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.


In general, a Maronite office begins (following the pre-office prayers of course) with a prayer that sets the theological theme of the entire office, and usually very cleverly introduced relating it to the time of day the office is said. For example, the Sootoro office (Compline) of Sunday begins with "In You, Lord, we lay down and sleep this night that You have given to us of Your goodness."The introductory prayer is followed by the Syriac equivalent of the Gloria in longer offices, such as Ramsho, Lilyo and Safro (Vespers, Matins and Prime) and by Psalm 51 in shorter offices (the other four).

Dependent upon whether or not, again, it is a larger or smaller office, a qolo (i.e. a hymn) will or will not follow. The qolo was traditionally performed antiphonally and, as you will see when texts are uploaded, rotates psalmic verses with verses of the hymn (one of the 1970's "modifications" that have been done to our offices is the separating of psalms and verses). Depending on the length of the office, there are multiple sets of prayers followed by qole (pl. of qolo). Additionally, longer offices have their particular hymnal additions, such as Lilyo and Ramsho each have a sooghito, which is a hymn in dialogue form with verses listed oleph through tau (i.e. alphabetically), and Safro has its first qolo verses alternated with the Virgin Mary's Magnificat.

While I could go into detail of every single office structure, it might be a bit tedious to read so I'll conclude with saying two more things: first, the major piece of an office (the crowning jewel, in my opinion) is the hoosoyo. This is a liturgical prayer unique to the West Syriac tradition - for starters, it means "forgiveness." It is an offering of incense themed around a theological concept and divided into four parts. The proemion introduces whatever will be prayed about in a doxological fashion; for instance, for the hoosoyo of martyrs for Monday's office of Lilyo (Matins), the proemion is:

• May we be worthy to raise glory, thanksgiving, worship, honor, praise, exaltation, greatness and beauty to Him, He who is the Comforter of the diligent who are despised and Crowner of the strong struggler; to Him, He who is the Magnifier of the noble martyrs and Exalter of the brave victors; to Him, He who is the Receiver of those whose pure blood has been shed and Endower of those who keep true memorials holy; to Him, He who is the Awarder of those who justly do righteous labors and Giver of Blessings to those who fight to be on the upright path. To the Good One is due glory and honor, at this time and in all feasts, moments, hours, seasons and days of our lives, now and in all ages, forever.

The prayer that follows the proemion is the sedro, which it's name suggests in Syriac is a list - a list of petitions related to the theological theme. Another qolo follows the sedro and reinforces the general theme. Finally, the etro is prayed: etro is the Syriac word for the smoke form of incense and it is a plead to God to accept our humble offering. 

All office propers conclude with a bo'oto written by either Mor (St.) Ephrem or Mor Jacob. They're much like a sedro except they have a set melody. If it is a small office, this usually follows immediately after the hoosoyo. The larger offices have more prayers in between, and Lilyo, the longest office, has four qawme (watches or stations, like those of a night sentinel) each of which are comprised of hoosoye and different prayers.

Finally, every office is to be concluded with the hootomo (straightforward, it means conclusion). It commemorates all our hierarchs (Pope, Patriarch and local bishop) as well as all believers, departed and alive.

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