www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Molebens & Akathists?

Can someone briefly explain the differences between Molebens and Akathists and comment on when each can be served?

Also, what are your feelings on Molebens and Akathists being done in a responsesorial way or communal fashion? Can priests and laity or only laity serving a Moleben or Akathist who do not know the chanting method divide up the chanting or make them shared readings?

Thanks!

bob rossi

Dear Bob,

I"m rather surprised that our "Liturgico's" here haven't jumped on your question as yet!

Akathists and Molebens can be served ANY time. The "Son of the Church," a Russian Old Believer treatise, states that just as subjects have the right to approach their sovereign at any time with their requests, so too does the Christian have the right to approach His Master in the same way.

It is also the case that Akathists and Canons with Molebens are served especially on the day of the liturgical feasts that they commemorate.

As Akathists and Canons became popular forms of private prayer, especially among the East Slavs, this weekly rule developed:

Sunday - Akathists to the Holy Trinity and the Resurrection

Monday - Akathists to St Michael and the Angels

Tuesday - Akathist to St John the Baptist

Wednesdays - Akathists to the Precious Cross and the Dormition of the Mother of God

Thursdays - Akathists to the Apostles and to St Nicholas

Fridays - Akathist to the Passion of Christ and to the Protection of the Mother of God

Saturdays - Akathists to the Mother of God, to All Saints and for the Faithful Departed.

In addition, it became customary to recite Canons or Akathists daily to Our Lord Jesus, the Mother of God and the Guardian Angel - in addition to the above weekly Akathists.

The East Slavs also developed the monastic "Akathist All-Night Rule" where they would just continue to read akathists throughout the night, following the recitation of the Nocturnal hour at midnight.

St Jonah of Odessa (+1924) followed this practice of the Akathist All-Night Rule and performed many miracles of healing by it.

One may also use Canons and Akathist to substitute for the Daily Office, as I am informed:

Matins: Three Canons and Three Akathists

One Canon and Akathist respectively for Vespers, Nocturns, Compline and then one Canon and an Akathist for the four minor daily Hours.

Alex

I seem to be having some computer problems today.

THANKS! for your kind reply. I am hoping that others will give me needed guidance as well.

I held off on replying because I wanted to see how things would work out locally first.

This came to matter when I suggested to my great local Latin Catholic priest that we could serve an Akathist or Moleben at our church. He didn't have a clue what I was talking about so I showed him some texts and he seemed okay with it.

Next I went to a member of the community who I knew would be interested while the priest consulted with the nun in charge of worship services during Lent. Clearly there was the problem of chanting--hence my question about making Akathists and Molebens responsorial and/or spoken; people here are familiar with that. Everyone seemed on board and I was told that we could do two--and only two--Akathists or Molebens during Lent as part of a lecture series. I'm not crazy about lectures, but this is a start anyway. Later I was told that we could do one.

The priest is now hesitating because I told him about the length of these services. His concern is that kids who attend the lecture series cannot stand through an entire Akhatist or Moleben por participate. He also thought that these are novenas.

There are so many barriers emerging that I am thinking that God does not favor this project.

I am praying over writing a special Akhatist for the community and presenting it as a gift to the community. They can do with it what they wish.

I clearly need instruction. More than that, I need prayers.

THANKS! again for your help!

bob r.

Keep at it Bob! You are doing great work with this, this is good exposure for the Byzantine Tradition.

I suggest that you PM some of the mooderators, since they may have not seen your post and invite them to contribute. I would guess that there are several different ways to go about it. Several (or most) of them are either priests, deacons or cantors and it should be easy to get good information here.

I also believe that it should be acceptable to abreviate the Akathist for the sake of the participants and a good first experience.

Prayers for you and your efforts!
Michael

Dear Bob,

Without tooting my own horn, I've done a few akathists in honour of Western saints and subjects that your priest MIGHT feel more comfortable with, such as:

Akathist to Our Lady of Lourdes, of Mt Carmel, of Guadalupe, of Fatima, St Francis of Assisi.

They are listed on this website and I've heard that some have actually sung them in diverse places.

Feel free to have a look.

Alex

Hmm - how's the Ukrainian typing coming along Alex - there are folk in Nottingham desperate for a translation - not to mention my SF in Lourdes itself

Dear Anhelyna,

Are you serious about that? Do you really want a Ukie translation?

I can work on one . . .

Alex

Alex - you promised to do it after you had posted it .
Then I finally printed it off and took 2 copies out with me in September and one went with a couple to Nottingham to go with the Statue they had bought for their Church [ and it's a lovely Church too ] I told them they would get a translation ASAP.

Then your excuse was that you were learning to type in Ukrainian - and I'm still waiting .

OK now, could someone please explain what a moleben is? How does it differ in purpose from other liturgical services? What would be a close approximation in English of the word 'moleben'?

I would like to know if they are done privately as well as publicly and if possible, some history on the subject.

Thanks in advance!
Michael

Dear Alex--

This is GREAT! news and probably the best news I will get today! However, I can't find the list or postings on this site you are referring to. Can you either direct me to finding them or send them to me at rjrossi@navicom.com?

You have no idea how many problems this may solve and how many it may create--but all worth the effort, I'm certain.

Someone needs to address Hesychios' questions and perhaps start with basics for others. I'm in a bit of a rush just now...

Again--thanks!

bob r.

While researching some litanies/novenas which I assume is the Latin/Western equivalent I found this interesting invocation within a old private use Litany for St. Michael the Archangel(my confirmation/chrismation Saint)...

"Sancte Michael, praesidium orthodoxi populi, ora pro nobis"

"Saint Michael, protection of the orthodox people, pray for us"

I don't the status of St. Michael in the East...nor do I know exactly who the people are, but I will use this invocation often.

james

Dear James,

St Michael is highly honoured in the East as the first after the Theotokos herself and Monday's daily Office is dedicated to him and the fleshless bodiless Powers of Heaven.

The term "orthodox" was generally used in connection with the faith people confessed - as opposed to heterodox.

"Catholic" was, of course, applied to the Church herself.

So "Orthodox faith" and "Catholic Church."

Alex

Dear Bob,

Here is the website with my akathists, courtesy of the always courteous and loveable Administrator!

https://www.byzcath.org/sites/alex/web

Rejoice . . . I mean, Cheers!

Alex

Yes Alex you are correct regarding Monday's Troparia's, in the West pre VatII, Tuesday is dedicated to the Holy Angels...but I feel the Lord will know my intent and heart

james

Dear Jakub,

I'm sure the Angels won't mind if, in our veneration of them, we simply "wing it . . ."

Alex