Dear Monomakh,
The Typikon does not generally say what services MUST be celebrated in non-monastic churches; that is the job of the bishop. In the Eparchy of Passaic, for example, the bishop has directed that the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts MUST be celebrated weekly during the Great Fast, and at least once during the first three days of Great and Holy Week, and has encouraged pastors to celebrate it on each Wednesday and Friday during the Fast. Compared with the "daily Lenten Mass" of my youth, this is quite an improvement, even if some parishes could do more.
Thanks for your post.
At the end of the day, you know and I know that the Great Canon should be celebrated during the first week of the Great Fast. Not only because Tradition says so (although that's a good reason) but because of the fact that the service geniunely will prepare us for the Great Fast and is a beautiful form of repentance (but don't take it as a substitute for confession.) The fact that 90%+ of our churches are not doing it is a shame. The Bishops could clear this up in a matter of seconds.
Also, why in world don't our Bishops say that Vespers and Matins MUST be celebrated on Saturday evening and Sunday morning respectively?
Archbishop Basil has stated that our churches should be authentic places of worship. Wouldn't it follow that Vespers and Matins be celebrated in the vast majority of our churches instead of the other way around? This problem could be easily overcome simply by the Bishop(s) saying that the proper services should be celebrated. The fact that we're even having this discussion is depressing.
Monomakh
