Sarx

The following is from the introduction to New Skete’s Book of Prayers, their communities’ Horologion:
HE RESULT Of all this study and experience, therefore, is a schema of the canonical hours which is both a reform and a restoration and, precisely because it is such, it is also a renewal. It is a restoration because [...]

EADING THE Liturgy Books from New Skete. The Brothers were formerly Byzantine Catholics and so they have brought with them some of the devotional practices from the past. One the Julian Paschalion, as used by Byzantine Catholics, this Thursday (the second Thursday after Pentecost) would be the Feast of Corpus Christi. I [...]

New Skete books on the way!!

SEEM to remember somewhere (back in my convert days) reading an essay on why the lights in Orthodox Churches should be Oil Lamps if possible, beeswax where candles were needed. Paraffin could be used where needed, but it wasn’t as clean as beeswax, electricity was right out: the lights represent a sacrifice. [...]

EMORY SAYS That Divine Liturgy is not to be celebrated after noon or before sunrise except on certain specific occasions.
But it seem that, liturgically at least, this is always a little off? In the Slavic practice, the 3rd and 6th hours are traditionally read before the service. This means that, liturgically [...]

HE Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord and God and Saviour Jesus Christ is a glorious jewel in the Paschal Crown. As the Fathers teach, human nature is one common unity. In Jesus our human nature rises to the glorious throne of the Trinity. Humanity is united to God and, in a [...]

Christ is Risen!

EPENDING ON Which Easter-calendar you’re on (I’m on the Gregorian one…) today is the leave-taking of Pascha, the last day of singing the hymns of Easter. If you’re a Byzantine-Rite user, today (or Next Wednesday if you’re into the Julian Easter) is liturgical supposed to be Just Like Pascha. It’s the [...]

Christ is Risen!

HAT IS about 9″x12×1″, decorated in art work from the Book of Kells and sits in the middle of an Altar on top of the Antimins (ER) or in front of the tabernacle (WR)? The Gospel book, of course.
Kirkepiscatoid asks So just what constitutes a Gospel book, anyway????
We get into rants, raves [...]

Christ is Risen!
In the Eastern tradition, regular hourly prayers are suspended through bright week (from Pascha until the following Saturday). During that time the following Paschal Hours are read for all the “minor” hours – The midnight office, Prime, Terce, Sext and None and Compline – during the day (Matins, Vespers are also in [...]

OR THE Final portion of the psalm, the music changes completely. It becomes nearly a triumphal march. The choir in which I sang these verses took them at Great Speed. We were singing so loud as to break the rafters – and still hold up the roof.
Liturgically, this is the turning point. [...]