This volume is a Book of Needs for the various Western rite clergy and communities of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. It represents the older form of doing Western rite which prevailed prior to the Protestant Reformation, translated into English from Latin manuscripts. Thus the book represents a unique contribution to the Western Rite in our times. Many instructions and services in this book have never appeared in print for Western Rite Orthodox use, and it is the most comprehensive of any Western Rite publication for the occasional sacraments and services. Another unique feature is a series of service outlines which help the reader grasp the essential structure of various Western rite services, as well as the significant role of the deacon in these services. (An important role for the deacon is characteristic of pre-Reformation Western Rite services.) The pictorial glossary, exhaustive notes for conducting various sacraments, tables of permissible degrees of kinship for marriages, and musical notation for many items, as well as the complete index, make this a rare and valuable resource. Hardcover, with sturdy paper and beautiful red and black printing. 200 pages, 8.5 x 11 (large size). A word to the wise: half of this printing has already sold.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Roman Rite, and a Liturgical Glossary 1
Conduct of Clergy 2
Ritual Notes 5
Service Outlines 6
Pictorial Glossary 8
Prayer for Fruitfulness 9
Blessing of an Unborn Child 10
Blessing of a Woman in Labor 11
Blessing of a New Mother 13
Churching 14
Holy Baptism
Preliminary Remarks 17
Order of the Catechumenate 18
Christening 22
Confirmation 29
Blessing of Holy Oil 31
Chrismation of One Returning 32
Clinical Baptism 34
For a Polluted Font, and More on Baptism 35
Sacrament of Confession 36
Preamble and Preparation 36
Order of Confession 37
Regarding Confession, and the Questions 38
Removal from Excommunication 46
Reconciliation of an Apostate 46
Reconciliation of a Dying Penitent 49
Table Blessings 50
Service for Travelers 56
Prayer at Journey’s End 59
Holy Matrimony
Preliminary Remarks 60
Betrothals 62
Nuptial Mass 65
Blessing of the Bed 69
Visitation of the Sick 70
Holy Unction
Preliminary Remarks 74
Mass for the Sick 74
Rite of Unction 75
Blessing of Sackcloth 89
First Commendation (in the hour of death) 90
To Aid the Dying 93
Schema of Services for the Departed 93
Second Commendation (at death) 94
Reception at Church 103
Third Commendation (daily) 105
Burial of the Dead
Absolutions 111
Graveside 113
Return to Church 122
Visitation of the Grave (panikhida) 123
Blessing of Vestments, Vessels, Candles, Linen 126
Blessing of Books and of Anything 133
Blessings Throughout the Year
Jan. 6, Major Blessing of Waters 134
Feb. 2, Blessing of Lights 142
Feb. 3, St. Blaise Tapers 143
Ash Wednesday, Rite of Ashes 143
Ash Wednesday, Ejection of Penitents 149
First Sunday in Lent, the Commination 150
Easter, Blessing of Foods 151
May 1, Blessing of Boats 152
June 24, Blessing of Herbs 153
July 25, Blessing of Apples 153
Aug. 6, Blessing of Grapes 154
Start of School Year, Blessing of Children 154
Start of School Year, Prayer over a Student 155
Sept. 29, Blessing of Incense 155
Prayers for the Eyes 156
Prayer Against Epilepsy 157
Blessing Against Fevers 158
Blessing of a Field Cross 158
Blessing of a Neck Cross 161
Greater Blessing of an Image 161
Blessing of an Image of St. Mary 162
Lesser Blessing of an Image 165
Blessing of a Belt of St. Mary 165
Blessing of and Prayer for Soldiers 166
Blessing of a City Under Siege 166
Blessing of Any City 167
Exorcism Against a Demon 167
Bidding-Prayer Announcements 170
Blessing of Bread after Mass 171
Blessing of First-Fruits and Fields 172
Blessing of an Orchard, Garden, Vineyard 173
Blessing of Apples 173
Blessing of a Harvest 174
Blessing of a Well 174
Blessing of a House 174
Blessing of a Vehicle 176
Prayers Against Bad Weather 176
Blessings for the Poor and Strangers 179
For Animals 180
For the Hebdomadary, and Order for a Dean 182
Order of Admission to a Brotherhood 185
Appendix A: Exhortations to the Dying 186
Appendix B: Blessing of Oil of the Sick 188
Appendix C: Usual Blessing of Holy Water 188
Appendix D: Preces-tone 189
Index 190
About the Author:
Hieromonk Aiden Keller, a monk of St. Demetrios Skete in Spotsylvania VA, has completed several monumental works of scholarship and continue to offer his services to the Church in his translation and compilation of Orthodox texts primarily from the Western half of the Orthodox world.