Does anyone know an Eastern Church glossary?

[Errham]

I recently purchased a copy of “The Great Horologion”’. While the core horologion is easy enough, I have absolutely no clue what the rubrics mean, as they contain a lot of liturgical language that I can’t figure out.

So, to keep things short, does anyone know of a glossary for Eastern liturgical terms?

 

[Phillip_Rolfes]

I recently purchased a copy of “The Great Horologion”’. While the core horologion is easy enough, I have absolutely no clue what the rubrics mean, as they contain a lot of liturgical language that I can’t figure out.

So, to keep things short, does anyone know of a glossary for Eastern liturgical terms?

To my knowledge, such a glossary does not really exist. There are, however, plenty of folks on this website that can help you out. What rubrics/liturgical language were you struggling with?

Also, bear in mind that “The Great Horologion” is only used by the Easter Churches of the Byzantine tradition. If/when you start checking out the other Eastern Catholic Churches (Maronites, Coptics, Syro-Malabars, etc.) they have their own unique liturgical language as well.

 

[Errham]

To my knowledge, such a glossary does not really exist. There are, however, plenty of folks on this website that can help you out. What rubrics/liturgical language were you struggling with?

Also, bear in mind that “The Great Horologion” is only used by the Easter Churches of the Byzantine tradition. If/when you start checking out the other Eastern Catholic Churches (Maronites, Coptics, Syro-Malabars, etc.) they have their own unique liturgical language as well.

Basically, what I’m having trouble with is the variable parts. I tried Google and Orthodoxwiki, but that just got me more confused as it seems that these are just a million different categories of hymns and prayers, with no attempt to explain their liturgical role or significance.

Since the Horologion was never conceived for use by laymen, I can understand why the rubrics aren’t clearer. But I did hope that there would be at some guide out there.

Also - as far as I’m aware there only 2 English horologions still available - The Great Horologion from Holy Transfiguration Monastery, and the Unabreviatted Horologion from Jordanville. There’s also an Antiochan Liturgion, but that’s aimed at clergy and not reader services. Oh, and also the Old Rite Horologion, but I don’t think that’s in print anymore. So really there’s two options - Slavic or Byzantine. I can’t recall (and if someone can, I stand corrected) a Slavic Catholic church that doesn’t follow the Roman Right. So the Byzantine choice seemed the obvious way to go.

 

[Ignatius]

I recently purchased a copy of “The Great Horologion”’. While the core horologion is easy enough, I have absolutely no clue what the rubrics mean, as they contain a lot of liturgical language that I can’t figure out.

So, to keep things short, does anyone know of a glossary for Eastern liturgical terms?

The best way might be to go to a local Eastern Catholic Church and tell the Deacon or Priest what you looking for. They will be more than glad to help you learn more about the Divine Liturgy.

 

[Phillip_Rolfes]

Basically, what I’m having trouble with is the variable parts. I tried Google and Orthodoxwiki, but that just got me more confused as it seems that these are just a million different categories of hymns and prayers, with no attempt to explain their liturgical role or significance.

Since the Horologion was never conceived for use by laymen, I can understand why the rubrics aren’t clearer. But I did hope that there would be at some guide out there.

Also - as far as I’m aware there only 2 English horologions still available - The Great Horologion from Holy Transfiguration Monastery, and the Unabreviatted Horologion from Jordanville. There’s also an Antiochan Liturgion, but that’s aimed at clergy and not reader services. Oh, and also the Old Rite Horologion, but I don’t think that’s in print anymore. So really there’s two options - Slavic or Byzantine. I can’t recall (and if someone can, I stand corrected) a Slavic Catholic church that doesn’t follow the Roman Right. So the Byzantine choice seemed the obvious way to go.

I was fortunate enough to assemble liturgy books for some conferences that I was working at, and so was sort of forced to learn the liturgical lingo. What specific items are you having trouble with?

The problem you may be running into with the Horologion is that it is not a complete text in itself. It needs to be supplemented by the Octoechos, Menaion, Triodion, and/or Pentecostarion for the various prayers and troparia, kontakia, stichera, etc.

In terms of other English editions, the Melkite Eparchy of Newton has a lovely (and complete) Horologion available. One can also refer back to the Byzantine Daily Worship.