3rd Hour of Sunday Uploaded!

So I've uploaded the 3rd Hour of Sunday in a temporary format (discussed here). I hope those who pray it are brought to a deeper understanding of the Triune God and it serve as an efficacious petition to our merciful Lord.

For the 3rd Hour of Sunday, click here.

Our Lord, accept our service, our prayers, come to our aid and have mercy on us!

First 3rd Hour Translated

So I recently translated the 3rd Hour of Sunday to add to the Shhimto-in-progress. However, I've run into a small issue of logistics since I no longer have my computer is format the document as I please or add Syriac for the melody notation. I will be most likely adding a temporary text, which I will replace at a later time.

Anyway, the 3rd Hour is, structurally, the same as the 9th Hour but this office in particular presents something very interesting about Eastern theology in general.

Reflection on Compline of Sunday

So the second compline office has been posted. I think I've decided I like the idea of shorter reflections, seeing as how I don't want to go on forever to bore the few readers I have - if anyone would like any specific item addressed, feel free to ask in writing and with your permission I'll publicly address it (or privately if you'd prefer).

Anyway, the theme I'd like to address in this Sootoro is the frequent imagery in Syriac theology of the mystical wedding feast between the Bridegroom and the Church.

Post-Hootomo

So the editions prior to what Moran Mor Antoun promulgated and what he promulgated are substantially the same. However, one noticeable difference is the one promulgated by Moran or Antoun is that there is a prayer included after the Hootomo (which, in itself, means conclusion).

Last Ninth Hour Posted!

The last Ninth Hour office has been posted (viewable here). I hope to start now on completing the 6 sootore that are yet to be done.


Our Lord, accept our service, our prayers, come to our aid and have mercy on us!

Reflection on 9th Hour of Friday

This is the second to last of the 9th Hour offices. I have yet another short reflection in mind for this office, but brevity will not impede the magnitude of the item. I'm speaking of the "Tree."

Reflection on 9th Hour of Thursday

While my previous reflections have been lengthy, I think this one can be tackled in a briefer post. Thursday's Ninth Hour, while comparatively shorter than even some of the short offices, it is full of prayers indicative of a healthy Syriac spirituality. As previously mentioned, primary amongst these are our inherent unworthiness and God's limitless and uncompelled mercy.

Reflection on 9th Hour of Wednesday

An inherent aspect of Syriac theology is the great caution in avoiding [what I assume the Syriac Fathers would think of as] overreaching speculation. There is a great deal of meditation upon mystery, and, again, any mystery revealed is considered a voluntary act of mercy by the hand of God. There also develops a certain, almost esoteric language through which thinks are referred to and I will point to several items I think are indicative of this mystique.

Reflection on 9th Hour of Tuesday

The 9th Hour of Tuesday is indicative of what I like to call the paradoxical nature of Syriac theology. And, might I add, I think the paradoxes that we use to express our prayers are appropriate because Christianity in itself is centered around the greatest paradox: the highest Being (i.e. God) lowering Himself to be a meek human so that humanity may be elevated to be on High with God. He is the God that has become manifest through the Son, but remains Hidden in the Father; we are started from Him by sin yet through His Spirit we are made temples.

First Compline Office Posted!

So I've just uploaded the first Sootoro (compline) office; as per usual, it can be found here or if you'd like to come back to it later it can be found under the 'Office Texts' tab. For those of you interested in a discussion of Sootoro's structure, click 'Read More!'

Reflection on 9th Hour of Monday

As I stated previously, whenever I upload an office translation, such as this office that can be found here or the 'Office Text' page, I would like to write a reflection on the prayers. I find this hoosoyo to be an excellent summary of Syriac theology and the focus of God's majesty and mercy.

First 9th Hour Office Posted!

So I've posted the first 9th hour (i.e. 3PM) office. I intend to write a prayerful reflection on something in the office, but for the first type of each office I'd also like to make some remarks.

Hootomo - the Concluding Prayers of An Office

The Hootomo, or conclusion, is the very last part of the office. This is said at the conclusion of every office. One thing that the version I translated makes clear is that the Syriac offices were written to be prayed in community with at least one priest.

Pre-Office Uploaded

So the first item to be downloaded is the pre-office. The link can be found at the end of this post or in the tab marked above as 'Office Texts.' Anyway, the prayers said in preparation for an office should seem more or less familiar to most Christians, especially those of the East.

Office Structure

So to anyone liturgically interested, I'm sure the question of what a traditional office actually looks like comes to mind. If anyone has seen the structure of the office book "Prayer of the Faithful" published by the Eparchy of Brooklyn, the prayer structure is vaguely correct, although modified to look more like a Latin office. It should also be noted that in keeping with our Semitic heritage, the liturgical cycle begins with evening prayer.

Hello!

So I'm excited to begin this blog. I won't bore my nonexistent (at least not yet!) blog readers with repeating the information in the 'About' section. At the present moment starting this blog, I have about a dozen offices complete and another dozen that are underway being translated so I hope to start downloading the finished one's soon.

Our Lord, accept our service, our prayers, come to our aid and have mercy on us!