www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Lets talk Liturgy of the Hours...

Ok,

I haven't been around for awhile. I know, my bad... This may have been talked about before, but since I couldn't find it, I am starting it myself.

I have the Liturgy of the Hours (The miniture edition, all one volume) which I have prayed, but now I am wondering if there is anything along that lines in the Eastern Church. I have an Eastern Prayer book and I love it, now I want to ratchet this up to the next level.

John Gibson

Yes, indeed we have discussed it before.
To have the complete texts for the Hours in the Constantinopolitan tradition, it would require upwards of 20 large books. With the exception of some monastics, it isn't feasible for someone with a family, job, etc. to pray the entire Office.

But don't let that discourage you. There are quite a few English translations of the Horologion available.

A very reasonable one is called "The Hours of Prayer: A Book of Devotion" which is about 15$ dollars, was printed by the ACROD and used to be available at St. Vladimir's Bookstore. It has the Midnight Office (with weekday, Saturday and Sunday variations and Lenten variations), Matins for weekdays and Sunday/ Festal Matins, the Little Hours (1st, 3rd, 6th, and 9th) with Lenten variations, Vespers, Small Compline, Typica, prayers throughout the day (some wonderful ones like St. Patrick's Lorica and the Optina Elders), Akathists to Jesus and the Theotokos, Canon for preparation for Holy Communion, Communion and post-Communion prayers. It also has a nice penitential "Common Office" for Vespers and Matins if you don't have any other texts with you. It is very portable and fits easily into a briefcase, backpack, etc.

In addition to this, there are some other good ones available but more expensive, such as the Jordanville Unabbreviated Horologion (about $40-45, probably my favorite), St. Tikhon's (about 10$ more, also good) and the Mega Horologion put out by Holy Transfiguration Monastery which jumps up to about $120. The Mega Horologion is an English translation of a composite Greek Athonite usage, the others representing the Slavic tradition.

The Sisters of St. Basil the Great have a five volume set of books (Vespers, Matins, Menaion, Triodion, and Pentecostarion) which together will run you about 150$ or so. These are a more modern English translation as is the New Skete Horologion (again about $45 or so).

Archbishop Raya's Byzantine Daily Worship is also a wonderful book, which has a very good selection from the Hours, including Vespers, Matins, Little Hours, Great and Small Compline, Paraklesis and Akathists in addition to the three Divine Liturgies in the Melkite usage.

There are other books which contain various portions of the Hours such as the Old Rite Prayer Book from Erie (very nice selection of Hours, prayers, Divine Liturgy, communion prayers and notes about Old Believer piety) and the new Anthology published in Canada for the Ukrainian Catholics.

There are a lot to choose from. But ease into it. If you can get a spiritual father. Start out simple and consistent. Say one or two Hours a day (for example Compline and one of the Little Hours) and very gradually work up.

You can also get quite a few texts of the Horologion on-line through Fr. John Whiteford: http://pages.prodigy.net/frjohnwhiteford/services.htm

His Reader's Horologion and other services, instructions for Reader's Services, etc. are quite nice.

The problem for is that there really is nothing comparable to the Latin Church's Liturgy of the Hours. As have been said above, to do it correctly you need a library and hours of time.

This is why I have gone back to using the one volume Christain Prayer.

You could get something, as suggested by Diak but it still takes a lot of time unless you abbreviate the hours you chose to do.

Also, it is sort of the same thing everyday, not much changes each day.

Again, this is why I use the book I use as ther eis a 4 week cycle of the psalter.

David, I'm with you! I use the 1975 Edition of the Liturgia Horarum, the Short Breviary from St. John's Abbey, Collegeville, MN with a 4 week cycle of the Psalter. The patristic readings for Matins (two for each day) are wonderful...and very often from the Eastern Fathers. All in all, it is a wonderful volumne. On ordinary Saturdays, I use the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary (the 1904 edition)...that together with the Rosary and daily prayers for the living and the departed makes for a pretty full day of prayer. I struggled with the more 'Eastern' forms of the Office for years...and finally decided that they are simply not for 'private' recitation.

The most important thing (I think) is that we keep a REGULAR prayer rule daily and that to works for us. All of this should be the principal responsibility of our confessor/spiritual father to assist us with and help us in our spiritual life.

May the Lord save us all!

In His Holy Name,
+Fr. Gregory

Thanks for the suggestions! The libray would be wondeful but I have been told by the wife that my book purchases need to stay within reason. Which means, buying the libray is going to be out of the question (She is the western lung of our family

I want to deepen my current prayer life by including more of the East, and I love this forum and I haven't been able to get here as much as I would like.

I always appreciate you guys because you are all so helpful!

John

Obviously, John, what we need is a monastery in the Chicago area that does the full liturgical hours. Then, when we married men wish to refresh ourselves, we can say to the wife: "I'm going out." "To the bar with the boys?" "Nope. To the monastery." "Have fun!"

Bless, Father Gregory,

I'm trying to pinpoint why it is I love you so much.

There are many reasons, I suppose, but I'm still trying to pinpoint the main one.

Perhaps in time . . .

Alex

We could use one in the Tampa area as well! How wonderful would it be to refresh the mind and spirit at such a place for even an hour??

In His Name,
Stephen

Dear Stephen,

This reminds me of when my cousin was going out with her fiance, a seminarian who is now a priest (and a professor of theology).

When she told my parents and others that they were going out "to attend Vespers" no one believed her and thought that was just a formal excuse to go out on a real date!

Actually, they DID just go to Vespers . . .

Alex

Let Us Pray to the Lord - (Volume I) Daily Office
The Daily Office of Vespers, Compline, Orthros, Little Hours (Daily, Sunday/Festal, Lenten), and other prayers. Pocket size, in black leatherette. 440 pages. Price: $30.00

http://www.ecpubs.com/browse.php?cat=4

This is the closest the Byzantine Church has to a one volume Liturgy of the Hours book like Christian Prayer.

Fr. Deacon Lance

Father Deacon Lance,
Glory to Jesus Christ!
I have used this book for private prayer for several years now and would recommend it.
Deacon El

Deacon Lance,

giving me that link was a bad idea . Stand back guys... I have a credit card and I am not afraid to use it!

So.... Once my wife gets the bill, are there any takers on who wants to do the funeral?

We do have a funeral director on the forum. I appreciate the info as well, since it looks like a good book to order. See, you are leading me astray into financial profligacy.

Great,

Now you all are going to get me in trouble like John, I already have 5 different LOTH's and just ordered a older 1965 Lauds, Vespers & Compline, and now this is tempting me .

Maybe my pc will crash.

james