The Mother of God's Psalter

[augustin717]

We have the so-called "Psalter of the Mother of God" in Romania, as a private devotion, of course.
Do other Orthodox churches know anything of it?

[ozgeorge]

Do you know who composed it? Books are often known by different titles across the Orthodox world.

[AWR]

Could you be talking about the The Akathist Hymn to the Theotokos?

[Tallitot]

Could it be similair to what is known as the "Office of the BVM" in the Western Church?

[ozgeorge]

Could you be talking about the The Akathist Hymn to the Theotokos?

The Akathist is used in public liturgy, so I doubt that is what is meant.
The reason I asked who wrote it is because St. Nektarios of Pentapolis wrote a collection of odes and hymns to the Theotokos which we use in private devotion in the Greek Church called the Theotokarion. The hymn "Agne Parthene" ("O Virgin Pure") comes from this book. The second section of the Theotokarion has 154 hymns to the Theotokos which I'm wondering whether it might have been used as a "Psalter of the Thetokos".

[augustin717]

The book is sort of an adaptation of the Psalter, substituting the name of God for the Mother of God plus a few other changes asked for by this logic.
I see that something similar was also known in medieval Catholicism-see "Marian Psalter" and now I suspect this is a Western import into our church just like "Imitatio Christi" or "The Imitation of the Mother of God".

[samkim]

The book is sort of an adaptation of the Psalter, substituting the name of God for the Mother of God plus a few other changes asked for by this logic.
I see that something similar was also known in medieval Catholicism-see "Marian Psalter" and now I suspect this is a Western import into our church just like "Imitatio Christi" or "The Imitation of the Mother of God".

I would like to hear more about both of these.

[Ortho_cat]

All I can find regarding the Marian Psalter is attributing the term to the Rosary.

As a complete aside, I just found out that you get indulgences by praying the Rosary, which I never knew:

"A partial indulgence is gained, under the usual conditions, when praying a third of the Rosary (5 decades) continuously (i.e., one can't say a decade, go wash the dishes, and return to say the other decades).

A plenary indulgence is gained, under the usual conditions, when it is prayed by a family group or publicly in a church or oratory. The decades' Mysteries must be announced, and the Mysteries meditated on."

Learn something new every day!

[Shanghaiski]

That book does not even sound Orthodox, if it's substituting the Theotokos for God. This reminds me of an anecdote regarding one of the Optino Elders who was given this book that had an "Akathist to God the Father." He took it to another Elder for his opinion, I think he took it to St. Moses, who glanced at the title, said the Orthodox Church does not do akathists to God the Father, and threw it in the fire. Unfortunately, strange prayer books get produced by people who do not know the faith and end up advancing false teachings. Not knowing exactly what this book is, it's hard to tell. But your description is disturbing to me. If you have one, or want an opinion on it, though, I suggest you see an experienced priest or spiritual father.

[James Joseph]

I am resurrecting this thread. I know it has been a while since the original post. I hope there are no objections.


When I first read the original post I immediately thought of what is known as the "Little Office of Our Lady". It date back to at least 730 A.D. with St. John Damascene. Pope St. Zacharias apparently spread the devotion by way of the little psalter. It is wonderful that it is in Latin, with facing English text.



It is my understanding that the eastern churches possess it too. Although it may have fallen into disuse. In this way, the Latins can thank a pair of Greeks for passing on to us such a wonderful gift.

Again, I hope none of you all mind.


http://www.fraternitypublications.com/liofofblvima.html

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