Coptic Prayerbook

Coptic Prayer is much like any other "Orthodox Prayer" with the exception of some nuanced differences.  There are rifts between the Coptic Church and the main body of the Orthodox Church - theological debates, mostly - but a lot of the praxis would appear the same to outsiders.  The Copts do use instrument in worship, mostly percussion.  Traditional Orthodox parishes do not.

This prayerbook will offer the Liturgy of the Hours, Coptic Style.  As with all Orthodox services, you will notice they are lengthy.  It is heavily littered with Psalms, regardless of the service.  There is a thing called a "Kathisma" in Orthodoxy worship.  In this use referring to the list of Psalms read at the different services.  The Orthodox Psalter has a table that tells the Reader (a tonsured rank of the clergy) what Psalms are to be read at what services.  The bundle of Psalms to be read at that service are called a "kathisma" - the word means "sitting".  These are the Psalms to be read in that sitting.

When you go to a monastery or larger Cathedral church the services may be done in full.  But, at smaller parishes you will find that these services are foreshortened.  This practice is a division in many churches forms of worship.  It is known as the monastic rite and the parish rite (colloquially).

This prayerbook is found at the site of the Church of St. Takla (Tekkla).  Keep in mind the Psalms in the Orthodox Church are from the Septuagint Translation, which means the numbering is off here and there because of the way the Psalms are divided there.  You may see the number of a Psalm and think it is not the way you remember it.  This is why.  All the Psalms are in this translation, just numbered differently in some cases.

Prayerbook

Site of Saint Takla

A Quote from Saint John Chrysostom on the use of the Psalms in Orthodox Worship:

"If we keep vigil in church, David comes first, last and central. If early in the morning we want songs and hymns, first, last and central is David again. If we are occupied with the funeral solemnities of those who have fallen asleep, or if virgins sit at home and spin, David is first, last and central. O amazing wonder! Many who have made little progress in literature know the Psalter by heart. Nor is it only in cities and churches that David is famous; in the village market, in the desert, and in uninhabitable land, he excites the praise of God. In monasteries, among those holy choirs of angelic armies, David is first, last and central. In the convents of virgins, where are the communities of those who imitate Mary; in the deserts where there are men crucified to the world, who live their life in heaven with God, David is first, last and central. All other men at night are overcome by sleep. David alone is active, and gathering the servants of God into seraphic bands, he turns earth into heaven, and converts men into angels."

from the Shrine of Saint Jude

Peace,

Tom +

A Shorter Form

The whole idea of daily and routine practice is difficult for folks.  Starting small is the best recommendation.  Don't take on the entire "Festal Menaion" or "Lenten Triodion" in one day.  A short time of prayer in the morning and or in the evening is probably the easiest to start with.  You can find these other services that are available to punctuate your life in free time, weekends, or special need prayer times (like  in crisis).

It is important for the human spirit and the body as well to make the time noticeably distinct and appealing by adding an icon, a candle, some incense, a rocking chair, solitude, an icon corner.  Often we need to cajole ourselves into something that is to be regular or habitual and an incentive would not be a bad thing.  Coffee comes after prayer, breakfast comes after prayer, or maybe after three weeks of morning prayer I'll buy that prayerbook I wanted.

I don't mean to demean the human station, but let's be realistic, sometimes it is hard to do these things.  Sometimes we are no better than our pets when it comes to habits.  Surely you don't think the monks and nuns are just clambering every morning to get into their prayer stalls.  There are a bunch who hit their snooze buttons and mumble - just like us.

Saint Benedict was most notable for developing a rule for monks that was "realistic".  He developed a middle way that was not being too harsh or too lenient.  Learn from Holy Saint Benedict.

Here is a short order for morning prayer and evening prayer.  It is from the United Church of Christ.  You'll need your Bible for this...there is a reading from the Psalter (Psalms) and a reading from the rest of Scriptures - both are at your discretion (so if you are using a lectionary, you'll need that, too).

UCC Spirit Cafe - Hours of Prayer

The prayer order is really short so give yourself some time to mull over the readings, sit in silence, meditate.  This is a nice refresher if you have been using some lengthier prayers over the last few weeks.  It reminds us that there is an interior time to prayer as well as an exterior time.  It is important to shape and be shaped by liturgical word power, it is important to sit in the Presence of the One Who is From All Time.

Peace,

Tom+

Prayerbooks and Prayer Services - 1.0

We are going to launch out on a journey and look at various prayerbooks and prayer services that are available to us in the Christian walk.  There are a ton of options.  It is fitting that we look at these options on the Royal Road of Spiritual Formation and Direction as we approach Lent.  The Lenten experience is really a desert experience par excellence and calls forth from within us a RULE or a CANON by which to set out.

If you already have an Ordo for daily usage, you can certainly test out any of these other formats and see if they are helpful grist for the spiritual mill.

Today I am going to post a link to the Order of Saint Luke's collected Ordo.  There are not only the services of prayer for the day and night, but also some interpretive articles by some of the Brotherhood.   I am a member of the Order and love the texts gathered here.  Page through the pdf and find a service to try today.  Perhaps morning is your quiet time, then use Morning Prayer.  Maybe you need a break at mid-day, try the Diurnal Prayers.  Some prefer evening.

Whatever time of day you favor for your devotional time, be sure to start small (if you are a novice at prayerbooks).  The role of the prayerbook is to facilitate prayer.  It not only primes your heart and reminds it of things that all humans would do well to look at (because it has grown over time by the additions of multitudes of people, countless generations) it also uses word that evoke other thoughts and feelings and desires that we would all do well to contain.

The other role of the prayerbook is to teach.  The prayers are not only "live moments with God" but they are small instructional vignettes.  Most prayerbooks are either chocked full of pieces of scripture, or are rewordings of scripture that call our attention to what scripture is calling us to.

With each days post I will also leave some relevant links to the places I have gathered prayers/services from, not only as copyright footnotes, but as sites you may want to explore on the spiritual journey.  All of these places are worth our viewing.  Below is the Daily Office of the Order of Saint Luke, and their website.

OSL Daily Office

OSL Website

Peace,

+Tom