Topic: Good Prayer books

[Vlad]

Coming from an RC background we RC's have lots of prayer books are there any OC ones that you would recommend. I used to pray the breviary pre Vatican II all the time does the OC have a system like the Breviary?
 Also what about the Jordanville Prayer Book I found one of those online cheap, anyone have expierience with this book?

Blessings

[minasoliman]

agpeya:  Coptic prayer book of hours

You can actually read it online at agpeya.com or go to orthodoxbookstore.com to order a copy.

[LBK]

The Jordanville Prayerbook is very well-regarded and comprehensive, though it is written in an older form of English which some may find a little difficult. There is the possibility that this may change, as I understand the new Metropolitan of ROCOR has recently expressed a preference to the use of a more modern, but still reverential and formal English for liturgical use.

[Heorhij]

I always use a prayer book printed by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA (headquarters in South Bound Brook, NJ). It has all prayers in my native Ukrainian on the left hand side of the page and in English on the right. I got it directly from Fr. Hieromonk Daniel Zelinsky, by mail. The jurisdiction's contact e-mail address is consistory@verizon.net; it is on their Web site (http://www.uocofusa.org/).

[Alveus Lacuna]

I use the Jordanville prayer book, and I think that it is great.

St. Isaac of Syria Skete has it for $15.00, and the shipping is always 10%, so in this case the total is only $16.50, which is great for a hardcover prayer book:

http://www.skete.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=1192&Category_ID=10

[Entscheidungsproblem]

I'd say Jordanville as well.

Now let us all wait for ozgeorge to find this thread and do his "5th gospel" routine.   

[Schultz]

I used to use Jordanville but, as LBK pointed out, I found its English to be very awkward in construction.  As I'm a bit of a grammar geek, I found it very distracting and it was, unfortunately, not conducive to a good prayer life for me.

I currently use the Old Orthodox Prayer Book published by Nativity of Christ (Old Rite) church in Erie, PA for morning and evening prayer.  I find the setup and order of the prayers perfect for my personal style and it has been a great help to my prayerlife.  It also has a number of canons (and the Akathist to the Theotokos) and the texts of the hours; the Sixth hour gets the most use out of my book as I use that for noontime prayer before lunch at work.  The only thing I would add to it is a little general menaion of sorts for the troparia and kontakia of the saints to go along with the excellent calendar in the back.

It also has facing Slavonic and English pages and has been a great help in my ongoing learning to read the old language.  The only problem, if you can call it that, I have is that it uses alot of abbreviations for things in Slavonic but I managed to find pdf online that explains/expands such abbreviations.

[Justin Kissel]

I used the Jordanville prayer book for most of my Orthodox sojourn, but I can't use it any longer. The evening prayers in particular I found to be difficult to pray. It seemed like every prayer was about how I was a terrible sinner and the worst scum of the earth. If people can use it in a spiritually healthy way, then that's great for them. However, I would say that it's not for everyone.

[Thomas]

I have used bothe the Jordanville Prayer book and the Antiochian little Red prayer book (based on Hapgood Translations) and found that as an adult the Jordanville paryerbook was ok however for use asa family, I found the Antiochian prayerbook easier to follow and use with the entire family.
In paperback it runs $5, everyone in our family holds their own during the  family prayers.
Thomas

[Alveus Lacuna]

The evening prayers in particular I found to be difficult to pray. It seemed like every prayer was about how I was a terrible sinner and the worst scum of the earth. If people can use it in a spiritually healthy way, then that's great for them. However, I would say that it's not for everyone.

At first that was difficult for me, but over time I've begun to see it as useful.  I think everything in our society is geared towards "feeling good", so this acts as a sobering counter balance.  Begging Christ our God for forgiveness nightly has been very helpful showing me my many flaws.  It also seems to place a greater amount of pressure on me to forgive those around me.

[Anastasios]

I use the HTM prayer book and really enjoy it.

http://www.thehtm.org/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=576&osCsid=4efa3fdefe12ac6f423e1117cdec64bc

[Carpatho Russian]

I use The Hours of Prayer - A Book of Devotion published with the blessing of Bishop Nicholas of the ACROD.  Besides containing the usual prayers (Morning, Evening, before and after Communion, and Akathists to the Saviour and the Theotokos) it has the Troparia and Kondakia for weekdays, Sundays, major Feasts, Triodion, and Pentecostarion and the canonical hours of the Orthodox Church arranged for reading as a private devotion at home.

[Thomas]

I use The Hours of Prayer - A Book of Devotion published with the blessing of Bishop Nicholas of the ACROD.  Besides containing the usual prayers (Morning, Evening, before and after Communion, and Akathists to the Saviour and the Theotokos) it has the Troparia and Kondakia for weekdays, Sundays, major Feasts, Triodion, and Pentecostarion and the canonical hours of the Orthodox Church arranged for reading as a private devotion at home.

I agree this is an excellent prayer book especially for people like myself who live a large distance from a local Church and may travel 100+ miles every to attend on Sunday and major feasts.  It allows you to a part of the daily flow of prayers practiced in the Orthodox Church in your domestic Church, your own home.

Thomas

[Schultz]

I use The Hours of Prayer - A Book of Devotion published with the blessing of Bishop Nicholas of the ACROD.  Besides containing the usual prayers (Morning, Evening, before and after Communion, and Akathists to the Saviour and the Theotokos) it has the Troparia and Kondakia for weekdays, Sundays, major Feasts, Triodion, and Pentecostarion and the canonical hours of the Orthodox Church arranged for reading as a private devotion at home.

Any idea where I can get this online?

[Orthodox11]

The prayers found in most Orthodox prayer books are all contained within the Horologion, or Book of Hours. The morning prayers, for example, are simply an abbreviated version of the Midnight Office.

So if you're planning to use the book at home (it's probably too bulky to carry around with you), I'd recommend getting a copy of the Horologion (of which I think the HTM is the most complete English translation, although the Jordanville version, also very good, is much cheaper) rather than one of the smaller, abbreviated prayer books.

[Orthodox11]

Any idea where I can get this online?

http://www.anastasis.org.uk/liturgic.htm is a good resource.

[Amdetsion]

I used the Jordanville prayer book for most of my Orthodox sojourn, but I can't use it any longer. The evening prayers in particular I found to be difficult to pray. It seemed like every prayer was about how I was a terrible sinner and the worst scum of the earth. If people can use it in a spiritually healthy way, then that's great for them. However, I would say that it's not for everyone.

Can you please send me this prayer book since you are not using it?

If it is what you say it is; it describes me and my life to a "T".

email me.

Pray for me; a sinner.

[Schultz]

Any idea where I can get this online?

http://www.anastasis.org.uk/liturgic.htm is a good resource.

Thanks.  Archimandrite Ephrem's site is fantastic, but I was actually looking for a place to purchase the ACROD "Book of Hours".

[username!]

I always use a prayer book printed by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA (headquarters in South Bound Brook, NJ). It has all prayers in my native Ukrainian on the left hand side of the page and in English on the right. I got it directly from Fr. Hieromonk Daniel Zelinsky, by mail. The jurisdiction's contact e-mail address is consistory@verizon.net; it is on their Web site (http://www.uocofusa.org/).

Heorhij, Archimandrite Daniel Zelinsky has been His Grace Bishop Daniel since May 10, 2008. AXIOS!

[Amdetsion]

I have found such a jewel for humble vervent deeply repentent prayer:

St.Gregor Narakatsi

Published by the Armenian Orthodox Church.

This book is highly revered by my (our) Armenian brothers.

Try it!

[Carpatho Russian]

Any idea where I can get this online?

I purchased it several years ago through Light and Life Publishing.  Check with them.  I'm not sure if it's still available.

Another prayerbook I like is A Manual of the Hours of the Orthodox Church compiled by Archimandrite Cherubim (Monastery of the Paraclete, Attica, Greece) and "published" in English by the Holy Myrrhbearers Monastery in Otego, NY.  It contains very abbreviated selections from the hours (one or two psalms and one or two prayers from each of the Canonical Hours - Vespers, Compline, Midnight Office, Matins, and the Little Hours).  But it's small size 4' x 5" and the fact that it contains only a small selection from each hour make it convenient to keep in one's briefcase or office desk draw and pray a portion of the Canonical Hours throughout the day at the appropriate times.  Each of the Little Hours contain enough that can be read/prayed slowly and thoughtfully in about 5 minutes.  It's great at work, for the "pause that refreshes!"

[Vlad]

Hello all, I hear many of you say that the Jordanville Prayer book is in difficult English. Does this mean archaic like Elizabethan prose (King James Bible Style) because I personally love that stuff. Or do you mean something else?

[Vlad]

Thank you all for your kind help. I shall be looking into some of these books

God Bless

[Entscheidungsproblem]

Hello all, I hear many of you say that the Jordanville Prayer book is in difficult English. Does this mean archaic like Elizabethan prose (King James Bible Style) because I personally love that stuff. Or do you mean something else?

Yup, more or less that is what people are saying.     I personally find it more enjoyable to pray from due to the language.

[Schultz]

Hello all, I hear many of you say that the Jordanville Prayer book is in difficult English. Does this mean archaic like Elizabethan prose (King James Bible Style) because I personally love that stuff. Or do you mean something else?

I would say that it's very much "like" Elizabethan prose in the vocabulary and phrasing but, unfortunately, the grammar/syntax falls incredibly short of the beauty of the KJV and Shakespeare.  It's like the translators kept the Slavonic word order, a parsing which simply doesn't work English.

But that's just my opinion.

[ytterbiumanalyst]

Hello all, I hear many of you say that the Jordanville Prayer book is in difficult English. Does this mean archaic like Elizabethan prose (King James Bible Style) because I personally love that stuff. Or do you mean something else?

I understand. I teach English and Spanish, and I love the feel of Elizabethan speech patterns, as well as the specificity of four words for "you." Thee, thou, ye, and you have distinct meanings in early modern English which have not carried over to currant usage.

[Helena94]

Hi Vlad,
I, too, have a Catholic background, and since converting I find my favorite Orthodox prayer book to be a paperback one titled "My Daily Orthodox Prayer Book," by Anthony M. Coniaris. It does not contain the Divine Liturgy, but it has a lot of prayers in it that I personally find very comforting and helpful.

Hope this helps! I'm a fairly recent convert, and a forum like this has been extremely helpful and uplifting to me on my journey.

[Monk Vasyl]

I always use a prayer book printed by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA (headquarters in South Bound Brook, NJ). It has all prayers in my native Ukrainian on the left hand side of the page and in English on the right. I got it directly from Fr. Hieromonk Daniel Zelinsky, by mail. The jurisdiction's contact e-mail address is consistory@verizon.net; it is on their Web site (http://www.uocofusa.org/).

I also highly recommend this prayerbook,

[Monk Vasyl]

The UOC of Canada, also has a very good prayerbook, tho sadly its already out of print.  These books really should never be out of print, but that's my opinion.

[GabrieltheCelt]

Thee, thou, ye, and you have distinct meanings in early modern English which have not carried over to currant usage.

I love currants but I'm currently out.

[ytterbiumanalyst]

Thee, thou, ye, and you have distinct meanings in early modern English which have not carried over to currant usage.

I love currants but I'm currently out.

Ack! Did I really write that? Sheesh....

[Vlad]

Does anyone who prayers the Jordanville prayer book know what akathists it contains?

[Vlad]

Hi Vlad,
I, too, have a Catholic background, and since converting I find my favorite Orthodox prayer book to be a paperback one titled "My Daily Orthodox Prayer Book," by Anthony M. Coniaris. It does not contain the Divine Liturgy, but it has a lot of prayers in it that I personally find very comforting and helpful.

Hope this helps! I'm a fairly recent convert, and a forum like this has been extremely helpful and uplifting to me on my journey.

Thanks Helena I'll have to look at that too. So many choices.

[Vlad]

The prayers found in most Orthodox prayer books are all contained within the Horologion, or Book of Hours. The morning prayers, for example, are simply an abbreviated version of the Midnight Office.

So if you're planning to use the book at home (it's probably too bulky to carry around with you), I'd recommend getting a copy of the Horologion (of which I think the HTM is the most complete English translation, although the Jordanville version, also very good, is much cheaper) rather than one of the smaller, abbreviated prayer books.

Is the Horologian similar to the Western Breviary?

[LBK]

Does anyone who prayers the Jordanville prayer book know what akathists it contains?

It contains the Akathist to our Sweetest Lord Jesus, and the Akathist to the Mother of God.

[GabrieltheCelt]

Thee, thou, ye, and you have distinct meanings in early modern English which have not carried over to currant usage.

I love currants but I'm currently out.

Ack! Did I really write that? Sheesh....

Just ribbing my fellow choir member.

[ytterbiumanalyst]

Just ribbing my fellow choir member.

But of course. Who better to ridicule for a spelling error than someone who teaches that very thing?

[Orual]

I use the Antiochian pocket prayer book.  It has prayers for most occasions and doesn't overload you with morning or evening prayers.  It's a great "starter" prayer book but it's fine for people who've been in the Church longer, too.

However, if I had my druthers, I'd prefer to get a prayer book that doesn't use any archaic language at all - no "thee/thou" or anything like that.  If anyone knows where I can get one of those, I would appreciate it.

[LBK]

I use the Antiochian pocket prayer book.  It has prayers for most occasions and doesn't overload you with morning or evening prayers.  It's a great "starter" prayer book but it's fine for people who've been in the Church longer, too.

However, if I had my druthers, I'd prefer to get a prayer book that doesn't use any archaic language at all - no "thee/thou" or anything like that.  If anyone knows where I can get one of those, I would appreciate it.

Orual, PM me. I can help.

[Monk Vasyl]

New Skete has a Prayerbook, but its more of a Horologion.  New Skete's prayerbook and the one from the UOC of the USA are in modern English.

[the slave]

Another user of The Old Orthodox Prayer Book here

[Andrew21091]

I would also highly recomend the Old Orthodox Prayer Book. I do have the Jordanville one also, but the Old Orthodox one is the one that I use daily.

[samkim]

The prayers found in most Orthodox prayer books are all contained within the Horologion, or Book of Hours. The morning prayers, for example, are simply an abbreviated version of the Midnight Office.

So if you're planning to use the book at home (it's probably too bulky to carry around with you), I'd recommend getting a copy of the Horologion (of which I think the HTM is the most complete English translation, although the Jordanville version, also very good, is much cheaper) rather than one of the smaller, abbreviated prayer books.

Is the Horologian similar to the Western Breviary?

Yes. Horo-logion, Hours-book.

[Thomas]

A good prayer book that we have started to use in our home is "The Hours of Prayer"  put out by the Orthodox Brotherhood of the Virgin Mary, available by writing them at PO Box One, Elkhorn West Virginia 24831. It is now in its second edition.  Of particular useage top one who lives a distance from church and may wish to have instruction on how to do  Reader's services of the Typical Psalms when unable to get to Church for a Divine Liturgy.  It has reader's services for all of the hours plus  Akathists to the Savior, the Mother of God, and a common office for weekday services.

Thomas

edited for spelling- Thomas

[Thanatos]

I reccomend Jordanville or HTM for starting out. I have and use the Old Believer prayerbook; and, although its a beautiful treasury of Orthodox spirituality, I regret a bit starting out using it - just because its prayer rules are fairly lengthy making it easier for one to want to slack off (guilty!).

So for a convert new to the faith, I'd suggest something lighter like the aforementioned - and if you want to pump up the mortification, well there you go.