Undusted Texts

  Introduction Along with the unique liturgical readings given for some feasts, the Byzantine tradition (like most, if not all, liturgical traditions) also prescribes common sets of readings to be used for various classes of saints or general festal themes.  The readings and numbering arrangement given below are those of the Ruthenian practice, as found in David M. Petras, Common Typicon (Pittsburgh, PA: Byzantine Seminary Press, 2017), 90-101.  In Orthodox practice, these common readings are often found in the General Menaion , a few versions of which can be found online: Nicholas Orloff's 1862 version , John Peck's 2011 version , or the Russian Orthodox version found at St-Sergius.org .  Though the Common Typikon also provides Prokeimena and Alleluia verses, among other notes, I have simply recorded the main Scriptural readings here. Regarding the Commons of each day of the week (Commons 18-23), these are related to the hymns of the Oktoechos, the 8-week cycle of...

  Introduction In the Byzantine Rite, the Old Testament is only liturgically read at Vespers and (on a few major feasts) Royal Hours. The traditional calendar only gives Vespers readings for feasts and for the Great Fast: on days outside the Fast when no feasts are being celebrated, there are no readings at Vespers. In an attempt to remedy this, Fr. Theodore Pulcini of the Antiochian Orthodox Church arranged sets of Old Testament readings to be read at Sunday Vespers throughout the year, with the readings chosen due to their relation to the selected Gospel reading for each Sunday (though, oddly, he typically selected only two readings, whereas Byzantine festal Vespers readings come in sets of three). These readings have been incorporated—as optional—in Fr. David Petras’ yearly Typikon for the Ruthenians; in addition, Fr. Petras has listed readings from the Syrian tradition. Below, I have transcribed these citations for ease of reference. As in Fr. Petras’ Typ...

Note: Further review is finding other issues with extraneous verses in the Epistles as printed in the book.  Once I finish my review, I will provide a more complete update.     Introduction In the Byzantine tradition, Scriptural texts for liturgical use are split into three volumes: the Gospel Book, the Epistles Book (or Apostol ), and the Prophetologion (Old Testament readings for Vespers). Ideally, each volume would contain the prescribed texts for every feast with unique readings , however minor, as well as the common texts prescribed for various classes of saints (martyrs, bishops, virgins, apostles, etc.). In current Ruthenian practice, the Apostol and the Prophetologion are joined together, in truncated form, in a single volume: The Epistles and Old Testament Readings for the Liturgical Year , ed. William Levkulic with John Opalenick (Pittsburgh, PA: The Byzantine Seminary Press, 1979, rev. 2011). Purpose and Contents of the Text A...