Book of Needs of the Holy Orthodox Church
9781465681638
213 pages
Library of Alexandria
Overview
Antidoron. That which remains of a Prosphora (loaf of oblation) after the portion for consecration has been cut from it. This remainder is given to communicants (together with wine and warm water) immediately after the holy sacrament, and is also distributed to those of the congregation who are not communicants at the end of the Liturgy instead of the holy gifts themselves, and, for that reason, it is calledAntidoron. In the primitive church its distribution was known under the term Agape, i.e., Love-feast. Axios. Worthy. An exclamation, referring to the candidates, used at ordinations. Canon. An ecclesiastical composition, commemorative of any given festival or occasion, consisting of nine spiritual songs, according to the number of the degrees of the incorporeal hosts, based upon these nine scriptural odes, or prayers, I. The song of Moses in Exodus (chap. xv. 1-19). II. The song of Moses in Deuteronomy (chap. xxxii. 1-43). This song, being indicative of God’s judgment against sinners, is sung only in penitential seasons, hence a Canon usually lacks the second Ode, the third following immediately on the first. III. The prayer of Anna (1 Kings ii. 1-10). IV. The prayer of Abbacum (chap. iii. 2 ad fin.). V. The prayer of Esaias (chap. xxvi. 9-20). VI. The prayer of Jonas (chap. ii. 2-9). VII. The prayer of the Three Children (Daniel iii). VIII. The song of the same (Benedicite). IX. The song of Zacharias (Benedictus), preceded by that of the Virgin (Magnificat). Every Ode in a Canon is preceded by a verse called Irmos, itself being the rhythmical model of the verses that follow, which are called Troparia, because they turn upon a model. The Irmos however is frequently omitted, or is sung only before Odes iii, vi, and ix (as also after these). A refrain pervades all the Odes. The refrains for the Canons are not expressed in the text, but these are respectively, “Have mercy upon me, O God, have mercy upon me,” and, “Rest, O Lord, thy sleeping servant’s soul.” The refrain is sung or said between every verse except the last two, “Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost,” being prefixed to the last but one, and “Both now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen” to the last, which last is always addressed to the God-bearing Virgin. Sometimes, e.g., in penitential seasons, the verses of the Odes are sung together with those of their scriptural prototypes, and the rubric then indicates to how many of these verses, counting backwards from the last, the ecclesiastically composed ones are to be subjoined. Thus at page 128 the Canon is directed to be sung to vi, i.e., six verses (counting backwards) of the scriptural prototype in each Ode; but in this case, if so sung, the refrain would be omitted. A Canon is moreover usually divided into three parts, the division taking place after the third and sixth Odes, a verse called Kathisma, or one called Hypacoë, frequently occurring after Ode iii, and one called Condakion, followed by one or more called Icos (pl. Icosi) after Ode vi. Sometimes an epistle and gospel lection occurs after the Condakion and Icos. Finally, it is to be remarked that an Ectenia (q. v.) usually follows Ode iii (before the Kathisma), Ode vi (before the Condakion and Icos), and Ode ix.
