Sunday of the Prodigal Son

Κυριακή τοῦ Ἀσώτου

ἦχος πλ. β´ - ἑωθινὸν στ´ 

Κυριακή τοῦ Ἀσώτου

Hymns from the Sunday of the Prodigal Son

Archon Protopsaltes of the Great Church of Christ Thrasyvoulos Stanitsas chanting the hymns of the Sunday of the Prodigal Son

Κυριακή του Ασώτου ήχος πλ. β´ ψάλλει ο αείμνηστος Άρχοντας Πρωτοψάλτης της Μεγάλης του Χριστού Εκκλησίας Θρασύβουλος Στανίτσας.

Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee

Κυριακή τοῦ Τελώνου και του Φαρισαίου

ἦχος πλ. α´ - ἑωθινὸν ε´ 

τοῦ Τελώνου καὶ του Φαρισαίου

The Triodion begins today as we officially embark on our annual liturgical journey to Pascha.  We start chanting from the Triodion, the liturgical book that contains all the services of Great Lent and Holy Week but which also comprises the hymns for the four week preparatory period before Great Lent that begins today with the Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee.  At Saturday evening vespers after the usual resurrectional hymns have been chanted in the tone of the week we include the first hymns from the Triodion.

There is a tradition, a ritual, that is often performed at the vesper service. The tradition doesn't appear in the Typikon of the Great Church but has gained widespread acceptance and use in recent years.  Before the vesper service begins the book of the Triodion is placed before the icon of Christ.  Towards the end of the Great Litany, in time for the chanting of Κύριε εκέκραξα,the Protopsaltes approaches the icon of Christ, makes three metanoias, reverences the icon, picks up the Triodion and reverences it, makes an additional three metanoias and brings the Triodion back to the Analogion with him.

The symbolic act has no precedent in liturgical tradition and no other liturgical book has a similar ritual associated with.  Perhaps this speaks to the significant reverence and extreme popularity that exists in the Church for the services and the hymnology contained in the Triodion.  Both clergy and laity derive spiritual strength from the services of Great Lent and Holy Week and are equally inspired by the beautiful hymnography but it is perhaps the chanters of these divine hymns themselves that are most familiar with the pages of this book and who eagerly anticipate the chanting of these sacred hymns for the spiritual edification of the faithful and for the glory of God.  Therefore it seems fitting that it is the senior chanter who stands in front of the icon of Christ and receives the Triodion.

As the opening hymn of the Triodion so eloquently reminds us:

Μὴ προσευξώμεθα φαρισαϊκῶς, ἀδελφοί· ὁ γὰρ ὑψῶν ἑαυτὸν ταπεινωθήσεται, ταπεινωθῶμεν ἐναντίον τοῦ Θεοῦ, τελωνικῶς διὰ νηστείας κράζοντες· Ἱλάσθητι ἡμῖν ὁ Θεός, τοῖς ἁμαρτωλοῖς.

The hymns of the Orthros and Liturgy for the Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee.

Κυριακή του Τελώνου και του Φαρισαίου ήχος πλ. α´ ψάλλει ο αείμνηστος Άρχοντας Πρωτοψάλτης της Μεγάλης του Χριστού Εκκλησίας Θρασύβουλος Στανίτσας.

Triodion Venice, 1839 Phoinikos

Link on Google Books

Pope Francis and Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill sign Joint Declaration

Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill meet in Havana

His Holiness Pope Francis of Rome and His Beatitude Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia met today in Havana, Cuba in an unprecedented gesture between the two Churches.  The historic meeting, the first between a Pope of Rome and a Patriarch of Moscow, was followed by the signing of a Joint Declaration between the two Primates.

Text of Joint Declaration of Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill

The Pope and Patriarch symbolically embraced and as reported by the New York Times:

As he approached the Russian patriarch amid the clicking of news cameras, Francis was overheard to say, “Brother.” A moment later, he added, “Finally.”
The two men embraced, kissing each other twice on the cheeks and clasping hands before taking seats. “Now things are easier,” Kirill said. Francis responded, “It is clear now that this is the will of God.”

New York Times:  Pope and Russian Orthodox Leader Meet in Historic Step

It should be noted that contrary to many reports in the media (like this NPR report) it is incorrect to state that this was the first meeting between the two Churches in a thousand years, referring to the Great Schism of 1054 which resulted in the split of the Catholic and Orthodox Churches.  That first meeting took place in 1964 between Pope Paul VI and Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras in Jerusalem when the mutual excommunications between the two Churches were lifted.  There have been several meetings between Popes and Patriarchs since then.

1964 and subsequent meetings between Popes and Patriarchs

His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew tweeted his prayers and subtly clarified the relevance of the meeting.

Praying for my brothers in Christ #PopeFrancis & Pat Kirill. Pleased 1964 dialogue started by Athenagoras & Paul VI continues to bear fruit.

— Ecumenical Patriarch (@EcuPatriarch) February 12, 2016

It is also relevant to point out that a thousand years ago when the two Churches split in 1054 there was no Russian Patriarch.  The Church in Russia until the 16th century was under the direct canonical authority of the Ecumenical Patriarch, it wasn't until 1589 that the Ecumenical Patriarchate granted autocephaly to the Church of Russia and we have the first Patriarch of Russia.

MYSTAGOGY: The Last Time the Head of the Russian Church Met the Pope of Rome

Nonetheless Pope Francis and Patriarch Krill's meeting today was historic not only because of the obvious implications it has on the advancement of relations between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches but because it bears particular historical significance in light of the upcoming Great and Holy Council of the Orthodox Church.  The Council, to be convened in Crete this June, will address relations between Orthodoxy and Catholicism.  The Moscow Patriarchate has often been regarded as a stumbling block in this relationship.  Not any more.

Video footage of Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill's signing of the Joint Declaration.

Historic Patriarchal Liturgy in Krini (Cesme) Asia Minor for the Feast of St. Haralambos

Today, February 10, 2016, the Feast of the Holy Righteous Hieromatyr Haralambos, at the Church of St. Haralambos in Krini (modern day Cesme), Asia Minor, His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew presided at the first Liturgy since the Asia Minor Catastrophe of 1922.  The Metropolitan Church of St. Haralambos which was the Cathedral of the Metropolis of Krini and Aneon has recently been restored by the mayor of Cesme.

Feast of Panagia Paramythias (Παναγίας Παραμυθίας) 2016 at the Holy Monastery of Vatopaidi

Agrypnia for the Feast of Panagia Paramythias (Παναγίας Παραμυθίας) at the Holy Monastery of Vatopaidi, Mt. Athos, con-celebrated by Metropolitan Dionysios of Corinth and Metropolitan Chrysostom of Chalkidos.

Πανηγυρική Αγρυπνία της Παναγίας Παραμυθίας στην Ιερά Μεγίστη Μονή Βατοπαιδίου, Αγίου Όρος, χοροστατούντος του Σεβασμιωτάτου Μητροπολίτου Κορίνθου κ. Διονυσίου και συγχοροστατούντος του Σεβασμιωτάτου Μητροπολίτου Χαλκίδος κ. Χρυσοστόμου.

source:  pemptousia.gr