May 16th - Fifth Sunday after Pascha

The fifth Sunday after Pascha is of semi-double rite. The liturgical colour is white. The Gospel pericopes from St. John describe how the LORD tells His disciples to ask for anything in His name after He has ascended to the Father.

At Vespers yesterday the psalms of Saturday (Pss. 143, 144, 145, 146 & 147) were sung under the single antiphon, Alleluia. The Office hymn was Ad cenam Agni providi. After the collect of the Sunday the Commemoration of the Cross was sung consisting of the antiphon Crucem santam subiit qui infernum confregit, accinctus est potentia, surrexit die teria, Alleluia, the versicle Dicite in nationibus, alleluia and its respond Quia Dominus regnavit a ligno, alleluia followed by the collect Deus, qui pro nobis etc. At Compline Te lucis was sung with the Paschal Doxology and the Dominical preces were sung.

At Mattins the invitatory is Surrexit Dominus vere Alleluia and the Office hymn O Rex aeterne Domine. In the first nocturn psalms 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 & 14 are sung under a single antiphon Alleluia, Lapis revolutus etc., the lessons are the Incipit of the first Epistle of St. Peter. The lessons are the same as in 'modern' recensions. In the second nocturn (Pss. 15, 16 & 17) the lessons are taken from the book of St. Ambrose on faith in the Resurrection. These too are the same as in modern recensions. In the third nocturn (Pss. 18, 19 & 20) the homily is from St. Augustine. The seventh lesson is longer than in modern recensions including Unde qui hoc... nomine non petit from the 'modern' eighth lesson (sharp eyed readers will notice the non). The eighth lesson runs Qui vero quod est de illo ... proculdubio tunc erit plenum, i.e. continuing into half of what is now the ninth lesson. The ninth lesson begins Quidquid ergo petitur and continues for several more sentences absent from the modern books. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds psalms 92, 99 and 62-66 are sung under a single antiphon, the ancient nine-fold Alleluia. Benedicite is sung with the antiphon Surrexit Christus etc. The 'Praise Psalms', Pss. 148, 149 and 150 are sung under a single antiphon, a four-fold Alleluia. The Office hymn is Aurora lucis rutilat. The Commemoration of the Cross is sung after the collect of the Sunday. The antiphon for the Commemoration of the Cross at Lauds is Crucifixus surrexit a mortuis, et redemit nos, alleluia, alleluia. The V&R and collect are as were sung at Vespers.

At the Hours the psalms are sung under an antiphon consisting of a four-fold Alleluia. At Prime the Dominical psalms are sung (Pss. 53, 118i, 118ii and Quicumque) as are the Dominical preces. The Paschal Doxology is sung at the hymn of the Hours.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is Concede nos, the third collect Ecclesiae o. The Credo is sung, the preface is of Paschaltide.

Vespers are of the Sunday, with the psalms (109, 110, 111, 112 & 113) sung under a single antiphon, Alleluia. After the collect of the day the Commmemoration of the Cross is sung as at Vespers yesterday. At Compline (Pss. 4, 30 vv 1-6, 90 & 133) the Dominical preces are sung.

Art: Jerome Nadal

May 9th - St. Gregory the Theologian

The feast of St. Gregory the Theologian is of double rite. The fourth Sunday after Pascha is commemorated at Vespers, Mattins, Lauds and Mass. St. Gregory the Theologian (St. Gregory Nazianzen) was a fourth century Archbishop of Constantinople and made a significant impact on the developement of Trinitarian theology. Along with St. Gregory of Nyssa and St. Basil the Great he is one of the Cappodocian Fathers. He died in either 389 or 390AD. The liturgical colour of the feast is white.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Stetit Angelus etc were sung with Psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 @ 137. The Office hymn was Tibi Christe splendor patris. After the collect of the feast commemoration were sung of the St. Gregory the Theologian and of the Sunday. At Compline the Dominical preces were omitted because of the occurring double feasts.

At Mattins the invitatory is Regem Confessorum Dominum, Venite adoremus and the hymn Iste Confessor. In the first nocturn Pss. 1, 2 & 3 are sung under the antiphon Beatus vir etc. The lessons in the first nocturn are the Incipit of the Epistle of St. James. These are the same as those found in modern editions of the Breviary. The responsories are from the Common. In the second nocturn Pss. 4, 5 & 8 are sung under the antiphon Invocantem exaudivit etc. The historical lessons in the second nocturn are the same as those found in the modern editions. In the third nocturn Pss. 14, 20 & 23 are sung under the antiphon Domine iste sanctus etc. Lessons seven and eight are a homily of St. Augustine on St. Matthew's Gospel. These are longer than those found in the modern editions. The ninth lesson is absent from the modern books. However, today this is read with the eighth lesson and the ninth lesson sung today is formed of the three lessons of the homily of the Sunday. These are the same as those found in the modern editions. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the Dominical psalms (Pss. 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite & 148-49-150) are sung with the antiphons Ecce sacerdos magnus etc from the Common. The Office hymn is Jesu Redemptor omnium. A commemoration of the Sunday is sung after the collect of the feast.

At the Hours the hymns are sung with the Paschal Doxology. The festal psalms (at Prime Pss. 53, 118i & 118ii) are sung with the antiphons Ecce sacerdos magnus etc.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Sunday. The Creed is sung, the preface is of Paschaltide and the last Gospel is of the Sunday.

Vespers are of feast. The antiphons Ecce sacerdos magnus etc are sung with Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113. The Office hymn is Iste Confessor. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the Sunday and of SS Gordian and Epimachus. At Compline (Pss. 4, 30 vv 1-6, 90 & 133) the Dominical preces are omitted due to the double feasts.

Icon: A fresco of St. Gregory from Wikipedia.

May 2nd - St. Athanasius

The feast of St. Athanasius is of double rite. Its liturgical colour is white.

Vespers yesterday were second Vespers of the feast of SS Philip and James, celebrated in red vestments. The antiphons Domine ostende nobis Patrem etc were sung with Pss. 109, 112, 115, 125 & 138. The Office hymn was Tristes erant Apostoli, sung with the Paschal Doxology. After the collect of the feast a commemoration was sung of St. Athanasius and of the Third Sunday after Pascha. The hymn at Compline, Te lucis, and the hymns of the Hours have the Paschal Doxology, Gloria tibi Domine, Qui surrexisti a mortuis, Cum Patre et almo Spiritu, In sempiterna saecula.

At Mattins the liturgical colour changed to white. The invitatory is Regem Confessorum Dominum, Venite adoremus and the hymn Iste Confessor. In the first nocturn Pss. 1, 2 & 3 are sung under the antiphon Beatus vir etc. The lessons in the first nocturn are the Incipit of the Book of the Apocalypse of St. John. The lessons are followed by the responsories from the Office of a Confessor-Bishop Euge serve bone etc. The lessons are the same as those found in the modern editions. In the second nocturn Pss. 4, 5 & 8 are sung under the antiphon Invocantem etc. The lessons in the second nocturn are historic lessons for St. Athanasius with the responses again taken from the Common. The lessons differ very slightly from those found in the modern editions. In the third nocturn Pss. 14, 20 & 23 are sung under the antiphon Domine etc.the homily is taken , 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 & 14) the lessons are Incipit of the Book of the Apocalypse. The lessons are the same as in 'modern' recensions. In the second nocturn (Pss. 15, 16 & 17) the lessons are taken from the a sermon by St. Augustine. These too are the same as in modern recensions. In the third nocturn (Pss. 18, 19 & 20) the homily is from St. Athanasius's Apology for his flight. The lessons are slightly different to the form found in the modern editions. The responsories are again taken from the Common. The ninth lesson is formed of the three lessons for the homily appointed for the Sunday on St. John's Gospel from St. Augustine. These are the same as those found in the modern editions. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the Dominical psalms (Pss. 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite & 148-49-150) are sung with the antiphons Ecce sacerdos magnus etc from the Common. The Office hymn is Jesu Redemptor omnium. A commemoration of the Sunday is sung after the collect of the feast.

At the Hours the hymns are sung with the Paschal Doxology. The festal psalms (at Prime Pss. 53, 118i & 118ii) are sung with the antiphons Ecce sacerdos magnus etc.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Sunday. The Creed is sung, the preface is of Paschaltide and the last Gospel is of the Sunday.

Vespers are of first Vespers of the feast of the Invention of the Holy Cross with a colour change to red. The antiphons Helena Constantini mater etc (which are absent from the modern editions) are sung with Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn is Vexilla Regis prodeunt, sung with the Paschaltide stroph in the sixth verse. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of St. Athanasius, the Sunday and SS Alexander and his Companions. At Compline (Pss. 4, 30 vv 1-6, 90 & 133) the Dominical preces are omitted due to the double feasts.

Art: Jerome Nadal

April 25th - St. Mark the Evangelist - the Greater Litanies

The feast of St. Mark is of double rite and takes precedence over the Second Sunday after Pascha. The liturgical colour of the feast is red. Today the procession of the Greater Litanies takes place.

At Vespers on Saturday afternoon the antiphons from the Common of Evangelists in Paschaltide, Sancti tui etc., were sung with Pss. 19, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn was Tristes erant Apostoli, sung with the Paschal Doxology. After the collect of the feast a commemoration was sung of the Second Sunday after Pascha. The hymn at Compline, Te lucis, and the hymns of the Hours have the Paschal Doxology, Gloria tibi Domine, Qui surrexisti a mortuis, Cum Patre et almo Spiritu, In sempiterna saecula.

At Mattins the invitatory is Regem Apostolorum Dominum, Venite adoremus. The Office hymn is again Tristes erant Apostoli. In the first nocturn the lessons are taken from the Incipit of the book of Ezechiel. The lessons are longer than those found in the modern editions: the first lesson includes half of the modern second lesson (Et ex medio ejus... to ... quasi aspectus aeris cadentis). The second lesson begins Et manus hominis... and includes all of what is now the third lesson. The third lesson is absent from the modern editions - vv. 13 - 20. In the second nocturn the first lesson, taken from the writings of St. Jerome consists of both the four and fifth lessons as found in the modern editions of the Breviary. The fifth and sixth lessons are from an exposition on Ezechiel by Gregory the Great. In the third nocturn the lessons are from a homily of St. Gregory on St. Luke's Gospel. The eighth and ninth lessons are read as one and the ninth lesson is formed of the three lessons of the homily for the Sunday, again taken from St. Gregory. These are actually the same as in the modern editions. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons Sancti tui etc are sung with the Dominical psalms. The hymn is Claro Paschali gaudio. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday is sung. At Prime and the Hours the antiphons Sancti tui etc are sung sung, the hymns have the Paschal Doxology.

In Collegiate and Cathedral Churches the Vidi aquam and Mass of St. Mark is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Sunday, the Creed is sung, the preface is of the Apostles and the last Gospel of the Sunday.

After None the Procession of the Greater Litanies takes place. The liturgical colour is violet and the deacon and subdeacon wear dalmatic and tunicle respectively. During the Procession the petitions of the Litany and there responses are sung first by the cantors and then by the choir and congregation. The Procession may visit other churches on its way in which case a station is made. After the Procession the Mass Exadivit is sung.

Vespers are of the feast of St. Mark. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the following feast of SS Cletus & Marcellinus and of the Sunday.

Art: A Coptic icon of St. Mark from Wikipedia.

April 18th Dominica in Albis

Dominica in Albis or Low Sunday is of double rite. The Gospel at Mattins and Mass is the account of the LORD appearing in to His disciples behind the shut doors of the room and the doubting of St. Thomas.

At Vespers yesterday the psalms of Saturday (Pss. 143, 144, 145, 146 & 147) were sung under the single antiphon, Alleluia. Chapters and hymns returned to the Office. The Paschaltide hymn Ad cenam Agni providi was sung. Its Doxology is sung at all hymns of Iambic metre: Gloria tibi Domine, Qui surrexisti a mortuis, Cum Patre et Sancto Spiritu, In sempiterna saecula. From this Office the dismissal, Benedicamus Domino, is sung without the double Alleluia that had been sung since Pascha.

At Mattins the invitatory Surrexit Dominus vere Alleluia continues to be sung. The Office hymn is O Rex aeterne Domine. In the first nocturn psalms 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 & 14 are sung under a single antiphon Alleluia, Lapis revolutus etc. The lessons in the first nocturn are from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Colossians; the first begins Igitur si consurrexistis otherwise it and the other two first nocturn lessons are same as in modern editions. In the second nocturn psalms 15, 16 & 17 are sung under the single antiphon Alleluia, quem quaeris mulier etc. The lessons are from a sermon of St. Augustine and are the same as in the modern editions. In the third nocturn psalms 18, 19 & 20 are sung under the single antiphon Alleluia, noli flere Maria etc. The homily is from the writings of St. Gregory on St. John's Gospel and the same same as in modern editions except they are missing the words 'Dixit eis' at the beginning of the ninth lesson. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the Sunday psalms (Pss. 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite, 148, 149 & 150) are sung under a single antiphon, a nine-fold Alleluia - an ancient feature of the Roman rite destroyed in the 1911-13 reform. The Office hymn is Aurora lucis rutilat.

At Prime the Dominical psalms 53, 118(i), 118(ii) and Quicumque are sung under the antiphon Alleluia. At the other Little Hours Alleluia is also sung as the antiphon, the hymns have the Paschal Doxology.

Mass is sung after Terce. Before Mass the antiphon Vidi aquam is sung during the aspersion. At Mass the Gloria is sung, there is a single collect. The Creed is sung and the preface is of Paschatide.

Vespers are First Vespers of the transferred feast of St. Leo. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday is sung.