Orthodox Liturgy of the Catechumens

1. Historical
Prospective of the Liturgy
THE READING OF THE EPISTLE
ipodiakonos zoran j. bobic

2. The reading of the Epistle
• Deacon: Let us attend.
Bible References: Proverbs 4:20
• Priest: Wisdom. Let us attend.
Bible References: Proverbs 5:1, Proverbs 1:7
• Reader: (The Reader repeats the Epistle, which is one of the non-Gospel books of
the New Testament, in English.)
• Priest: Peace be with you.
Bible References: Saint John 14:27, Revelation 1:3
• People: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
Bible References: Revelation 19: 1 - 4

3. The reading of the Epistle
• The heart of the Liturgy of Catechumens = reading of the Holy Scriptures;
• Origin is from Liturgy of the synagogue;
• Comes from “Parascha” and “Haftara” (readings from Law and Prophets);
• St. Paul instructed his converts to read his letters;
• Example in Col. 4:16 and I Thess. 5:27;
• In early days there was no set pattern for the readings;
• It was read until instructed from the Bishop to stop;
• The reading would continue where it was stopped;

4. The reading of the Epistle
• Reading were always in the language of speaking communities;
• Gradually freedom of reading diminished;
• More and/or less equal portions were assigned for each service;
• Such portions = called “pericope” [περικοπή] - (portion cut off);
• Bible did not have pages and no verses…;
• Index giving the first and last words of each pericope was made;
• This index = “synaxaria” [Συναξάριον];
• “synaxaria” [Συναξάριον]; = since 4th century;

5. The reading of the Epistle
• Next development was giving the heading name and whole lesson;
• This created the books to be called:
• “Apostolos” [Απόστολος];
• “Euaggelion” [Εὐαγγέλιον];
• “Synaxarion” [Συναξάριον];
• Gradually the number of lesson became fixed;
• Most common arrangement was:
• Two readings form the OT (inheritance from synagogue service);
• Two readings fro the NT;
• This was indicated from Apostolic Constitutions:
• From BOOK II and BOOK VIII

6. The reading of the Epistle
• 4th = The Church drop OT readings to one;
• Basil and Chrysostom testified:
• The Prophets;
• The Epistle;
• The Gospel;
• Later (?) OT readings were completely dropped from Liturgy;
• Some believe in 9th century; (Anastasius Bibliothecarius)
• OT readings were kept for: Vespers, Matins and etc.;
• Liturgies of St. James and St. Mark already deleted OT readings;

7. The reading of the Epistle
• Cycle of Epistle and Gospel:
• DOES NOT begin with Liturgical year [September 1st]
• BEGINS with Easter Sunday;
• ENDS with Palm Sunday of next year;
• Traces of this is from 8th century;
• Lector chants the Epistle; - this is very unbroken tradition of the Church;
• Lector was vested in “stikhar(ion)”;
• Early Church had elevated place on which stood a small reading desk;
• This was called: “ambo” [Ἄμβων, meaning, "step", or "elevate“];
• “ambo” = first appeared in the Council of Laodicea;
• Today it is read from the middle of the Church;