Learning Greek

[Brighid]

My daughter and I would like to learn the type of Greek which is used during services at the Greek monastery.

I have heard that multiple types may be used in the services (maybe one type for chanting and another for the liturgy?). Does anyone know if this is true, and if so, what types are used?

I also have heard that the pronunciation given in modern lessons is not what is used in services, so I'd like to make sure that we learn the right one.

If anyone has links or resources to share, (preferably free) that would be great, too!
Would Biblical Greek lessons be a good place to start?
Thanks!

 

[ArmyMatt]

you might wanna talk to the folks at Holy Cross Seminary in Massachusetts. being the Greek seminary they might have resources for you.

 

[Brighid]

you might wanna talk to the folks at Holy Cross Seminary in Massachusetts. being the Greek seminary they might have resources for you.

Thank you, Fr. Matt!

 

[Phronema]

My understanding is that Koine Greek is used exclusively for the Divine Liturgy, and the chanting alike.

I'd recommend Duolingo as a free app for Android and iPhone, but it does teach modern Greek. I've been told that it's easier to learn modern Greek first, and then learn Koine Greek. I'm sure there are others who have more, and better information than I do though on the subject.

 

[ArmyMatt]

Thank you, Fr. Matt!

no probs!

 

[Brighid]

My understanding is that Koine Greek is used exclusively for the Divine Liturgy, and the chanting alike.

I'd recommend Duolingo as a free app for Android and iPhone, but it does teach modern Greek. I've been told that it's easier to learn modern Greek first, and then learn Koine Greek. I'm sure there are others who have more, and better information than I do though on the subject.

Thank you!

 

[prodromos]

Pronunciation of Koine Greek in the Liturgy is exactly the same as Modern Greek. Don't waste time with any Greek course which tries to recreate the historical pronunciation of Ancient Greek with all its "breathings" etc as it won't help you in the Liturgy.
As a place to get started

Learning Greek - 1

They have a large anthology of Greek texts online, including the Septuagint Old Testament (parallel English translation) to help build vocabulary and become more familiar with Greek.

 

[tapi]

I would say, don't waste your time with any parish/monastery which still uses a foreign language as the primary liturgical language after being 50+ years in a non-Greek (or Slavonic or any other language) speaking country. It goes against the Orthodox Ethos in a major way, even if it is sadly way too common.

 

[Brighid]

Pronunciation of Koine Greek in the Liturgy is exactly the same as Modern Greek. Don't waste time with any Greek course which tries to recreate the historical pronunciation of Ancient Greek with all its "breathings" etc as it won't help you in the Liturgy.
As a place to get started

Learning Greek - 1

They have a large anthology of Greek texts online, including the Septuagint Old Testament (parallel English translation) to help build vocabulary and become more familiar with Greek.

Thank you!!!

 

[Brighid]

I would say, don't waste your time with any parish/monastery which still uses a foreign language as the primary liturgical language after being 50+ years in a non-Greek (or Slavonic or any other language) speaking country. It goes against the Orthodox Ethos in a major way, even if it is sadly way too common.

Thanks, I appreciate what you're saying.
In fairness to the monastery, they choose to use Greek and are kind enough to allow pilgrims to join them for their services. They aren't a parish. I do belong to an English-speaking parish, but when my parish was closed due to "covid", the monastery was the only place to go and I appreciate the Fathers and the services there very much. Even still, my parish holds some services where masks are required and the only alternative is the monastery.
I just want to understand what is going on as much as possible. I also would love to learn Greek in order to read scripture in the original language and other Orthodox works.

 

[prodromos]

I would say, don't waste your time with any parish/monastery which still uses a foreign language as the primary liturgical language after being 50+ years in a non-Greek (or Slavonic or any other language) speaking country. It goes against the Orthodox Ethos in a major way, even if it is sadly way too common.

She won't be wasting her time. Maintaining the traditional languages are an important anchor in the Church. Part of the reason the West went off the theological rails is because their hierarchs could no longer read Greek.

 

[tapi]

She won't be wasting her time. Maintaining the traditional languages are an important anchor in the Church. Part of the reason the West went off the theological rails is because their hierarchs could no longer read Greek.

Saints Cyril and Methodios certainly did not feel that way when they undertook the mission of bringing the Holy Faith to the Slavs and went as far as to translate the Bible and the liturgical texts from Greek and in doing so created the written form now known as Church Slavonic to enable the people to understand the Bible and the services. Each language is perfectly capable of expressing the truth of Orthodoxy and we should not maintain models which inhibit the the faithful from understanding the wealth of Truth expressed in the liturgical texts much less in the Holy Gospel.

Furthermore we are not talking about hierarchs here, nor living in the context of the great schism. So with all due respect I find your view rather silly.

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

Father Matt only speaks English, Baachi, and Sullest. No Greek...

no probs!

 

[Anhelyna]

OK - I'll chime in here a bit from my own experience.

I , as most know , was originally a Ukrainian Greek Catholic in a Parish that was Ukrainian usage. I spoke no Ukrainian , didn't understand it but with the help of my GodPapa learnt to sing liturgy in Ukrainian to the extent that when I was visiting another parish [ not in the UK ] the priest's mother turned to him at lunch afterwards and said , in Ukrainian as she had no English, " I though you said she had no Ukrainian - she does !" The whole table fell apart laughing as stuff/conversations were always translated for me.

I did try to learn Ukrainian but found I really needed to be speaking it every day to get some facility in the language and that was not possible.

I used a bilingual copy of Liturgy which my GodPapa prepared for me - in 2 side by side Columns and everything very carefully lined up. Oh- and I read in Cyrillic not a transliteration.

To me the really important thing is understanding the prayers of the Liturgy.

My parish now is mainly [ 98%] English usage - but at times , depending who is present , you will hear Greek , Russian [ modern], Slavonic, Arabic, Norwegian, Dutch and, yes even Ukrainian.

 

[ArmyMatt]

Father Matt only speaks English, Baachi, and Sullest. No Greek...

yeah, but I don't remember Baachi. if you don't use it, you lose it.

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

As long as you’re good with moisture vaporator lingo, you’re fine.

yeah, but I don't remember Baachi. if you don't use it, you lose it.

 

[ArmyMatt]

As long as you’re good with moisture vaporator lingo, you’re fine.

I am.

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

Just refrain from using “ee choo tah” during the fast.

I am.

 

[ArmyMatt]

will do

 

[Nick1000]

Each language is perfectly capable of expressing the truth of Orthodoxy and we should not maintain models which inhibit the the faithful from understanding the wealth of Truth expressed in the liturgical texts much less in the Holy Gospel.

Thus, the early Russian Orthodox priests in Alaska translated Orthodox services into the several native languages very early on.