Roman Catholic interested in Eastern Church - which prayerbook?

[JER7177]

Hello all!

i am a Roman Catholic that has been drawn in recent years to study and learned to love the Eastern Churches expression of spirituality. I am wanting to purchase an eastern prayerbook but not sure which one to buy. It seems that the two that get overwhelming approval from my eastern friends is either:

A Prayer Book for Orthodox Christians (Holy Transfiguration Monastery)
Prayer Book: The Jordanville Orthodox Prayer Book with Gilded-gold Page Edges

I am drawn to the Jordanville because of its beauty, sturdiness, and traditional language, but would like recommendations from you all on what you recommend.

Thank you all!

 

[lssanjose]

I’m using O Lord, Hear My Prayer, Private Devotions for the Great Fast. It was given to me by a long-time parishioner at the Byzantine parish I’ve been going to, since the last weekend in June. He said, even though it’s primarily for the Lenten Season, he recommends many of the prayers, therein. I particularly like the Prayer of St. Ephrem, and do pray it frequently (which the prayer book suggests), throughout a day.

 

[ByzCathCantor]

Both of the prayer books you mentioned are very nice, yet I do prefer the Jordanville Prayer Book of the two Orthodox choices.

That said, you could get a prayer book produced by Eastern Catholics. I have owned the Byzantine Book of Prayer, available in reprint from the Byzantine Seminary Press. It is the work of [Melkite] Archbishop Joseph Raya and Baron Jose de Vinck.

Through Sophia Press, the Melkite Catholic Church offers the Publicans Prayer Book, which has been well reviewed (I have ordered my own copy recently).

I’m hoping Phillip Rolfes and our other Melkite friends might comment on both of these options.

As my wife says, free is always in the budget, so you might want to start with this prayer book, made available online via this link - Byzantine Catholic Prayer for the Home.

P.S. There have been at least two other threads here on this subject within the last 9 months - you might want to do a quick search. May yield a few more suggestions.

 

[TheDoors]

I would suggest attending an Eastern Church service. I’m sure it would be an uplifting experience, and you could speak with the priest there.

 

[5Loaves]

Hello all!

i am a Roman Catholic that has been drawn in recent years to study and learned to love the Eastern Churches expression of spirituality. I am wanting to purchase an eastern prayerbook but not sure which one to buy. It seems that the two that get overwhelming approval from my eastern friends is either:

A Prayer Book for Orthodox Christians (Holy Transfiguration Monastery)
Prayer Book: The Jordanville Orthodox Prayer Book with Gilded-gold Page Edges

I am drawn to the Jordanville because of its beauty, sturdiness, and traditional language, but would like recommendations from you all on what you recommend.

Thank you all!

Orthodoxwiki has a good page on prayer books. I like and use both of the two you mention here, and the Melkite Publicans Prayer Book which ByzCathCantor mentions. Our deacon likes some of the prayer and service books from the nuns of The Holy Myrrhbearers Monastery. Two of those are listed at the bottom of the Orthodoxwiki list.

 

[The_Idiot]

How can you all omit the Old Orthodox Prayer Book from Erie in your suggestions ?

That and the Jordanville are regarded as the 'Gold Standard ’ of prayer books

 

[5Loaves]

How can you all omit the Old Orthodox Prayer Book from Erie in your suggestions ?

Well, it’s in the OrthodoxWiki list

The Old Orthodox Prayer Book, or as it is commonly referred to, “The Old Believer Prayer Book”: This prayer book has a lot of useful instructional material, and a lot of services that are set up such that they can be done as reader services (such as a Moleben). It also has the Slavonic text and the English text on facing pages. The disadvantage to it is the Slavonic text is not the standard text used by the Church (being the Old Rite) and so it differs in wording and often in structure. Nevertheless, it is quite useful. This prayer book was produced for use by the Old Rite community in Erie, Pennsylvania (ROCOR).

That and the Jordanville are regarded as the 'Gold Standard ’ of prayer books

By whom? Prayer books preferences are a very personal thing in my experience.

 

[Diak]

By whom? Prayer books preferences are a very personal thing in my experience.

That’s for sure - my wife prefers Jordanville and I the Old Orthodox Prayerbook. But we are in complete agreement on the Horologion and the Anthology.

 

[andrewstx]

It has been a few years since I was in Phoenix, but last time I was there they had a Byzantiine Catholic bookstore.

At least you could check there and save on shipping if they havee a prayerbook you can use.

 

[Jakub]

I usually use the Publican’s Prayer Book and also have a 1st edition of the Byzantine Book of Prayer…