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Publications of the Metropolitan Cantor Institute

Publications for use throughout the year

• The Order of Vespers for Sundays after Pentecost (July 2005, 126 pages; PDF)
  Text and music for Great Vespers, to be sung on the eves of Sundays and feasts. In addition to the ordinary parts of the service, it contains stichera in all eight tones for the Lamplighting Psalms and apostichera, as well as weekday prokeimena and common litija texts for use on vigils. (Proper stichera for use with this volume are provided on the Metropolitan Cantor Institute website for each Sunday and major feast.)

  Father David Petras of Saints Cyril and Methodius Byzantine Catholic Seminary in Pittsburgh as provided us with the priest's parts of Great Vespers, including the Prayers of Light, rubrics for Litija and distribution of blessed bread, and common dismissals. This document can be downloaded in either Microsoft Word or Rich Text Format (RTF).
  

• The Order of Daily Vespers (June 2007, 354 pages, PDF)  
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  Text and music for Daily Vespers.  Includes variations for minor fasts;  weekday propers (from the Great Octoechos) in all eight tones;  the common vespers hymns for classes of saints (one apostle, two or more apostles, and so on);  the dismissal theotokia;  and the Prayers of Light.
  
  
• The Office of Great Compline (January 2006, 38 pages; PDF)
  Text and music for the common parts of the service of Great Compline, as sung on the eves of certain great feasts.
  
  
• The Office of Small Compline (June 2006, 18 pages; PDF)
  Text and music for the common parts of the service of Small Compline.  (This particular booklet was prepared for use at Ss. Cyril and Methodius Byzantine Catholic Seminary;  in other churches, replace the hymns to Ss. Cyril and Methodius with patronal hymns of the church.)


• The Order of Matins on Sundays - Volume One: Sundays after Pentecost (August 2006,  pages; PDF)
  Full text and music for Sunday Matins, including the Sunday Octoechos and the eleven Resurrectional Gospels. The Resurrectional Canon is given in full, with katavasia from the Canon to the Theotokos in Tone 4.
  
  
• The Order of the Third Hour (February 2007, 23 pages; PDF)
  Text and music for the Third Hour.  This setting does not include the Lenten or Bright Week versions of the hour; instead, it is intended for those parishes that celebrate the Third Hour before the Divine Liturgy.


• Cantor Verses (Prypivy) in the Eight Tones for Vespers and Matins (September 2005, 65 pages; PDF)
  Notated cantor verses in all eight tones for (1) the Lamplighting Psalms, and Sunday and weekday aposticha at Vespers, and (2) the Psalms of Praise, and Sunday and weekday aposticha at Matins.  Also contains Glory / Now and ever in all eight tones for singing with troparia.
  
  
• Moleben for Jesus, the Lover of Mankind (2005, 17 pages; PDF)
  Text and music for a prayer service to our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
  
  
• The Akathist Hymn to the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary (August 2007, 26 pages; PDF)  
  Text and music for the most famous Byzantine Rite hymn to the Mother of God. (A harmonization for SATB choir is also available.)
  
  
• The Paraklesis (Office of Consolation to the Mother of God) (July 2007, 39 pages; PDF)
  Text and music for the Paraklesis, including the Canon with troparia. This service is traditionally celebrated on the days of the Dormition Fast (August 1-14), as well as throughout the year.
  
  
• Moleben of Thanksgiving (2007, 23 pages; PDF)
  Text and music for a service of thanksgiving to be used on any occasion. Includes the Thanksgiving Hymn (Te Deum), set to a traditional prostopinije melody.
  
  
• The Byzantine Monthly Menaion
  
  Volume 1: September (94 pages; PDF)
  Volume 2: October (86 pages; PDF)
  Volume 3: November (88 pages; PDF)
  Volume 4: December (91 pages; PDF)
  Volume 5: January (92 pages; PDF)
  Volume 6: February (67 pages; PDF)
  Volume 7: March (56 pages; PDF)
  Volume 8: April (72 pages; PDF)
  Volume 9: May (73 pages; PDF)
  Volume 10: June (82 pages; PDF)
  Volume 11: July  (92 pages; PDF)
  Volume 12: August  (92 pages; PDF)
  Contains the synaxarion (names of the saints and events commorated on each day, with brief explanations), together with the troparia, kontakia, prokeimena, and communion hymns assigned to each day in the calendar.  

Publications for Feasts and Minor Fasts

• Emmanuel Moleben: A service of prayer for the Christmas Fast (November 2007, 20 pages; PDF)
  Text and music for a moleben to be sung between November 14 and December 24, in preparation for the feast of the Nativity. Also available: a supplement for cantor and clergy, and harmonizations of the exaltations and praises for SATB choir.
  
  
• Byzantine Catholic Hymnal for Nativity and Theophany (2007, 20 pages; PDF)
  Traditional spiritual songs for the winter feasts, in English and Slavonic, with a Selection of English Christmas carols.
  
  
• Office of Readings for the Vigil of Christmas (2007, 37 pages; PDF)
  Complete text and music for a shortened form of the Royal Hours of the Nativity, to be sung on December 24 (or on the previous Friday, if December 24 falls on Saturday or Sunday).
  
  
• Vigil Divine Liturgy for the Nativity (version A; 2007, 53 pages; PDF)
  Complete text and music for Vespers with Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil, on the eve of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas). Uses Set A (Mukačevo) melodies from the Divine Liturgies book.
  
  
• Vigil Divine Liturgy for the Nativity (version B; 2007, 53 pages; PDF)
  Complete text and music for Vespers with Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil, on the eve of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas). Uses Set B (Prešov) melodies from the Divine Liturgies book.
  
  
• Office of Readings for the Vigil of Theophany (2007, 35 pages; PDF)
  Complete text and music for a shortened form of the Royal Hours of the Nativity, to be sung on January 5 (or on the previous Friday, if January 5 falls on Saturday or Sunday).
  
  
• Vigil Divine Liturgy for the Theophany (version A; 2007, 63 pages; PDF)
  Complete text and music for Vespers with Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil, on the eve of the Theophany. Uses Set A (Mukačevo) melodies from the Divine Liturgies book, and includes the Great Blessing of Water.
  
  
• Vigil Divine Liturgy for the Nativity (version B; 2007, 63 pages; PDF)
  Complete text and music for Vespers with Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil, on the eve of the Theophany. Uses Set B (Prešov) melodies from the Divine Liturgies book, and includes the Great Blessing of Water.
• The Great Blessing of Water (December 2007, 15 pages; PDF)
  Text and music for the solemn blessing of water on the feast of Theophany (January 6).

Publications for the Great Fast

• The Order of Vespers for the Sunday of Forgiveness (Cheesefare Sunday) (2008, 26 pages; PDF)
  Text and music for the service of Vespers on the afternoon of Cheesefare Sunday - the service which marks the start of the Great Fast. Annual supplements are issued which provide the saints' stichera for each year.
  
  
• The Order of Sunday Vespers on Sunday Afternoons in the Great Fast (2007, 85 pages; PDF)
  Text and music for the ordinary parts for Sunday afternoon Vespers during the Great Fast.  Contains propers for all of the eight tones (Stichera of Repentance), as well as the "fixed stichera" for each of the Sundays from Cheesefare to the Fifth Sunday in the Great Fast, and the Ceremony of Forgiveness for Cheesfare Sunday. Annual supplements are issued which provide the saints' stichera for each year.


• Daily Matins on Days of Alleluia (2005, 85 pages; PDF)
  Complete structure of the service (text and music), as well as the Hymns to the Trinity and the Hymns of Light in all eight tones, and the Scriptural canticles.  Does not include daily propers;  these can be found in the Basilian Lenten Triodion.


• Terce-Sext: The Midday Office of the Great Fast (2005, 55 pages; PDF)
  The combined Third and Sixth Hours, to be sung as a morning or noonday service during the Great Fast. Contains all daily propers (except Scriptural readings, for which the proper references are provided).
  
  
• The Paraklesis during the Great Fast (February 2005, 41 pages; PDF)
  Text and music for the Paraklesis to the Mother of God, including the Canon with troparia. The text and responses use the melodies for the Great Fast.
  
  
• Moleben to the Precious and Life-Giving Cross (January 2008, 20 pages; PDF)
  Text and music for a traditional Lenten devotion.


• Matins for Thursday in the Fifth Week of the Great Fast, with the Great Canon of Saint Andrew of Crete (2005, 101 pages; PDF)
  The service of Matins, together with the entire penitential canon, and the Hymns to the Trinity and Hymns of Light in all eight tones. (Only one of the Six Psalms are given, and the 18th Kathisma of the Psalter, the Life of St. Mary of Egypt, and the three-canticled canons to the Apostles are omitted; the service is otherwise complete.) All text is provided with music, or pointed for chanting.

Publications for Great and Holy Week

• The Divine Liturgy for Palm Sunday (2008, 32 pages; PDF)
  Text and music for the Divine Liturgy, including the Blessing of Palms.
  
  
• The Blessing of Palms on Palm Sunday (2009, 4 pages; PDF)  -- NEW --
  Text and music for the service of Vespers on the afternoon of Palm Sunday.
  
  
• The Order of Vespers for the Evening of Palm Sunday (2008, 32 pages; PDF)
  Text and music for the service of Vespers on the afternoon of Palm Sunday.
  
  
• Bridegroom Matins: The Morning Service for the First Three Days of Great and Holy Week (2005, 69 pages; PDF)
  Text and music for the service of Matins on Great Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.  
  
  
• Vespers with Divine Liturgy for Great and Holy Thursday (2009, 56 pages; PDF)  -- NEW --
  Text and music for the service of Vespers and Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great. Includes both sets of Basil melodies, and additional hymns for Holy Communion in English and Slavonic.  
  
  
• Great and Holy Friday: The Entombment Vespers (2007, 44 pages; PDF)
  Text and music for the service of Vespers on Great and Holy Friday.  
  
  
• Matins for Great and Holy Saturday (2009, 76 pages; PDF)  -- NEW --
  Text and music for the service of Matins on Great and Holy Saturday, including the funeral hymns for the Lord.
   
• Vespers with Divine Liturgy for Great and Holy Saturday (2009, 56 pages; PDF)  -- NEW --
  Text and music for the service of Vespers and Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great on the eve of Pascha. Includes the stichera for Great and Holy Saturday, the order of readings (but not the texts of the readings), the hymns of Great Saturday, and both sets of Basil melodies.  
  
  
• Midnight Office of Pascha (2009, 24 pages; PDF)  -- NEW --
  Text and music for the short (20-30 minute) traditional service "at the tomb" which precedes Paschal Matins.

Publications for the Paschal Season

• Matins of the Resurrection (Paschal Matins) (2009, 56 pages; PDF)  -- NEW --
  Text and music for the Resurrection service on Pascha (Easter Sunday). Includes blessing of Paschal foods.
  
  
• The Paschal Hours (2009, 8 pages; PDF)  -- NEW --
  Text and music for the short service (entirely sung) which replaces the First, Third, Sixth and Night Hours on Pascha and during Bright Week.
  
  
• Vespers on the Evening of Pascha and during Bright Week (2009, 55 pages; PDF)  -- NEW --
  Text and music for the afternoon service on the Sunday of Pascha.
   
• The Order of Vespers on Saturdays from Thomas Sunday to the Leave-taking of Pascha (2007, 32 pages; PDF)
  Text and music for Saturday evening Vespers between Pascha and the feast of the Ascensions. Proper stichera for each day are available as leaflets.
  
  
• Vespers of the Day of the Holy Spirit (2007, 40 pages; PDF)
  Text and music for the afternoon service on the Sunday of Pentecost; includes the kneeling prayers.

Guidelines for Metropolitan Cantor Institute Publications

The publications of the Metropolitan Cantor Institute are prepared for the use of the faithful of the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh, and may be downloaded and copied for personal or parish use.