How are the Epistles and OT readings read or chanted in your church?

Who typically does the readings?

Where do they stand?

Is it chanted or recited?

Do they face the people?

How many readers does your parish have?

Are all the OT readings done at vespers and Pre-Sanctified or just one?

Who chants the Prokeimenon (Responsorial) and Psalm verses before the Epistle and/or OT readings? The Lector, cantor, choir, the people, ...?

Can the people hear the reading clearly?

Is the Epistle book covered in metal with precious stones?

On major feast days when a dozen or more readings are assigned for vespers, are they all read in church or only a few?


Cantor Joe Thur
Deacon-student

[ 02-23-2002: Message edited by: J Thur ]

Joe,

1. We have cantor, a cantor in training, and one lady that reads the Epistle. We have three Sunday liturgies. One Saturday night, two Sunday. The cantor attends all, the other two generally just one. They each read at their designated Liturgy.

2. The cantors read from the cantor loft. The lady reads from the lectern on the ambo.

3. It is generally only read.

4. The cantors face East, the loft is in the back. The lady faces the people.

5. See number one.

6. Just one reading at Presanctified.

7. The cantor chants the Prokimenon without verse. Everyone chants the Alleluia without verses.

8. Yes.

9. No adornment on the Epistle book, and while we have an adorned Gospel book, my priest reads from an unadorned one from the lectern without candlebearers.

10. The only time we come close to having Vespers is Presanctified or Vesperal Liturgy on Great and Holy Thursday or Saturday. The multiple Gospels are read, but not the Old Testament reaadings.

In Christ,
Lance, deacon candidate

1. The reader generally chants the Epistles and OT readings unless it is BCY Sunday, in which case the teen reader will either chant or read depending upon his or her skill and courage.

2. The cantors generally do the readings or, in the case of several readings, one or two people who are trained to chant the reading.

3. The reader stands before the tetrapod. He or she announces the reading facing East but then turns towards the West (the people) to actually chant the reading. There is no "official" tradition regarding where to stand and there never has been. The best place for the reader to stand is where the people can clearly hear the reader.

4. Mostly chanted (see #1 above).

5. Parishe has about 4 or 5 readers.

6. Both OT readings are done at the Presanctified Liturgy.

7. The people chant the Prokimenon and Alleluia and the reader does the verse.

8. The ability of the people to hear and understand the reading is related to the carefulness in which the reader actually chants the reading. Some are quite excellent. Others, well….

9. The Epistle book is covered in a golden metal, but sometimes when there are multiple readings each reader has his or her own book to prepare with and read from.

10. When there are 3 OT and 1 epistle assigned they are generally done. On major feast days (Christmas, Theophany, Pascha) when numerous readings are listed they are usually abbreviated down to a few. This is because these reading were done to give the faithful something to listen to while the public baptisms were going on. Now that there are fewer baptisms there is no need for all the readings.

1. Readings are done by the Cantor, myself, or by two other gentlemen of the Parish if there are no difficult words.

2. We stand under the chandelier in the nave of the Church, about half way up the aisle. We do it here because there is a structral support in the floor beneath us, and if we do a poor job of it, the floor is less likely to open up there and swallow us up.

3. It is always chanted.

4. We face the Ikonostas (East)

5. Four

6. Don't know, can't ever go to Presanctified

7. The Prokimen is sung by the Cantor, or myself, then the verse, and on the repeat, everyone.

8. Most certainly.

9. No

10. Haven't been around the block enough to say difinitively.

†Who typically does the readings?

One of the ladies in the choir

†Where do they stand?

At the front pew.

†Is it chanted or recited?

Recited

†Do they face the people?

Yes.

†How many readers does your parish have?

I know of the one lady and a teen who does it during Vespers.

†Are all the OT readings done at vespers and Pre-Sanctified or just one?

Its in Ukrainian and I had no book, so I couldn't tell you.

†Who chants the Prokeimenon (Responsorial) and Psalm verses before the Epistle and/or OT readings? The Lector, cantor, choir, the people, ...?

The choir, plus a few people.

†Can the people hear the reading clearly?

Sometimes

†Is the Epistle book covered in metal with precious stones?

Not sure.

†On major feast days when a dozen or more readings are assigned for vespers, are they all read in church or only a few?

A few.

IC XC NIKA,
-Nik!
http://YourCatholic.com

1. Who typically does the readings?
Usually unworthy me.

2. Where do they stand?
In the center of the nave.

3. Is it chanted or recited?
Chanted.

4. Do they face the people?
Half of them - from behind.

5. How many readers does your parish have?
5. No official readers, but two volunteers.

6. Are all the OT readings done at vespers and Pre-Sanctified or just one?
All of them.

7. Who chants the Prokeimenon (Responsorial) and Psalm verses before the Epistle and/or OT readings? The Lector, cantor, choir, the people, ...?
On good days, the Prokeimenon is chanted by everyone. On bad days, the person doing the upcoming reading is out there feeling all alone. In both cases, the verses are done by a volunteer in the choir.

8. Can the people hear the reading clearly?
Assuming my prayers to the Forerunner, "...That for the next few minutes he might aid me, another voice proclaiming the Word..." are answered. I think (hope?) they usually are.

9. Is the Epistle book covered in metal with precious stones?
No.

10. On major feast days when a dozen or more readings are assigned for vespers, are they all read in church or only a few?
During vespers for Theophany we used seven of the readings.

-- Ed Klages