"a-word during Lent / Great Fast"

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matthias

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Hello Eastern brethren,

I have a question for you. I frequently listen to Ancient Faith Radio because I love the music. One thing that I have noticed recently is that there are frequently music with the “a-word” which we Westerners don’t say during Lent. We don’t say it during mass or the Liturgy of the Hours, or generally in private prayer either. I was just wondering if that is a Western custom then or is the music on Ancient Faith Radio just randomly mixed and they neglected to omit music with the “a-word.”

In case people can’t guess based on the context what I mean by the “a-word” I won’t say it but it is not a swear word. It is an ancient Hebrew word that has survived the centuries and is still present untranslated in the vernacular worship.
 
Alleluia! In the Byzantine tradition alleluia is not suppressed as in the Latin Church but is in fact used more.

At weekday Orthros during the Great Fast, the following:

*The Lord is God, and has appeared to us. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. (Then repeated after each of the following verses)

Verse 1: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good: his mercy endures for ever.

Verse 2: All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of the Lord I drove them back.

Verse 3: This is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes.*

is replaced by:

*Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleuia. (then repeated after the following verses)

Verse 1: From nightfall my spirit is awake for you, O God, for your commands are light upon the earth.

Verse 2: Learn justice, inhabitants of the earth.

Verse 3: Jealousy will seize an untaught people, and now fire devours their adversaries.

Verse 4: Bring evils upon them, O Lord, bring evils upon them, the glorious ones of the earth.*

At daily Vespers during minor fasts the Prokimenon is replaced by an Alleuliarion causing them to be called Days of Alleluia.

Fr. Deacon Lance
 
Very interesting. Thanks Fr. Deacon Lance. I assumed there must be some difference East to West because I was seeming to actually notice it more than usual.
 
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