Typikon for Church Bell Ringing Approved by the Synodal Commission for Divine Services and Confirmed by His All-Holiness Alexei II, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia on August 26, 2002 Publication of this Typikon was financially supported by the Moscow Bell Center and Pyatkov & Co., Kamensk Uralskij Published by the Editorial Board of the Russian Orthodox Church, Moscow 2002 Translated by BLAGOVEST BELLS 508 San Anselmo Avenue, Suite 1B San Anselmo CA 94960
[email protected] www.russianbells.com (415) 256 2512 This version © December, 2003 1 Translator’s Note Blagovest Bells is pleased to present this translation of the bell-ringer’s ustav, or typikon, published in 2002 by the Patriarchate of Moscow. We are translating it piecemeal, as time permits; this December, 2003 edition is the penultimate version (only parts of section 2 remain to be done). In general, this Typikon represents a distillation of a number of local Russian bell-ringing traditions and was brought forth as part of the Russian church’s ongoing effort to revive and to re-propagate the knowledge which had nearly been lost during the Communist Era. The Patriarchate planned this edition as a preliminary effort, which was to be circulated, reviewed, and revised in the light of experienced zvonars’ comments after a year or two. Hence, its translation is provisional as well. When the revised edition is published in Moscow, we hope then to revise our translation and have it printed for distribution; or Moscow may bring forth an English edition of their own, which we will make available. Please bear in mind that until this translation is finished, a more complete version— or a corrected one— may be available at www.russianbells.com.