Online Bibles, Liturgics, and Other Resources

A somewhat random collection, and very incomplete…

Bible Study

Non-Christian Study

Orthodoxy

Introduction

Orthodoxy does not divide over doctrine into denominations in the overt way the Protestant churches do, but it does divide into regional jurisdictions. In some places, like America, regional jurisdictions overlap.

The Orthodox Church is run by councils of bishops, but each jurisdiction has a reigning bishop believed to be in direct succession to the original apostles (not by blood, but in spirit and doctrine). In many cases these jurisdictions respect one another, concelebrating each other’s bishops as having an apostolic grace from God, and are in full cooperation with one another. In some cases (due to people migration) these concelebrating jurisdictions overlap regionally as happens often in the United States. There are also cases where one jurisdiction denies the grace of one or more other reigning bishop(s), and so does not recognize the right of their jurisdiction(s) to shepherd the flock. This brings about what is called in Orthodoxy a schism.

The biggest such divide is often seen as the Old (Julian) Calendar churches versus New (Gregorian) churches. This divide is not just over what calendar should be used for church services (Orthodoxy has an ornate calendar of church services with many moving parts). The underlying issue is conservative adherence to apostolic tradition versus a moderate responsiveness to the modern world. Conservative Orthodox churches are more likely to adhere to the old calendar, while those with a more moderate view the new Gregorian calendar. This is also rooted in the history of who took what positions at the time Orthodoxy first had to confront the announcement (by the Catholic Pope and the Western world) of a new calendar to replace the increasingly inaccurate Julian calendar that had been in use for so many centuries.

  • Orthodox Ethos and Uncut Mountain Press
  • Orthodox Wiki is a wiki for World Orthodoxy (aka, “Mainstream Orthodoxy”) and as such will present views biased against any churches claiming to be Orthodox but that are not in communion with World Orthodoxy. On a traditionalist vs. modernist/liberal scale, World Orthodoxy is parallel to the Vatican II Catholics and the mainstream/liberal Protestant churches.

Orthodox Christian Prayers, Services, Saints

  • Prayers (see How to Read the Canons and Akathists for when praying alone).
  • Vespers: Variable parts of Vespers as performed when clergy are present.
  • Sunday Orthros (Sunday Matins) for when clergy is present to lead the service. This is not a reader’s service, but you can get a good introduction to the parts of this service generally at the Orthodox Wiki Matins page.
  • Reader’s Matins, see this general Matins (Orthros) introduction. Perform it as follows:
    • Sunday Matins as a Reader’s Service (Sunday Matins as a Reader’s Service, Greek version).The text on the above SaintJonah.org page starts with the Trisagion prayers. Here they are separately. Troparia following “God is the Lord”: See Variable Portions for Typika and click through to your date. This is just to see which of the eight troparia to use (which tone). The rest of the page is for Typika, which is a reader’s service in place of Liturgy, which is a service that follows Sunday Matins.
      • The first Kathisma for Sunday Matins is Kathisma II, in three Stases: Ps. 9,10; Ps. 11,12; Ps. 13,14
        • Kathisma is a group of Psalms; Each Kathisma is divided into three Stases. (See the Kathismas and their Stases for details). Sessional Hymns: “Meditative, expository” hymns (Troparia, which means sitting; not Akathists, which means standing) for a Feast of the Theotokos or some saint(s). Saints of the Day (New calendar. For the old calendar, subtract 14 days from the new calendar date. Second Sunday Kathisma is Kathisma III: Ps. 17; Ps. 18-20; Ps. 21-23. Sessional Hymns: Troparia for a Feast of the Theotokos or saints.Polyeleos: Only done following Sept 21 until Lent begins. Megalynarion of the Feast: Troparia or Kontakia of the Saints of the Day?  (New calendar. For the old calendar, subtract 14 from the new calendar date.Megalynarion (Magnification of the Theotokos): “It is truly meet to bless thee, O Theotokos, ever blessed and most blameless and the Mother of our God” (Sometimes this first line is not used): More honorable than the Cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim, who without corruption gave birth to God the Word, true Theotokos, we magnify thee. Evlogitaria: “Blessed art thou, Oh Lord. Teach me thy statutes.”Hypakoe: See the Resurrectional Hypakoe. Sing/Read one – the same tone, I think, as the Troparia already sung or read. If the day is a feast of the Theotokos or some Saints then follow it with their Troparia.Prokeimena: Here, for Lent as Matins Prokeimena of the Resurrection. Otherwise use the tone of the week I think.
    • The Exapostilaria: for the eleven gospels read at Matins.
    • Expostilaria of the Resurrection.
    • Matins Gospel: The first gospel listed is for Matins. The next readings are for the Reader’s service (or Liturgy). This page uses the new (Western) calendar. For the old calendar, count back 14 days. For example, if today is the 15th in the west, read from the 1d.
    • The Canon: Or abbreviated Here under “The Canon of Biblical Odes”. Instructions for when reading Canons and Akathists alone.
    • Kontakia: Here as “Kontakia of the Resurrection” (at least during Lent).
    • Stitchera for the Lauds (Praises).
    • The Great Doxology
    • Music for Matins
  • Divine Liturgy – as performed when clergy are present.
  • Typica: A Reader’s prayer service in place of Liturgy, when no clergy are available to serve. Preface the prayer service with the Trisagion Prayers (there is some overlap between these two resources, so consider how you want to put them together).
    • Ode 9: The Magnificat and The Song of Zechariah
      • The Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55): More honorable than the cherubim And more glorious beyond compare than the seraphim! Without corruption you gave birth to God the Word. True Theotokos, we magnify you! My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; for behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generationhttp://www.saintjonah.org/services/typica.htm to generation. He has shown strength with His arm; he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty. He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever. (Magnificat)
      • Song of Zechariah (Luke 1:68-79): Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people, And has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David, As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, who have been since the world began, That we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us, To perform the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant, The oath which He swore to our father Abraham: To grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, To give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins, Through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
    • Troparion of the Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple
      Today is the prelude of the good will of God,
      Of the preaching of the salvation of mankind.
      The Virgin appears in the temple of God,
      In anticipation proclaiming Christ to all.
      Let us rejoice and sing to her:
      “Rejoice, O Fulfillment of the Creator’s dispensation.”
    • Kontakion of the Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple
      The sacred treasury of God’s holy glory the greatly precious bridal chamber and Virgin,
      The Savior’s most pure temple, free of stain and undefiled,
      Into the House of the Lord on this day is brought forward,
      And bringeth with herself the grace of the Most Divine Spirit;
      Her do God’s Angels hymn with songs of praise, for she is truly the heavenly tabernacle.
    • Troparia of St. Herman of Alaska
      (Tone 4) O Blessed Father Herman of Alaska, North Star of Christ’s Holy Church;
      The light of your holy life and great deeds Guides those who follow the Orthodox Way.
      Together we lift high the Holy Cross You planted firmly in America.
      Let all behold and glorify Jesus Christ Singing His Holy Resurrection.
    • Kontakia of St. Herman of Alaska
      (Tone 3) The Eternal Light of Christ our Savior Guided you, O Blessed Father Herman, on your evangelical journey to America, proclaiming the Gospel of Peace.
      Now you stand before the Throne of Glory;
      Intercede for your land and its people, peace for the world and salvation of our souls.
    • Closing Prayer, “Oh Lord bless..” (Sundays): Thou that didst rise from the dead, O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God; for the sake of the prayers of Thy most pure Mother; of our holy and God-bearing (my interpretive choice:) forefathers in the faith, Adam, Noah, and Abraham; the prophets of God Enoch and Elijah, Moses and John the Baptist; the holy apostles Peter and Paul; the archangels Gabriel and Michael; [Saint(s) of the day, if any]; Saint Herman of Alaska; Saint Seraphim of Serov; Saint Mary, Fr. Zosima, Saint Nectarius, and Fr. Maximus of Egypt; Saint Cuthbert of Lindesfarne; Saint Edward the martyr, king of England; Saint John of Kronstadt; Bishop Andrew of New Divievo; Joseph the elder of Mt. Athos; Saint Nektary the recluse of Optina; Saint John Maximovich of Shanghai and San Francisco; and all the saints; have mercy on us and save us, for Thou art good and the Lover of mankind.
    • Litany for the Patronal Feast of the Temple
      or if there is no temple (I have chosen, below)…
    • Prayer to St. Herman of Alaska (that he, being one of that cloud of witnesses to our running of the race, might pray to God for us. cf. Heb 12:1,2,22-14 ):
      Glory..
      A) O Blessed Hermit of Spruce Island, good teacher of the faith in the Holy Trinity, and our Spiritual Father, intercede before the throne of the Almighty God, for peace within the Church, the dispelling of all disunity, faithlessness, and discord. Or:
      B) O Holy Father and Patron of the Church in America: Be a physician to the weak in faith; be a support to the fallen; be a defender to the defenseless; be a bulwark of strength to the weary in spirit; be a guide to the travelers by sea, by land and by air; be our heavenly intercessor. Or:
      C) O blessed Father Herman of Alaska, together with all the Saints and the Heavenly Hosts, pray to God that on each of us He will bestow wisdom for our mind, strength for our will, light for our spirit, enabling us to attain to the true peace of life which is from God alone.
      Both now…
      Through the intercession of the Theotokos, O Merciful One, cleanse the multitude of our sins.
    • Final Benediction: What hierarchy are you under? My interpretive choice:
      • Our Great Lords and Fathers of the one Holy Orthodox Christian Church passed down to us by Jesus Christ through his apostles and their disciples; and its Metropolitans, Hierarchs, Priests, Preachers, and Pastors; and our brethren of true Christian faith in parishes, congregations, and monasteries everywhere; and this home and all its residents and guests; and all those trusting in the grace of God and standing under the blood of Jesus Christ, wherever they may be found: preserve, O Lord, for many years.
  • Old Calendar Liturgical Year and a page that opens to today’s services.
  • Music for feasts, Orthodox Sacred Music Library.
  • Stichera on the Lauds (Praises)

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