Why is this book so expensive exactly? Is it that rare?
Phillip, the Menaion and the full Octoechos has been published by the Eparchy of Newton, these books are for PUBLIC worship and not for private prayer (although i guess you could use em for that if you so desired).
Yes. Iāve considered buying the Octoechos from Sophia Press, but Iām a little put off by the fact that itās translated from the French, which I believe was translated from the Arabic edition, which in turn was translated from the Greek edition. The result is what Iāve heard termed an āadequate paraphraseā. Personally Iām anxiously awaiting Holy Transfiguration Monasteryās translation of the Octoechos, but that wonāt be coming out for a number of years. Still, itāll be metered to fit the Prosomia, which is a very important feature for any Menaion or Octoechos, and is also an absent feature in our Eparchyās current editions.
Perhaps I should just go with the translations of Fr. Seraphim Dedes.Iāve compared the Melkite Octoechos to the St. John of Kronstdat Press and itās not to bad, and it is in modern English. It will be interesting to see what comes from Holy Transfiguration, I do not care for Fr. Seraphimās stuff though, talk about dumbed down! Take a look at anastasis.org.uk/ and see if you like that translation,I think itās a good translation and one of the best thing about it is itās free.Yes. Iāve considered buying the Octoechos from Sophia Press, but Iām a little put off by the fact that itās translated from the French, which I believe was translated from the Arabic edition, which in turn was translated from the Greek edition. The result is what Iāve heard termed an āadequate paraphraseā. Personally Iām anxiously awaiting Holy Transfiguration Monasteryās translation of the Octoechos, but that wonāt be coming out for a number of years. Still, itāll be metered to fit the Prosomia, which is a very important feature for any Menaion or Octoechos, and is also an absent feature in our Eparchyās current editions.
Thatās interesting. I wouldāve loved to have been able to compare the two Octoechos. Sadly I havenāt had the opportunity. Iām still undecided how I feel about Fr. Seraphimās work. On the one hand it has the advantage of being metered according to the Greek melodies. It also has the advantage of being translated directly from the Greek texts. But, like you said, the translation does feel rather dumbed down, in places at least. I do appreciate the fact that the Melkite translations are both dignified and in modern English. Iāve had a hard time woth the HTM translations in the past simply because in places they are so archaic that they can be difficult to understand (much like the old Douay-Rhiems Bible). It would be nice if the Melkite texts were also metered according to the Greek melodies (prosomia) and translated from the original Greek texts, but I understand that they are close enough.
Iāve heard that even some Orthodox parishes use the Melkite books, and I know Iāve seen the Melkite Octoechos for sale on an Orthodox website before. I guess they just need to do a complete Menaion and the Services for Holy Week now.Did you pay $500.?
My mouth is salivating heavily!!! Would that I had $500.00 for just one of your extra copies.
Excuse me again while I continue wiping the drool off of my face and shirt.
It will be some time before I can dig them out of storageā¦Iāll let ya know when I do. And I would never dream of charging those prices!Excuse me again while I continue wiping the drool off of my face and shirt.
Oooo!!! Oooooo!!! Please do let me know when you are able to pull them out of storage. I would be VERY VERY interested. Perhaps we could work out some sort of trade.It will be some time before I can dig them out of storageā¦Iāll let ya know when I do. And I would never dream of charging those prices!