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I finally got around to looking at Fr. Taft's book. In the section on the Churches of the East Syrian/Chaldean/Assyrian tradition, there was no mention of an English translation of the Liturgy of the Hours.

However, in the section on the West Syrian/Syriac/Antiochian tradition, Fr. Taft wrote about a translation made by Francis Acharya at Kurisumala Ashram in India (see http://www.vagamon.com/kurisumala/kurisumala.htm ). The set of four volumes is called Prayer with the Harp of the Spirit; is that what you were referring to? I know he translated it from Syriac, but I'm not entirely sure whether he translated it to English or to Malayalam.

In any case, I will certainly investigate this. I have heard good things about Prayer with the Harp of the Spirit. And, even though this work falls within the West Syrian tradition, rather than "my own" tradition (East Syrian), I'm sure the similarities between Prayer with the Harp of the Spirit and the East Syrian Liturgy of the Hours will be much greater than between the latter and the Latin Liturgy of the Hours (which is what I've been using up until now).

(I write, "until now" because I was getting the prayers from http://www.liturgyhours.org , but it seems that they will become a pay site. Perhaps this is a blessing in diguise, prompting me to "Go East, young man!")

If anyone has more info about Prayer with the Harp of the Spirit, then I would love to hear it. Thank you.


Peace,
Alex NvV

The Syro-Malabar Divine Office can be purcahsed here:
http://www.mergingcurrents.com/book.php?BookSKU=2234

The Syro-Malankar Prayer with the Harp of the Spirit (it is in English) can be purchased here:
http://www.mergingcurrents.com/book.php?BookSKU=3814

I have PWTHOTS Volume II and I think it is very well done.

Fr. Deacon Lance

Dear Fr. Deacon Lance,

Thank you for the wonderful book links. I have tried to order, but after I input my payment information an error shows up and I cannot complete. Would you kindly tell me how you resolved this error?

Thanks

Dear Fr. Deacon Lance,

Thank you indeed for the links.


My dear Syro-Malankara brother,

What kind of error did you get? (I haven't tried yet.)


Peace,
Alex

Michael,

I didn't order my volume from them so I can't help on that account. Perhaps email them and they can help.

Fr. Deacon Lance

Dear Alex,

Apparently there is something wrong with the site because when payment information is entered, the amount due does not appear. This causes the site to show payment error, and it cannot be corrected. Let me know if it works for you.

Thanks

Dear Alex,

A few years back I purchased a copy of the entire Harp of the Spirit.

I've since presented it to a Syriac Orthodox friend . . .

It has received high praise from many quarters and is very readable.

FYI, it also makes allowance for some readings from the "holy books" of India . . .

Alex

If the ordering system on Merging Currents does not work, then here is a question for both Fr. Deacon Lance and for Alex:

Where did you procure your copies of PWTHOTS?


Alex

Alex,

I bought it from an online used book store whose name I cannot recall right now but I think I got their only copy.

I noticed on the site:
Technical Hints

If you have Java Script disabled in your internet browser you will encounter problems throughout the web site, as Java Script is used as the back end shopping cart to keep track of reserved books. In this case it is suggested that you send your book order directly by email to the address below.

help@mergingcurrents.com

Fr. Deacon Lance

Father Deacon Lance and Alex,

I ordered the books yesterday using my FireFox browser and everything went through perfectly. I can't wait to get these in the mail. Thank you both again for your help. I will tell you how they are as soon as they arrive.


Pray for me,

Mike

Shlomo Lkhoolkhoon,

You can also order from the Maronite Eparchies our Liturgy of the Hours.

Poosh BaShlomo Lkhoolkhoon,
Yuhannon

Dakheton

I understand that the Chaldean-Assyrian Church belongs to the East Syrian tradition and is very different from that of the Syriac Churches, but I have a question.

Are there strong differences between the Suryoyo (Syriac Orthodox) tradition and that of the Maronite Church? Or are they similar? Can a member of one of these Churches understand or follow the liturgy of the other without problem?

Second. Is the version of liturgical Syriac-Aramaic of the Syriac-Orthodox and the Maronites the same?

Thanks

The Maronite fall somewhere in between, but more leaning toward W. Syriac (Syriac/Malankara Orthodox/Catholic), although they do make use of some anaphoras from East Syriac (Chaldean-Assyrian) tradition.

It isn't difficult for an W. Syriac to understand the Chaldean dialect, but reading it is more difficult because the scripts are different. Our historical identities are intermingled as we were one Church at one time and divided mainly because of political pressure from the Persians.

As for the Maronites, they are Suryoyo who were isolated for some centuries from the Patriarchate and so elected their own. They were liturgically exactly the same until French latinizers introduced Western elements into their liturgy.

Personally, it saddens me greatly to see Syriacs/Chaldeans using Western altars, unleavened wafers, and other innovations when our Orthodox/Church of the East brothers are watching. This doesn't make a great witness, to see those under the spiritual guidance of the Pope choosing to eliminate their own Traditions and Rituals.

I purchased Bless the Lord: The "Divine Praises" according to the East Syriac or Chaldeo-Indian Liturgical Heritage on 21 November, they sent it from India on 26 November, and it arrived today! I'm very excited; I'll let y'all know how it is when I've getten a better chance to look at it.

Special thanks to Fr. Deacon Lance; without you, I wouldn't have know that there existed an English translation of the Syro-Malabar Divine Office.

And Michael Thoma, if your order hasn't arrived yet, I'm sure it will soon! Bless the Lord is significantly smaller than PWTHOTS; that may account for any difference in shipping time.


Peace,
Alex

Alex,

I am glad I could be helpful. Prayers for success in making the Office part of your prayer life. If you have time please post an outline of the East Syrian Morning and Evening Prayer.

Fr. Deacon Lance