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Home , Cantor (Christianity), Icon, Little Hours, Octoechos, Paschal cycle, Pentecostarion

HTOCNB Study Group 10.2.11

Cycles of within Liturgical Practice

1. Daily Cycle 2. Weekly Cycle 3. 4. Festal Cycle

1. Daily Cycle: a. Developed by 6th century. b. Liturgical books used: c. Services i. ii. iii. Nocturn iv. v. : 1. 1st: 6:00am (Psalm 5:1 Morning) 2. 3rd: 9:00am (Acts 2:1–15 Descent of Spirit on Apostles) a. 3rd Hour during : Lord, who at the third hour sent down your all- on your Apostles, do not take him from us, O Good One, but renew him in us who pray to you 3. 6th: 12:00pm (John 19:14 Crucifixion of Christ) 4. 9th: 3:00pm (Mt 27:45–54 Death of Christ) 5. Typika

2. Weekly Cycle: a. Largely developed between 6–8th century. b. Liturgical books used: (8 Modes/Tones) c. Commemorations generally: i. Sunday: ii. Monday: Angelic Host iii. Tuesday: St. iv. Wednesday: Cross, The 1. Stavrotheotokion, Tone 1 (Tuesday Evening): The Virgin, when she saw your unjust slaughter, O Christ, cried out to you in bitter grief, ‘My sweetest Child, how are you suffering unjustly? How hanging on the Tree, you that hung the whole earth on the waters? Do not, compassionate Benefactor, leave me alone, your Mother and your servant. v. Thursday: Apostles, St. Nicholas vi. Friday: Cross vii. Saturday: Martyrs, Departed

HTOCNB Study Group 10.2.11

3. Paschal Cycle: a. Fully developed by 7–9th century. b. Liturgical books: , , Octoechos c. Pentecostarion covers from Pascha to All (8 Days after ). i. St Thomas Sunday (Antipascha: completion of 1st 8 days) ii. Myrrhbearing Women iii. Paralytic iv. Samaritan Woman Theme of Renewal by Water () v. Blind Man 1. Ascension Thursday (40 Days after Pascha, Acts 1:3) vi. Fathers of the 1st vii. Pentecost (50 Days after Passover/Pascha, Lev 23:15) 1. Monday of the Holy Spirit viii. Sunday of All Saints: Fruit of the Holy Spirit

d. “After Pentecost” (~32 Weeks): Octoechos e. Pre-Lent (4 weeks): Octoechos/Triodion overlap f. Lent (6 weeks): Triodion g. (1 Week).

4. Festal Cycle: Typika (11–13th cent) developed to deal with competing cycles. used is the , which becomes more complex over time. The year begins with September 1st.

a. Theophany Cycle i. December 25th: Nativity of Christ. ii. January 6th: Theophany. iii. February 2nd: Meeting of the Lord.

b. Theotokos Cycle: Develops particularly after the in 431. i. March 25th: ii. December 9th: Conception of the Theotokos. iii. September 8th: Nativity iv. November 21st: into the Temple v. August 15th: Dormition.

c. John the Baptist Cycle: Completes the Deisis , referring to the cycles of the Church. i. September 23rd: Conception ii. June 24th: Nativity iii. August 29th: Beheading

HTOCNB Study Group 10.2.11

Main Liturgical Books • Horologion: Contains all fixed elements of the services that are done by the . • : Contain the elements of the services done by the and . • Octoechos: Eight tones for the eight-week cycle, beginning with Sunday. • Triodion: Covers hymnography for pre-Lenten period through Holy Week • Pentecostarion: Covers hymnography from Pascha through Sunday of All Saints. • Menaion: 12 volumes, one for each of the months. • : Everyday, you have different sets of hymnography. The typikon is the recipe book for what combination of liturgical books you use during the .

• : Contains the scriptural readings (both NT & OT) for each day. o Sunday Lectionary: Composed mostly of Parable & stories . Pascha–Pentecost: 8 readings . All-Saints–Publican & Pharisee: 32–37 readings • Pascha Within & Pascha Outside . Publican-Pharisee to Pascha: 10 readings o Saturday Lectionary: Many readings concern conflict between Law and o Festal Lectionary: Readings appropriate to the Feast. o Daily Lectionary: Continuous reading of Scripture. . Gospel Readings • John: Read from Pascha through Pentecost (50 days) • Matthew: Read from Monday of the Holy Spirit and continued for 17 weeks (Depending on Pascha). o At the 12th week, we read Mark during the weekday. • Luke: Read from Monday after the of the Cross and continued for 19 weeks (Depending on Pascha) o At the 13th week, we read Mark during the weekday. • Mark: Read during the weekends of Lent and throughout the year . Daily Readings • Beginning with Acts from Pascha, we read the remainder of the until the beginning of Lent. . Readings • During , we read Genesis, , and Proverbs. • During Holy Week, we read (Isaiah), Exodus, and Job. • At major feasts, Old Testament readings are chosen for their appropriateness to the given feast.

HTOCNB Study Group 10.2.11

• : Contains the broken into 20 sections (Stichologia (Grk) Kathismata (Slav)). Each Stichologion/Kathismata is further broken down into 3 stases (to stand) o Format . Introduction: Lord, have mercy (3x), GNE (1x) . Singing of 1 Stasis . Conclusion: GNE (1x), (3x), glory to Thee, O God! (3x) o During the each week, the Psalter is prescribed to be read in its entirety. . During Lent, twice during the week. . St. Benedict & St. Sabas

A psalm implies serenity of Soul; it is the author of peace, which calms bewildering and seething thoughts. For, it softens the wrath of the soul, and what is unbridled it chastens. A psalm forms friendships, unites those separated, conciliates those at enmity. Who, indeed, can still consider as an enemy him with whom he has uttered the same prayer to God?

A psalm is a city of refuge from demons; a means of inducing help from the , a weapon in fears by night, a rest from the toils of the day, a safeguard for infants, an adornment for those at the height of their vigor, a consolation for the elders.

It peoples the solitudes; it rids the market places of excesses; it is the elementary exposition of beginners, the improvement of those advancing, the solid support of the perfect, the voice of the Church.

~St. Basil the Great