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How to Assemble the Propers
The
“variable parts” – or “Propers” – of the Divine Services are
determined by numerous factors, including the liturgical
season, the date, and the day of the week. These are found in
various different liturgical volumes, and the task may be seem
daunting but the following steps simplify the effort.
Before you start...
Each
Orthodox Church tradition has slightly varying “rules” for
putting together, or “assembling,” the propers. These rules
are printed in a book known as the “Typikón.” The instructions
it contains are referred to as “rubrics.” The “Typikón” for
the Orthodox Church in America is effectively provided in a
volume titled
“Order of the Divine Services.”
Note:
The liturgical tradition of the Orthodox Church in America
was received from the clergy of the Russian Mission to
Alaska and North America who first brought the Orthodox
Christian faith to the New World in the 18th century.
Logically that Russian Typikón continues to be followed.
To
assist clergy and chanters in parishes of the Orthodox Church
in America, the rubrics from the Typikon are applied to each
day of the year and published in a 300+ page volume titled,
Liturgical Rubrics for the Year of Our Lord 2023.”
Step One
Two
complementary resources are needed to determine the Propers
needed on any given Sunday or Feastday,
the
“Liturgical Rubrics" and the
“The Order of Upcoming Services.”
The Rubrics" are the definitive, “official,” guidance
for all services celebrated in monasteries and parishes of the
OCA, but not everything needed is provided. “The Order of
Upcoming Services” contains additional information, such
as the verses intoned at the Beatitudes during the Divine
Liturgy.
Open
the
“Rubrics” to the the date of the Divine Service
being considered.
Next
download the
“The Order of Upcoming Services” for the the date
of the Divine Service being considered.
Step Two
The
Orthodox Church in America web site provides the following excellent
resource for the variable parts (propers) of the
Divine Services.
Download
the
Service Text for the the date of the Divine Service
being considered.
Step Three
Once
the above three resources are obtained, a written guide can be
compiled for the use of the chanters and readers.
If
additional materials are needed, go to one of the following:
In
particular, these resources are often required for the verses
intoned at the Beatitudes, since these are not found in either
the “Rubrics” or “The Order of Upcoming
Services”. The verses are taken from the Canon of the day.
Likewise
they are required for the verses intoned during the Communion
of the Faithful, interspersed between “Receive the Body of
Christ, taste the Fountain of immortality; Alleluia, Alleluia,
Alleluia.” These verses are also taken from the Canon of
the day.
Step Four
After
the order of the service and the corresponding texts are
assembled, the relevant hymnographic materials may be compiled.
Download
necessary sheet music from the OCA website,
Music Downloads.
If
necessary, additional sheet music can be found at the
following web sites:
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Orthodox Church in America,
Diocese of the West
