Posted on 03/16/2006 10:16:46 PM PST by Agrarian
I think I posted a similar essay last Great Lent, so forgive me for being repetitious.
Many Orthodox Christians spend some extra time doing spiritual reading during Great Lent.
To a certain extent, it is more important for most of us that we make the effort to read something than it is to read one particular thing.
As the resident psaltis (as Kolokotronis calls me), I would like to pass on for those who are interested a few comments on the Lenten readings that are prescribed by the Orthodox Church.
When a full cycle of services is being kept, as in a strict monastery, not only are the hymns and prayers for the day and season prescribed, but also particular liturgical readings are prescribed. Few of these remain in parish, or even monastic, practice (the most notable remnants are St. John Chrysostom's catechetical homily read at the end of Matins of the Paschal Vigil, and the reading of the life of St. Mary of Egypt at Matins of the 5th Thursday in Great Lent.)
These readings are still a staple of many Orthodox Christians' Lenten reading, though, and are kept alive in the context of private prayer and reading.
Here is a summary of readings prescribed during the weekdays of Great Lent:
1. St. Ephraim the Syrian (read after the 1st and 2nd Kathimata readings from the Psalter at Matins). Both the Christian Classics Ethereal Library and Fr. Ephrem Lash's website have the writings of this wonderful saint -- a contemporary of St. John Chrysostom. There is also a beautiful complilation available from www.sjkp.org called "A Spiritual Psalter" -- this is a compilation of writings from St. Ephraim that was made by the great Russian saint, St. Theophan the Recluse.
2. The Lausiac History of Palladius (read after the 3rd Kathisma reading from the Psalter and after the 3rd Ode of the Canon at Matins). This wonderful little book can still be found. It is a 5th century collection of anecdotes of the Desert Fathers.
3. The Synaxarion (read year-round after the 6th Ode of the Canon at every Matins of every day.) These are the lives of the saints of the day. A wonderful English-language series from Mt. Athos is available from September through June, now. Only one more volume to go.
On weekends and on special days, there are special Synaxarion readings from the Lenten Triodion pertaining to the special Lenten day. These are available in a nice volume, available from St. Isaac of Syria Skete, among other places.
4. Catechetical Lectures (read at the end of Matins.) The lectures of St. Theodore the Studite for every Wed, Fri, and Sunday of Lent (plus others) are available on Fr. Ephrem Lash's website. The Catechetical Lectures of St. Cyril of Jerusalem are also used on other days in this place in the services.
5. The Ladder of Divine Ascent (appointed to be read at the Hours on weekdays in Great Lent.)
6. On weekends, as well as the Synaxarion, there are various commentaries and collections of sermons by the Fathers for these particular days (those of St. John Chrysostom, of St. Gregory Palamas, of St. Nikolai of Zhicha, etc...)
7. And of course, the Scriptural readings shift, with weekday readings from the Old Testament being prescribed. Readings from the Psalter are doubled.
Anyway, there is no way for most of us to read even a part of this. But if one is casting about for something to read during Great Lent, one can hardly go wrong by reading one of the things that the Church has felt to be important enough to have long ago prescribed that it be read publically in church during Lent.
Orthodox ping.
If there are corrections or additions to what I have outlined, please pass them on.
Also, there are individual recommendations for Lenten readings by various saints and writers. Fr. Seraphim (Rose) of Platina, for instance, was said to have read St. Augustine's Confessions every Lent.
If anyone wants more information on how to find any of these resources (or other liturgical readings), just contact me.
A blessed Lent to all.
Thank you for your time and wisdom.
I'm interested in the Ladder of Divine Ascent. I have not seen it in any of the online Catholic bookstores. I went to a couple of Greek Orthodox sites but I'm not sure I'd be purchasing the right book.
I would recommend the Holy Transfiguration edition. It is beautifully done. It is available many places. Here is one:
http://www.skete.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_id=287
As with all HTM books, just skip the introductory material, which is usually not only unhelpful, but distracting. Go straight to the text.
It is written for monastics, and at a fairly high level. I stayed away from it for many years because of that, but this was excessive caution. Just keep in mind the target audience and the time in which it was written. Orthodox Christians are generally advised to be in spiritual advice with their spiritual father when reading these kinds of monastic works. They are invaluable, but read with caution.
Enjoy!
I had a similar impression with Vol. 1 of the Philokalia. Still, it was very helpful. Thank you!
I think that I was "reared" in the faith with perhaps an excessive amount of caution with regard to these spiritual writings. Sometimes things like the Philokalia and Ladder are attributed a status that verges on secret and dangerous knowledge.
The motivation for this is the tendency of many of us to get in over their heads.
But as I said, I think that this caution can also be overdone. Truth to be told, every bit of Christian writing is potentially dangerous if approached with a prideful "do it yourself" attitude -- starting with the Gospels themselves. And we know we are urged to read those, regardless of what neophytes we are!
If we approach these things with humility, they can all, as you say, be very helpful.
You can't beat the Great Canon for Lenten reading. If your priest didn't do it in church, you absolutely need to read it. We do the whole thing at my current parish, but I missed one night, and still need to go back and read that section. My copy of the Jordanville translation is well-worn, with good reason. It is also available on-line at monachos.net
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