because I am traveling in Spain and do not have immediate access to them (or a Church for that matter, all I found were parishes in Barcelona and Madrid). Thanks to all.

[Edward Henderson]

The Old Rite Prayer Book is not a horologion and the Hours are given in their typical form. The Church of the Nativity also publishes a horologion if you are looking for any particulars of the Hours during Lent in the Old Rite. The morning and evening prayers give quite clear instructions for added prayers and prostrations during Lent within those prayers.