Topic: What is a 'Molieben' Service Like?

[JamesR]

Well, this thursday night my Church is having a Molieben service for people struggling with addictions and people who have family members struggling with addictions, and, I wanted to invite my father to one since he's been struggling with some addictions and I thought it might be a good opportunity to share Orthodoxy with him on a deeper level.

The only thing is, I have never been to one of these services, therefore, I really do not know anything about what it is like, how it runs, and what everything symbolizes. I kind of wanted to know these things before I take my father, that way if he has questions I can answer them for him instead of not knowing. So, I was wondering if anyone here could shed any knowledge on them. What are they like? What should I expect? etc.

Oh, and if it means anything, my Church is OCA; I'm not sure if the different jurisdictions do them differently. But what does the OCA molieben service go like?

[JamesRottnek]

Well, this thursday night my Church is having a Molieben service for people struggling with addictions and people who have family members struggling with addictions, and, I wanted to invite my father to one since he's been struggling with some addictions and I thought it might be a good opportunity to share Orthodoxy with him on a deeper level.

The only thing is, I have never been to one of these services, therefore, I really do not know anything about what it is like, how it runs, and what everything symbolizes. I kind of wanted to know these things before I take my father, that way if he has questions I can answer them for him instead of not knowing. So, I was wondering if anyone here could shed any knowledge on them. What are they like? What should I expect? etc.

Oh, and if it means anything, my Church is OCA; I'm not sure if the different jurisdictions do them differently. But what does the OCA molieben service go like?

My guess is that you'll be using the Service of Intercession for those suffering from alcohol or drug dependency, put out by ROCOR.  If so, it starts off with "Blessed is our God..." and then the Trisagion and several Lord have mercies, then Psalm 26 and the Great Litany, followed by a troparion and prokemenon, then I Corinthians 3:11-17, or Ephesians 2:4-10, then Alleluia and Luke 8:26-39, then an augmented litany followed by a few prayers and dismissal, or so says my copy.  So, in short, it will be a bit like the first half of a liturgy.

[Subdeacon Michael]

The Moleben is simply a service of intercession which can take any of a number of forms, for various occasions and needs. It is paraliturgical, so is served in the nave and not the altar. Molebens for various needs are to be found in the Book of Needs and other, separate publications.

 However, that most commonly served to seek the prayers of the saints, whether on pilgrimage or in parishes, is the General Moleben, which is drawn in part from elements of the service of Matins, supplemented by hymns and prayers which help to foster devotion to to the particular saint being honoured.  This is commonly served on pilgrimages to holy shrines and wells associated with the saints.

The Cross-procession at the end of the Liturgy at parish patronal feasts is a Moleben, prayed in procession.

[Subdeacon Michael]

An afterthought: why not look up "Moleben" on YouTube?

[Orest]

There is an English translation of Sokoloff's textbook on the web some where that is very useful for basic definitions.

[biro]

An afterthought: why not look up "Moleben" on YouTube?

Here you go. Click the link and the first three things that show up are parts of a molieben service.

[podkarpatska]

Here are excerpts from a Moleben held yesterday, June 19t at St. George Orthodox Church, Taylor, PA.

Sorry for the poor video...

Fr. Grigorios Tatsis, candidate for Ruling Bishop, is introduced to the clergy and laity of ACROD at St. George Orthodox Church, Taylor, PA on June 19, 2012.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cf2l7YKpo3g

Also photos of the event: http://www.acrod.org/multimedia/photos?setID=72157630207335712

[podkarpatska]

Corrected link:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQvJ0wesaWo&list=UUxUNL7NYaIegagxPUfY0Y2A&index=1&feature=plcp

[akimori makoto]

Corrected link:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQvJ0wesaWo&list=UUxUNL7NYaIegagxPUfY0Y2A&index=1&feature=plcp

Is there something about being Orthodox which compels us to take footage of events using an abacus?

[podkarpatska]

Corrected link:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQvJ0wesaWo&list=UUxUNL7NYaIegagxPUfY0Y2A&index=1&feature=plcp

Is there something about being Orthodox which compels us to take footage of events using an abacus?

Like I said, sorry about the video...I didn't realize it was set on the economy setting until after Church.

[akimori makoto]

Corrected link:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQvJ0wesaWo&list=UUxUNL7NYaIegagxPUfY0Y2A&index=1&feature=plcp

Is there something about being Orthodox which compels us to take footage of events using an abacus?

Like I said, sorry about the video...I didn't realize it was set on the economy setting until after Church.

Haha, don't be sorry, PK!

You must agree that a high proportion of our showings on youtube are of not the highest video quality, yes?

Apologies if it appeared I was taking a stab. Glory to God for that full church!

[podkarpatska]

Corrected link:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQvJ0wesaWo&list=UUxUNL7NYaIegagxPUfY0Y2A&index=1&feature=plcp

Is there something about being Orthodox which compels us to take footage of events using an abacus?

Like I said, sorry about the video...I didn't realize it was set on the economy setting until after Church.

Haha, don't be sorry, PK!

You must agree that a high proportion of our showings on youtube are of not the highest video quality, yes?

Apologies if it appeared I was taking a stab. Glory to God for that full church!

It's funny, but the best quality videos online seem to come from the former USSR - the ones from the Russian Patriarchate in Moscow and the Eastern Catholic ones from Muchachevo in western Ukraine. Go figure.

[mike]

Try some audio in Polish, Belarusian and Church Slavonic:
http://www.orthodoxia.pl/?p=7&cat=5&details=380&_s=1
http://www.orthodoxia.pl/?p=7&cat=5&details=718&_s=1
http://www.orthodoxia.pl/?p=7&cat=5&details=550&_s=1

[mike]

This time a video of a molebien: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8WsJcL5FcY