The Byzantine Forum
Newest Members
Galumph, Leon_C, Rocco, Hvizsgyak, P.W.
5,984 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 255 guests, and 47 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Latest Photos
St. Sharbel Maronite Mission El Paso
St. Sharbel Maronite Mission El Paso
by orthodoxsinner2, September 30
Holy Saturday from Kirkland Lake
Holy Saturday from Kirkland Lake
by Veronica.H, April 24
Byzantine Catholic Outreach of Iowa
Exterior of Holy Angels Byzantine Catholic Parish
Church of St Cyril of Turau & All Patron Saints of Belarus
Forum Statistics
Forums26
Topics35,389
Posts416,722
Members5,984
Most Online3,380
Dec 29th, 2019
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 49
Danj Offline OP
Member
OP Offline
Member
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 49
Glory to Jesus Christ!

I'm looking to obtain a copy of the Chaldean Liturgy and Daily Office books. I've been on their website, and they have the liturgy there, but offer no books for purchase. I would also like to obtain their Daily Office book. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

God bless
Dan

Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 26,391
Likes: 30
Member
Offline
Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 26,391
Likes: 30
Dear Dan,

The Chaldean Daily Office was reformed, as Fr. Taft writes, and I don't know if it is available in English.

Their variable horological portions are in a massive volume called the "Khudra" and there are other books as well.

It was Dr. Arthur Maclean who published an English translation of the Assyrian Daily Office in 1894 in his "East Syrian Daily Offices."

This book is out of print and is usually available in good libraries. Sometimes the odd copy surfaces for sale on the internet.

I've read this book and it is an excellent, readable translation.

Dr. Maclean presents an analysis of the Assyrian offices with a comparison of how the Chaldean Catholic Church has (slightly) altered the text.

Instead of "Mother of Christ," "Mother of God" is used by the Chaldeans. Of course, the sparse references to the "Greek Doctors" or Nestorius, Theodore of Mopsuestia and Diodore of Tarsus are ommitted and replaced with other East Syrian Saints.

There are the four basic offices of the Evening Service, Compline, the Night Service and the Morning Service.

The Assyrian books recommend "seven hours of prayer" for priests, monks and good laymen, but the three day hours seem to have been lost, except for Sext during Lent.

Compline also seems to have become obsolete, except for great feastdays.

The Morning Service is unchangeable by way of text. The Evening Service has two different texts that alternate every two weeks.

The Night Service is lengthy, usually involving the recitation of seven "Hulali" or "Kathismata" of the Psalter each night. The Chaldeans changed this to three "Hulali" per day to get through the Psalter once, rather than twice, each week. On feast days, the entire Psalter is read.

The Assyrian Psalter is fascinating, and is similar to our Psalter divisions except that it has 21 rather than 20 "Hulali" or Kathismata.

Each Hulala is divided into one, two or three "Marmyatha" or Stases.

There are short prayers following each "Marmitha" (singular).

Wide use is also made of "farcings" or brief Psalm-prayers based on the life of Christ that are repeated after the first and last verses of each Psalm.

Fr. Taft notes that when the Assyrians still had their monasteries in tact, they celebrated seven full offices daily. They would recite three Hulali at each office so as to do the entire Psalter each day. Something similar occurs in the Alexandrian tradition when the Psalms of Prime and the Midnight Hour are not sung, but 30 Psalms are recited for each of the five intervening Hours.

The very rich and ancient horological tradition of the Assyrian-Chaldean Church is one that deserves to be made available in the English language!

Alex

[ 08-28-2002: Message edited by: Orthodox Catholic ]

Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 49
Danj Offline OP
Member
OP Offline
Member
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 49
Thank you, Alex, for the wonderful in-depth reply. I'll have to keep my eyes peeled when surfing the net. Who knows, a copy may surface. Have a super day & God bless!!

Dan

Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 4
P
Junior Member
Offline
Junior Member
P
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 4
I think that I may have found a source for your
EAST SYRIAN DAILY OFFICES. Gorgias Press plans
to publish a reprint of the 1894 edition at
$23.80. You may contact them through:

http://www.gorgiaspress.com

For a copy of the Chaldean Catholic Liturgy,
contact the Chaldean Chaldean Church headquarters
in Detroit at:

http://www.chaldeandiocese.org

I was able to obtain a copy of their Liturgy in
English by calling the Church office.

Finally, for future reference, the best website
to find used copies of older books is:

http://www.bookfinder.com

I have found many valuable hard-to-find Eastern
Catholic books through their listings.

Good luck.

Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 49
Danj Offline OP
Member
OP Offline
Member
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 49
Glory to Jesus Christ!!


Dear Polish Catholic,

Thanks very much for the info. I did "pre-order" the Office book from the website you posted. On Tues, I'll call the Chancery and ask about a Liturgy book. Also, can't wait to explore the bookfinder.com website. What can you say-- I'm a "bookworm"
God bless you & greetings to beautiful Cleveland (I have a cousin there, and I lived there for two years-- I LOVED it!!!)
Dan

Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 26,391
Likes: 30
Member
Offline
Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 26,391
Likes: 30
Dear Polish Catholic,

I've placed my pre-order too - thank you!

Alex


Moderated by  theophan 

Link Copied to Clipboard
The Byzantine Forum provides message boards for discussions focusing on Eastern Christianity (though discussions of other topics are welcome). The views expressed herein are those of the participants and may or may not reflect the teachings of the Byzantine Catholic or any other Church. The Byzantine Forum and the www.byzcath.org site exist to help build up the Church but are unofficial, have no connection with any Church entity, and should not be looked to as a source for official information for any Church. All posts become property of byzcath.org. Contents copyright - 1996-2024 (Forum 1998-2023). All rights reserved.
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5