Saturday, March 19, 2016

First Sunday of the Fast - The Sunday of Orthodoxy

Κυριακὴ Α´ τῶν Νηστειῶν - τῆς Ὀρθοδοξίας 

ἦχος α´ - ἑωθινὸν θ´ 


Ἐν ᾗ μνείαν ποιούμεθα τῆς ἀναστηλώσεως τῶν ἁγίων καὶ σεπτῶν Εἰκόνων.

On the First Sunday of the Fast – the Sunday of Orthodoxy we commemorate the restoration of the Holy and Venerable Icons.

Κυριακή της Ορθοδοξίας

Saturday, March 12, 2016

Cheesefare Sunday

Κυριακὴ τῆς Τυρινῆς

ἦχος πλ. δ´ - ἑωθινὸν η´ 


Ἐν ᾗ μνείαν ποιούμεθα τῆς ἀπό τοῦ Παραδείσου τῆς τρυφῆς ἐξορίας τοῦ πρωτοπλάστου Ἀδάμ.

On the Sunday of Cheesefare we commemorate the banishment of Adam the First-formed from Paradise.
Εξορία από του Παραδείσου




Saturday, March 5, 2016

Meatfare Sunday

Κυριακὴ τῆς Ἀπόκρεω

ἦχος βαρύς - ἑωθινὸν ζ´ 


Ἐν ᾗ μνείαν ποιούμεθα τῆς δευτέρας καί ἀδεκάστου παρουσίας τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ.

On the Sunday of Meatfare we commemorate the Second Coming and impartial Judgement of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Η Δευτέρα Παρουσία





Friday, March 4, 2016

Hymns from Meatfare Sunday

Archon Protopsaltes of the Great Church of Christ Thrasyvoulos Stanitsas chanting the hymns of Meatfare Sunday.

Κυριακή της Απόκρεω ήχος βαρύς ψάλλει ο αείμνηστος Άρχοντας Πρωτοψάλτης της Μεγάλης του Χριστού Εκκλησίας Θρασύβουλος Στανίτσας.



Saturday, February 27, 2016

Sunday of the Prodigal Son

Κυριακή τοῦ Ἀσώτου

ἦχος πλ. β´ - ἑωθινὸν στ´ 

Κυριακή τοῦ Ἀσώτου

Friday, February 26, 2016

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, February 21, 2016

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.



Friday, February 12, 2016

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.”
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.


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.


Wednesday, February 10, 2016

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.


Monday, February 8, 2016

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

Thursday, April 23, 2015

Euchologion - Goar

Link to the Euchologion published in 1730 by J. Goar in Venice.  This second edition includes corrections of a number of errors from the first edition.

Euchologion - Goar - 1730






Link to the Euchologion (first edition) published in1667 by J. Goar in Paris.  

Euchologion - Goar - 1667





Thursday, April 9, 2015

Δόξα σοι Κύριε before the Gospel



The question has arisen, mainly because of the lack of the Typikon of the Great Church (Violakis, TME 1888, p. 58 and p. 54) to include it, should Δόξα σοι Κύριε be chanted before the Gospel reading?

See J. Goar, Euchologion, 1730 (second edition Euchologion - Goar - 1730), p. 56.  Here it clearly states that it is chanted before the Gospel however, curious enough, no mention is made of it being chanted after the Gospel reading - most likely because it is assumed common knowledge.

I would defer to the common practice that exists almost universally in the Orthodox Church of chanting it before and after the Gospel reading.  One only need look at the modern practice of the Ecumenical Patriarchate today at the Patriarchal Cathedral which includes the chanting of it both before and after the Gospel testifying to an older accepted tradition of the Great Church.

Curiously enough one hears in the modern practice of the Church of Greece, at least at it's Metropolitan Cathedral and at other Athens parishes, the chanting of Δόξα σοι Κύριε before the priest or deacons' exclamation of Πρόσχωμεν before the Gospel reading.

It is most likely the case that the omission of this rubric in the TME is a case of assumed knowledge of the divine services and their common elements by the authors of the 1888 edition.  There are many areas in the Typikon both in the 1888 edition and in previous editions where common elements are left out, partially described and assumed to be known by the reader.  For instance to speak of the previous editions of Konstantinos' Typika, they remain silent on the subject not including detailed rubrics for the Gospel reading.  


Saturday, October 25, 2014

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Κυριακή τοῦ Θωμά - Sunday of Saint Thomas

Is the Orthros Gospel read from inside the Holy Altar on the Sunday of Saint Thomas?

There seems to be some confusion about the answer to this question among the different liturgical traditions of St. Savas and the modern Great Church.

Perhaps, the confusion commences from the inclusion of the Sunday of Saint Thomas in the list of Feasts of the Lord (Δεσποτικές Εορτές).  No hymns from the Sunday Octoechos are chanted on this day - but it's not correct to say that Resurrectional hymns are not chanted.  We do chant Christ is Risen...  as well as several other hymns.

What do the different typika say about it?

The Church of Greece appoints the Orthros Gospel to be read from within the Holy Altar and for the 50th Psalm to be chanted as any other Sunday, which means that the Gospel is then accordingly brought out from the Sanctuary to be reverenced by the faithful.  See for example this years description on April 27th (p. 179 and on):

Diptychs of the Church of Greece April, 2014
Δίπτυχα της Εκκλησίας της Ελλάδος Απρίλιος 2014

Konstantinos' Typikon (1838, p. 196) states "ἅπασα ἡ τάξις τοῦ Ἑωθινοῦ Εὐαγγελίου" meaning that the Gospel is read and the 50th Psalm is chanted and venerated, without explicitly stating that the Gospel is read from the Holy Altar.  This is what Violakis Typikon (1888, p. 392) states as well.

The Typikon of Saint Savas (as seen below in the edition by Antionios Pinellos, 1615) on the other hand doesn't even mention the Eothinon, it simply states "Εὐαγγέλιον κατὰ Ματθαὶου" - leaving even more to interpretation than even the typika of the Great Church.



The confusion occurs in an obscure footnote in Konstantinos' Typikon (1838, p. 196) - after the Anavathmoi it prescribes the reading of the Eothinon Gospel and then references a footnote that states that in the Great Church the Gospel is read after the Katavasies.  In fact it is after the Katavasies that Konstantinos states "ἅπασα ἡ τάξις τοῦ Ἑωθινοῦ Εὐαγγελίου"in the main text.  Violakis' Typikon  follows suit and has a similar footnote without mentioning the Gospel after the Anavathmoi in the text.  Like Konstantinos' text only after the Katavasies  does it prescribe "ἅπασα ἡ τάξις..." (1888, p. 392).  

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Our Father among the Saints Nicholas the Wonderworker - Τοῦ ἐν Ἁγίοις Πατρός ἡμῶν Νικολάου τοῦ Θαυματουργοῦ

Τρίτη: Τοῦ ἐν Ἁγίοις Πατρός ἡμῶν Νικολάου, Eπισκόπου Μύρων τῆς Λυκίας τοῦ Θαυματουργοῦ.


Τῇ  Δευτέρᾳ ἑσπέρας: Θ΄ ΩΡΑ
Ἀπολυτίκιον: «Ταῖς τῶν δακρύων σου ῥοαῖς...».
Κοντάκιον: «Ὡς ἀπό βρέφους...».
Ἀπόλυσις: Μικρά.
ΕΣΠΕΡΙΝΟΣ
Προοιμιακός – Ψαλτήριον.
Εἰς τό· «Κύριε, ἐκέκραξα...».
Ἑσπέρια: Τά 4 Στιχηρά Προσόμοια τοῦ Ἱεράρχου· «Μύροις, παροικήσας αἰσθητῶς... – Νίκη φερωνύμως ἀληθῶς...– Ὤφθης Κωνσταντίνῳ Βασιλεῖ... – Μέγας ἀντιλήπτωρ καί θερμός...» εἰς 6, τά δύο πρῶτα ἐκ δευτέρου.
Δόξα: Τό Ἰδιόμελον τοῦ Ἱεράρχου· «Ἱεραρχῶν τήν καλλονήν...».
Καί νῦν: Τό Προεόρτιον Ἰδιόμελον· «Σπήλαιον εὐτρεπίζου...».
Εἴσοδος: «Φῶς ἱλαρόν...». Τό Προκείμενον τῆς ἡμέρας καί τά Ἀναγνώσματα.
Ἀπόστιχα: Τά 3 Στιχηρά Προσόμοια τοῦ Ἱεράρχου· «Χαίροις, ἡ ἱερά κεφαλή… – Χαίροις, ὁ ἱερώτατος νοῦς... – Χαίροις, ὁ ζήλου θείου πλησθείς...», μετά τῶν πρό αὐτῶν στίχων εἰς τά δύο τελευταῖα: α΄.– «Τίμιος ἐναντίον Κυρίου ὁ θάνατος τοῦ Ὁσίου αὐτοῦ». β΄. – «Μακάριος ἀνήρ ὁ φοβούμενος τόν Κύριον· ἐν ταῖς ἐντολαῖς αὐτοῦ θελήσει σφόδρα».
Δόξα: Τό Ἰδιόμελον αὐτῶν· «Ἄνθρωπε τοῦ Θεοῦ...».
Καί νῦν: Τό ἓτερον Προεόρτιον Ἰδιόμελον· «Ἀνύμφευτε Παρθένε...».
Τρισάγιον.
Ἀπολυτίκια: 1.– Τοῦ Ἱεράρχου· «Κανόνα πίστεως...» καί 2.– Δόξα, Καί νῦν, τό ὁμόηχον Θεοτοκίον αὐτοῦ· «Τό ἀπ’ αἰῶνος ἀπόκρυφον...».
Ἀπόλυσις.
Τῇ Τρίτῃ πρωΐ: ΜΕΣΟΝΥΚΤΙΚΟΝ.
Μετά τόν Ν΄ Ψαλμόν, τά διά τήν Λιτήν Στιχηρά Ἰδιόμελα τοῦ Ἁγίου·«Ἐνατενίσας ἀκλινῶς...», κτλ. μετά τοῦ Δόξα, Καί νῦν αὐτῶν. Τρισάγιον καί τό Ἀπολυτίκιον τοῦ Ἱεράρχου· «Κανόνα πίστεως...».
ΟΡΘΡΟΣ
Ἑξάψαλμος.
Εἰς τό· «Θεός Κύριος...».
Ἀπολυτίκια: 1.– Τοῦ Ἱεράρχου· «Κανόνα πίστεως...». 2.– Δόξα, τό αὐτό καί 3.– Καί νῦν, τό ὁμόηχον Θεοτοκίον αὐτοῦ· «Τό ἀπ’ αἰῶνος ἀπόκρυφον...».
Καθίσματα: Τοῦ Ἱεράρχου τῆς α΄ καί β΄ Στιχολογίας καί τό μετά τόν Πολυέλεον μετά τῶν Θεοτοκίων αὐτῶν, ὡς ἐν τῷ Μηναίῳ.
Ἀναβαθμοί: Τό α΄ Ἀντίφωνον τοῦ δ΄ ἤχου· «Ἐκ νεότητός μου...».
Προκείμενον: «Τίμιος ἐναντίον Κυρίου ὁ θάνατος τοῦ Ὁσίου αὐτοῦ».
Στίχος: «Τί ἀνταποδώσωμεν τῷ Κυρίῳ περί πάντων, ὧν ἀνταπέδωκεν ἡμῖν;».
Εὐαγγέλιον Ὄρθρου: Τοῦ Ἱεράρχου· «Ἀμήν, ἀμήν λέγω ὑμῖν, ὁ μή εἰσερχόμενος διά τῆς θύρας...» (Ἰω. ι΄ 1-9).
Ὁ Ν΄ Ψαλμός: (Χῦμα). Δόξα· «Ταῖς τοῦ Ἱεράρχου...». Καί νῦν· «Ταῖς τῆς Θεοτόκου...» καί τό Ἰδιόμελον· «Εὖ δούλε ἀγαθέ...».
Κανόνες: 1.– Τῆς Θεοτόκου· «Σοφίας τήν ἄβυσσον...», μετά τῶν Εἱρμῶν αὐτοῦ καί 2.– Ὁ β΄ τοῦ Ἱεράρχου· «Ἀπόρῳ γλώττῃ καί χείλεσιν...».
Ἀπό γ΄ ᾨδῆς·
Μεσῴδιον Κάθισμα: Τοῦ Ἱεράρχου· «Ποταμόν ἰαμάτων ὑπερχειλῆ...», μετά τοῦ Θεοτοκίου αὐτοῦ· «Τήν Σοφίαν καί Λόγον...».
Ἀφ’ ς΄ ᾨδῆς·
Κοντάκιον – Οἶκος: Τοῦ Ἱεράρχου.
Συναξάριον: Τῆς ἡμέρας.
Καταβασίαι: «Χριστός γεννᾶται...».
Ἡ Τιμιωτέρα.
Εἱρμός θ΄ ᾨδῆς: «Μεγάλυνον, ψυχή μου... – Μυστήριον ξένον...».
Ἐξαποστειλάρια: 1.– Τά δύο τοῦ Ἱεράρχου· «Τόν μέγαν ἀρχιποίμενα...» καί·«Μεγάλως σε ἐδόξασεν...» καί 2.– Τό Θεοτοκίον αὐτῶν· «Σοφίαν ἐνυπόστατον...».
Αἶνοι: Τά 4 Στιχηρά Προσόμοια τοῦ Ἱεράρχου· «Τῆς Ἐκκλησίας τά ἄνθη... – Τῆς ἱερᾶς διπλοΐδας... – Τῶν ἀθεάτων τά κάλλη... – Ὡς ἐν ὀνείρῳ ἐπέστης...».
Δόξα: Τό Ἰδιόμελον αὐτῶν· «Σαλπίσωμεν ἐν σάλπιγγι...».
Καί νῦν: Τό ὁμόηχον Θεοτοκίον αὐτοῦ· «Μακαρίζομέν σε, Θεοτόκε Παρθένε...».
Δοξολογία: Μεγάλη.
«Κανόνα πίστεως...».
ΕΙΣ ΤΗΝ Θ. ΛΕΙΤΟΥΡΓΙΑΝ
«Κανόνα πίστεως...».
Εἴσοδος.
Εἰσοδικόν: «Δεῦτε προσκυνήσωμεν... ὁ ἐν ἁγίοις θαυμαστός...».
Μετά τήν Εἴσοδον.
Ἀπολυτίκια: 1.– Τοῦ Ἱεράρχου· «Κανόνα πίστεως...» καί 2.– Τοῦ Ναοῦ.
Κοντάκιον: «Ἡ Παρθένος σήμερον τόν προαιώνιον Λόγον...».
Τρισάγιον.
Ἀπόστολος: Τοῦ Ἱεράρχου· «Πείθεσθε τοῖς ἡγουμένοις ὑμῶν...» (Ἑβρ. ιγ΄ 17-21).
Εὐαγγέλιον: Ὁμοίως· «Ἔστη ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐπί τόπου πεδινοῦ...» (Λουκ. ς΄ 17-23).
Εἰς τό Ἐξαιρέτως: «Ἄξιόν ἐστιν...».
Κοινωνικόν: «Εἰς μνημόσυνον...».
«Εἴδομεν τό φῶς...», κτλ.
Ἀπόλυσις.

Taken from ΗΟΠ 2011

Some sources cite St. Nicholas as Bishop of Myra (Επισκόπου Μύρων) and some as Archbishop (Αρχιεπισκόπου Μύρων).  The TME, Papagiannis in his Σύστημα Τυπικού and the Ωρολόγιον το Μέγα published by Το Περιβόλι της Παναγίας use the former.  While the ΗΟΠ 2011, the ΔΕΕ 2011 and the Menaia (1838) use the later.

Of note in the hymnology for the Feast of St. Nicholas is the Proertion (Προεόρτιον) hymn of Christmas that is chanted at the καὶ νῦν of the stichera.

Also of important note are the hymns that have been inserted into the Menaion by Nikolaos Malaksos (Νικόλαος Μαλαξός).  The TME (p. 109 fn. 1), TK 1838 (p. 41), and the Menaion (1863 p. 26) all have notes on this.  Malaksos apparently composed the hymns in honor of St. Nicholas and took it upon himself to send them along with hymns composed for the services of Sts. Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom to the publishers of the Menaia in Venice during the mid 1600's.  The publishers apparently inserted them into the Menaia and they seem to have been published in the text of the service ever since.  Papagiannis (p. 234, fn. 397) points out the other typika including Regas' Typikon (Τυπικόν του Γεωργίου Ρήγα, p. 350) that include the hymns in the "older" practice of chanting 8 stichera instead of the accepted 6.

Papagiannis (p. 234, fn.  398) also points out the peculiarity that exists in the chanting of the cannons for this day.  The existing practice in the TME (p. 110) is to skip the first cannon of St. Nicholas and only chant the second.  One apparent reason for skipping the first cannon of the Saint is that the cannon of the Theotokos that is chanted before it is in the same (1st) tone.

It should also be noted that the Orthros Gospel above (Jn. 10:1-9) is not the one given in the Menaion (1863, p. 29).  The Menaion lists the reading as "Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἡκολούθησαν τῷ Ἰησοῦ ὄχλοι" according to Matthew.  This reading could either be Mat. 12:15-21 read on the Saturday after Christmas, or Mat. 4:25-5:12 which can be read on the Feast of St. Gregory Bishop of Nyssa (Jan. 10) but which is usually replaced by the metheorton (μεθέορτον) Gospel reading of Theophany.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Beginning of the Christmas Fast - Diataxis of the Lenten Services

The Nativity Fast begins today.  The rules of fasting and prayer are modified but are not as strict as those during Great Lent before Easter.  For example we read in the Δίπτυχα της Εκκλησίας της Ελλάδος 2011, p. 329, that fish is allowed, except for Wednesdays and Fridays, until the 17th of December:
Είδησις.  Από σήμερον άρχεται η τεσσαρακοστή προ των Χριστουγέννων, εις ήν επιτρέπεται, εκτός Τετάρτης και παρασκευής, μέχρι μεν της 17ης Δεκεμβρίου κατάλυσις ιχθύοθς, από δε της 18ης εως της 24ης Δεκεμβρίου κατάλυσις οίνου και ελαίου....
For a detailed account of the fasting regulations during the Nativity Fast with patristic and canonical sources take a look at this pdf.  (compiled by Old Calendarists but with canonical sources)

According to the ancient typika of the monastic communities the daily services are also modified during the Fast. Below is an old Menaion of November (Venice, 1820, edited by Nikolaos Glykeis) which includes a very detailed diataxis of how the daily services are modified during the Christmas Fast.  The diataxis inserted in the Menaion by Nikolaos Glykeis is largely a reproduction of Chapters 4 and 5 of Markou Ieromonaxou᾽s (Μάρκου Ιερομονάχου) notes on the typikon that can be found in the printed editions of the Typikon of St. Savvas (Τυπικόν του Αγ. Σάββα).

It is worth noting that a concise diataxis of the changes has been compiled by Fr. Papagiannis in Σύστημα Τυπικού (p. 213 - 215)

The Patriarchal Typika of the 19th century including the TME are silent on the lenten changes in the daily services because it is an accepted practice that these changes are only observed in monastic communities.  The daily services of the parish churches are not altered during the Nativity Fast.  This is certainly one of the most important differences in the TME when compared to the Typikon of St. Savvas.




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Sunday, November 13, 2011

Our Father Among the Saints John Chrysostom - Τοῦ ἐν Ἁγίοις Πατρός ἡμῶν Ἰωάννου τοῦ Χρυσοστόμου

Κυριακή: Η΄ ΛΟΥΚΑ. Τοῦ ἐν Ἁγίοις Πατρός ἡμῶν Ἰωάννου, Ἀρχιεπισκόπου Κωνσταντινουπόλεως, τοῦ Χρυσοστόμου. Τῆς Ἁγίας Ἀνθούσης, μητρός τοῦ Ἱεροῦ Χρυσοστόμου.

Ἦχος πλ. α΄ – Ἑωθινόν ΙΑ΄.
Ἡ μνήμη τοῦ Ἁγίου τελεῖται ἐν τῇ Ἁγίᾳ τοῦ Χριστοῦ Μεγάλῃ Ἐκ­κλησίᾳ μετ’ ἰδιαιτέρου Τυπικοῦ:

Ἐν τῇ Ἁγίᾳ τοῦ Χριστοῦ Μεγάλῃ Ἐκκλησίᾳ τελεῖται πανηγυρικός Ἑσπερινός καί Θ. Λειτουργία τοποθετουμένης τῆς ἱερᾶς εἰκόνος τοῦ ἑορταζομένου Ἁγίου εἰς τόν Ἀρχιεπισκοπικόν Θρόνον, τοῦ δέ Πατριάρχου χοροστατοῦντος ἐκ τοῦ Παραθρονίου.
Τῷ Σαββάτῳ ἑσπέρας.
Ἅμα τῇ κρούσει τῶν κωδώνων δύο Ἱερεῖς καί δύο Διάκονοι ἐνδεδυμένοι τά ἄμφια αὐτῶν εὑρίσκονται ἐν τῷ Ἱ. Βήματι, οἱ πρῶτοι ἱστάμενοι ἑκατέρωθεν τοῦ Συνθρόνου, ἵνα λιτανεύσωσι τήν Ἱ. Εἰκόνα, οἱ δέ Διάκονοι ἔμπροσθεν, ἵνα θυμιῶσι ταύτην. Τῆς Α.Θ. Παναγιότητος κατελθούσης μετά τῆς Πατριαρχικῆς Αὐλῆς εἰς τόν Νάρθηκα, οἱ Πατριαρχικοί Χοροί ἄρχονται, ἐντός τοῦ Ἱ. Βήματος, ψάλλοντες τά Ἰδιόμελα τῆς Ἑορτῆς τοῦ Ἁγίου, καί λιτανεύεται ἡ Ἱ. Εἰκών διά τῆς Βορείου Πύλης προπορευομένων τῶν ἑξαπτερύγων, ἀκολουθούντων τοῦ Πριμικηρίου μέ τό Διβάμβουλον καί τῶν Ἱεροψαλτῶν καί ἑπομένων τῶν Διακόνων θυμιώντων τήν ὑπό τῶν Ἱερέων φερομένην Ἱεράν Εἰκόνα. Ὅταν ἡ ἀνωτέρω πομπή φθάσῃ εἰς τόν Νάρθηκα ὁ Πατριάρχης εἰσοδεύει εἰς τόν Ναόν, προπορευόμενος τῆς Ἱ. Εἰκόνος. Ἐν τῷ Σολέᾳ οἱ λαμπαδοῦχοι λαμβάνουσι τάς ἑκατέρωθεν τῆς Ὡραίας Πύλης θέσεις αὐτῶν. Οἱ χοροί ἀνέρχονται εἰς τά ἀναλόγια, καί ὁ Πριμικήριος μέ τό Διβάμβουλον ἀπέναντι τοῦ Θρόνου. Ὁ Πατριάρχης παραμερίζει ἀριστερά, οἱ Ἱερεῖς τοποθετοῦσι μετ’ εὐλαβείας τήν Ἱ. Εἰκόνα ἐπί τοῦ Θρόνου καί κατελθόντες ἵστανται ἑκατέρωθεν τοῦ Διβαμβούλου. Τότε ἀνέρχεται ὁ Μ. Ἐκκλησιάρχης καί προσδένει ἐπί τοῦ ἀριστεροῦ κίονος τοῦ Θρόνου τήν Ποιμαντορικήν Ράβδον. Ὁ Πατριάρχης ἵσταται ἐν τῷ μέσῳ τοῦ Σολέα. Ὁ πρῶτος τῶν Ἱερέων λαμβάνει τό θυμιατήριον καί θυμιᾷ ἐννεάκις τήν τοποθετηθεῖσαν Ἱ. Εἰκόνα καί λαμβάνει θέσιν πλησίον τῶν Ἱερέων. Ἡ Α.Θ. Παναγιότης ποιεῖ τρίς τό σημεῖον τοῦ Σταυροῦ, εἶτα σχῆμα πρό τῆς Ἱ. Εἰκόνος καί ἀνέρχεται εἰς τό Παραθρόνιον. Εἷς Ἱερεύς καί δύο Διάκονοι λαμβάνουσι Καιρόν ἐκ τῆς Ἱ. Εἰκόνος ποιοῦντες τρίς τό σημεῖον τοῦ Σταυροῦ, μετάνοιαν καί ἀσπαζόμενοι τήν Ἱ. Εἰκόνα ποιοῦσι σχῆμα εἰς τόν Πατριάρχην καί εἰσέρχονται εἰς τό Ἱερόν Βῆμα διά τῆς Βορείου καί Νοτίου Πύλης διά τόν Ἑσπερινόν.


Τῷ Σαββάτῳ ἑσπέρας: Θ΄ ΩΡΑ
Ἀπολυτίκια: 1. «Ἐν τῇ ὑπομονῇ σου…». 2.– Δόξα˙ «Ταῖς τῶν δακρύων σου ῥοαῖς…».
Κοντάκιον: «Τόν πλοῦτον τόν σόν…».
Ἀπόλυσις: Μικρά.
ΕΣΠΕΡΙΝΟΣ
Προοιμιακός – Ψαλτήριον.
Εἰς τό· «Κύριε, ἐκέκραξα…».
Ἑσπέρια: 1.– Τά 3 Στιχηρά Ἀναστάσιμα· «Διά τοῦ τιμίου σου Σταυροῦ... – Ὁ τήν ἀνάστασιν διδούς... – Μέγα θαῦμα…». 2.– Τά 3 Στιχηρά Ἀνατολικά·«Ἑσπερινήν προσκύνησιν… – Τόν ἀρχηγόν τῆς σωτηρίας… – Οἱ τῆς κουστωδίας ἐνηχοῦντο…» καί 3.– Τά 3 Στιχηρά Προσόμοια τοῦ Ἱεράρχου·«Τήν χρυσήλατον σάλπιγγα... – Τόν ἀστέρα τόν ἄδυτον... – Ὁ ἐπίγειος Ἄγγελος...» εἰς 4, τό πρῶτον δίς.
Δόξα: Τό Ἰδιόμελον τοῦ Ἱεράρχου· «Ὅσιε τρισμάκαρ...».
Καί νῦν: Τό α΄ Θεοτοκίον τοῦ ἤχου· «Ἐν τῇ Ἐρυθρᾷ θαλάσσῃ…».
Εἴσοδος: «Φῶς ἱλαρόν…». Τό Προκείμενον τῆς ἡμέρας καί τά Ἀναγνώσματα.
Ἀπόστιχα: Τό Ἀναστάσιμον Στιχηρόν· «Σέ τόν σαρκωθέντα Σωτῆ­ρα…» καί τά κατ’ Ἀλφάβητον τοῦ ἤχου· «Νυγείσης σου τῆς πλευρᾶς... – Ξένη σου ἡ σταύρωσις... – Ὁ δι’ ἡμᾶς σαρκί πάθος δεξάμενος…».
Δόξα: Τό ἕτερον Ἰδιόμελον τοῦ Ἱεράρχου· «Σάλπιγξ χρυσόφωνος...».
Καί νῦν: Τό ὁμόηχον Θεοτοκίον αὐτοῦ· «Ὁ ποιητής καί λυτρωτής μου...».
Τρισάγιον.
Ἀπολυτίκια: 1.– Τό Ἀναστάσιμον· «Τόν συνάναρχον Λόγον…». 2.– Δόξα, τοῦ Ἱεράρχου· «Ἡ τοῦ στόματός σου...» καί 3.– Καί νῦν, τό ὁμόηχον Θεοτοκίον αὐτοῦ· «Ὁ δι’ ἡμᾶς γεννηθείς...».
Ἀπόλυσις: «Ὁ ἀναστάς ἐκ νεκρῶν…».


Τῇ Κυριακῇ πρωΐ: ΜΕΣΟΝΥΚΤΙΚΟΝ
Μετά τόν Ν΄ Ψαλμόν, ὁ Τριαδικός Κανών· «Κράτος τῆς ἑνιαίας…», τά διά τήν Λιτήν Στιχηρά Ἰδιόμελα τοῦ Ἱεράρχου· «Φωστήρ Ἰωάννη...», κτλ. μετά τοῦ Δόξα, Καί νῦν αὐτῶν, τά Τριαδικά· «Ἄξιόν ἐστιν…». Τρισάγιον καί τό  Ἀπολυτίκιον τοῦ Ἱεράρχου· «Ἡ τοῦ στόματός σου...».


ΟΡΘΡΟΣ
Ἑξάψαλμος.
Εἰς τό· «Θεός Κύριος…».
Ἀπολυτίκια: Τά τοῦ Ἑσπερινοῦ.
Καθίσματα: Τά Ἀναστάσιμα τῆς α΄ Στιχολογίας μετά Θεοτοκίου εἰς τό Καί νῦν· «Χαῖρε, πύλη Κυρίου...» (πρβλ. ὑποσημ. 4), τῆς β΄ Στιχολογίας μετά τοῦ Θεοτοκίου αὐτῶν, καί τά μετά τόν Πολυέλεον Καθίσματα τοῦ Ἱεράρχου μετά τοῦ Θεοτοκίου αὐτῶν.
Τά Εὐλογητάρια – ἡ Ὑπακοή – οἱ Ἀναβαθμοί καί τό Προκείμενον τοῦ ἤχου.
Κανόνες: 1.– Ὁ Ἀναστάσιμος· «Ἵππον καί ἀναβάτην…», μετά τῶν Εἱρμῶν αὐτοῦ καί 2.– Τοῦ Ἱεράρχου· «Τῆς μετανοίας γεγονώς θερμότατος...»,ἀμφότεροι εἰς 4.
Ἀπό γ΄ ᾨδῆς·
Τό Ἀναστάσιμον Κοντάκιον καί ὁ Οἶκος (χῦμα) καί τό·
Μεσῴδιον Κάθισμα: Τοῦ Ἱεράρχου· «Τῆς ἀῤῥήτου σοφίας...», μετά τοῦ Θεοτοκίου αὐτοῦ· «Τόν φλογμόν τῆς γεέννης...».
Ἀφ’ ς΄ ᾨδῆς·
Κοντάκιον – Οἶκος: Τοῦ Ἱεράρχου.
Συναξάριον: Τῆς ἡμέρας.
Καταβασίαι: «Ἀνοίξω τό στόμα μου…» (8ῃ Νοεμβρίου).
Εὐαγγέλιον Ὄρθρου: Τό ΙΑ΄ Ἑωθινόν· «Ἐφανέρωσεν ἑαυτόν ὁ Ἰησοῦς... καί λέγει τῷ Σίμωνι...», κτλ.
Ἡ Τιμιωτέρα.
Εἱρμός θ΄ ᾨδῆς: «Ἅπας γηγενής…».
 «Ἅγιος Κύριος...».
Ἐξαποστειλάρια: 1.– Τό ΙΑ΄ Ἀναστάσιμον· «Μετά τήν θείαν ἔγερσιν...»2.– Τοῦ Ἱεράρχου· «Τόν μεγαλοφωνότατον...» καί 3.– Τό Θεοτοκίον αὐτοῦ·«Παρθένε παναμώμητε...».
Αἶνοι: 1.– Τά 4 Στιχηρά Ἀναστάσιμα· «Κύριε, ἐσφραγισμένου τοῦ τάφου... – Κύριε, τούς μοχλούς τούς αἰωνίους... – Κύριε, αἱ γυναῖκες... – Κύριε, ὥσπερ ἐξῆλθες…» καί 2.– Τά 4 Στιχηρά Προσόμοια τοῦ Ἱεράρχου· «Χρυσοῦ τηλαυγέστερον... – Ὁ στῦλος ὁ πύρινος... – Ἥλιος πολύφωτος... – Ἀδίκως τῆς ποίμνης σου...», μετά στίχων εἰς τά δύο τελευταῖα: α΄.– «Τό στόμα μου λαλήσει σοφίαν καί ἡ μελέτη τῆς καρδίας μου σύνεσιν». β΄.– «Στόμα δικαίου μελετήσει σοφίαν καί ἡ γλῶσσα αὐτοῦ λαλήσει κρίσιν».
Δόξα: Τό Ἰδιόμελον τοῦ Ἱεράρχου· «Χρυσέοις ἔπεσι...».
Καί νῦν: «Ὑπερευλογημένη…».
Δοξολογία: Μεγάλη.
«Σήμερον σωτηρία…».


ΕΙΣ ΤΗΝ Θ. ΛΕΙΤΟΥΡΓΙΑΝ
«Τόν συνάναρχον Λόγον…».
Εἴσοδος.
Εἰσοδικόν: «Δεῦτε προσκυνήσωμεν... ὁ ἀναστάς ἐκ νεκρῶν...».
Μετά τήν Εἴσοδον.
Ἀπολυτίκια: 1.– Τό Ἀναστάσιμον· «Τόν συνάναρχον Λόγον…».  2.– Τοῦ Ἱεράρχου· «Ἡ τοῦ στόματός σου...» καί 3.–  Τοῦ Ναοῦ.
Κοντάκιον: «Ὁ καθαρώτατος Ναός…».
Τρισάγιον.
Ἀπόστολος: Τοῦ Ἱεράρχου· «Τοιοῦτος ἡμῖν ἔπρεπεν ἀρχιερεύς...» (Ἑβρ. ζ΄ 26-28, η΄ 1-2).
Εὐαγγέλιον: Κυριακῆς η΄ ἑβδομάδος Λουκᾶ· «Νομικός τις προσῆλθε τῷ Ἰησοῦ...» (Λουκ. ι΄ 25-37).
Εἰς τό Ἐξαιρέτως: «Ἄξιόν ἐστιν…».
Κοινωνικόν: «Αἰνεῖτε…».
«Εἴδομεν τό φῶς…», κτλ.
Ἀπόλυσις: Ἡ τοῦ Ἑσπερινοῦ.


Some notes on the order:

This year the feast of St. John Chrysostom falls on Sunday.  This double celebration provides an opportunity to make an important point about some of the modern criticism the Typikon of the Great Church (TME) receives.

Papagiannis in his Σύστημα Τυπικού (p. 211, fn. 349) suggests a divergence from the tradition of the TME during the Vespers of the Feast.  At the Κύριε εκέκραξα he instructs the chanting of four resurrectional stichera (στιχερά) instead of six as the TME dictates.  Papagiannis argues that because of the preeminence of the Feast of Chrysostom and the fact that on January 30th when Chrysostom is commemorated together with St. Basil and St. Gregory as on the of the Three Hierarchs, the TME instructs only four resurrectional hymns should be chanted then, so according to Papagiannis only four resurrectional stichera should be chanted when the Feast of St. John Chrysostom falls on a Sunday.

This practice of only four resurrectional stichera for the Feast of Chrysostom can be found in the Typikon of Ksiropotamou (Ξηροποτάμου) and the Typikon Rigas (Γεώργιος Ρήγας) edited, as Papagiannis notes.

I would ask the following:  Was this overlooked by Konstantinos, Violakis, and the two Synodal committees responsible for publishing the TME?  Other than on January 30th when else does the TME reserve the chanting of the resurrectional stichera to only four?  Is it possible that the Feast of the Three Hierarchs is held in higher esteem than the individual commemoration of the Three Hierarchs respectively on their given Feastdays? Are we perhaps too quick to assume that the TME has erred instead of perceiving what might merely be the codification of the Patriarchal practice?  Maybe the question should be when and why did the practice change at the Patriarchate?