Psalter and/or Prayer Book?

laconicstudent · Mar 29, 2010

This may seem a little rudimentary, but what exactly are the Psalter and prayer book? I have a Book of Common Prayer by the Episcopalian Church, and I know kind of vaguely that the Orthodox Church is supposed to have something similar. And I kind of want one I think. But I have no idea precisely what they are, what they are for or how to go shopping for one that is reasonably priced, comprehensive and easy for someone new to it.

All I know is that there are two different versions of the prayerbook that are widely used.

Etsi · Mar 29, 2010

I have several Psalters (none from an Orthodox source though). I have the Psalms for Singing, The Scottish Metrical Psalter, and one other that I'm not thrilled with because it's more of a hymnal than a Psalter.

A Psalter is a book of Psalms that are put to metre to be sung (or chanted in the EO?).

The Book of Common Prayer is a prayer book. The EO has quite a few, including some for children. They are just prayers that can be read for various situations or meditation. Try starting here http://www.light-n-life.com/shopping/search_keyword.asp?PageName=search_keyword

laconicstudent · Mar 29, 2010

Thanks Etsi, I bookmarked that site and will look around on it

prodromos · Mar 29, 2010

An English translation of the Psalms from the Septuagint
POMOG - Protection of the Mother of God Church, Rochester NY

I've also bought the book volume.

John

Thekla · Mar 29, 2010

prodromos said:
An English translation of the Psalms from the Septuagint
POMOG - Protection of the Mother of God Church, Rochester NY

I've also bought the book volume.

John

Me too

It is lovely for prayers as there are no verse #s

laconicstudent · Mar 30, 2010

Aha! I found this:

A Listing of Suggested Prayer Books

I suppose I should explain kind of why I'm doing this. I am trying to sort of start praying the prayers of the day/at least more regularly, and while I suppose some can do that with computers and the internet, I've never been able to read/study from a computer screen very well.

I hope that makes sense to anyone else. It kind of barely does for me. I just would rather pray and do devotions from a book rather then a website and have the freedom to do it throughout the day.

And it looks like the two "main" prayer books are the Jordanville by Holy Trinity Monastery, and the Prayer Book for Orthodox Christians from Holy Transfiguration Monastery.

The fact that my purchase could support one of the holy brotherhoods also makes me happy.

The only difference between them that I can is that the Jordanville is kind of rooted in the Russian culture/traditions whereas the Prayer Book for Orthodox Christians is more Greek.

Can anyone comment on this? The difference between the Jordanville Prayer Book and the Prayer Book for Orthodox Christians? I'm sorry if I'm being confusing, which I feel that I am.

Prayer book - OrthodoxWiki

Oh. Given the above I'm leaning towards the Jordanville Prayer Book.... For no particular reasons other then the two parishes I would regularly attend, at home or while in school, while both OCA, tend to be fairly "Russian", if that makes any sense.

ikonographics · Mar 30, 2010

Check out the Dynamic Psalter and Horologion

Anhelyna · Mar 30, 2010

I personally am very fond of the Old Orthodox Prayer Book [ actually I prefer it to the Jordanville one ]

The Old Orthodox one is the one that goes with me when I travel .

Psalter - well again mine is Orthodox - has the approval of the Canadian OCA. This is utterly 'chantable ' and beautifully laid out for use - even this idiot has no problem in its use

Actually - this really is an " Ask your priest " question - he would tell you which prayer book he would prefer you to use .

OOPS forgot to give the name of the Psalter - 'Psalter according to the Seventy'

-Kyriaki- · Mar 30, 2010

Ask your priest. If he doesn't care, pick one HTM isn't actually canonical, fwiw, but their translations are lovely (as long as you don't mind thees and thous). I use their prayer book and psalter and love them.

xuxana · Mar 31, 2010

i have the jordanville prayer book. that along with my bible is all i really need for personal devotions.

SeraphimSarov · Apr 1, 2010

Never been to a parish that doesn't use the HTM Psalter for chanting purposes. It pretty much pwns anything else out there.

By the way, the entire Jordanville online... Myriobiblos -Orthodox Prayer Book

E.C. · Apr 1, 2010

I have the HTM pocket Psalter, the Jordanville book, an old pre-autocephaly OCA book with English and Slavonic and finally the Little Red Book by the Antiochians.

The ones I actually use are the HTM pocket Psalter and the Little Red Book. The others were gifts, but seem to be cemented on the shelf in my icon corner.

Oh. Given the above I'm leaning towards the Jordanville Prayer Book.... For no particular reasons other then the two parishes I would regularly attend, at home or while in school, while both OCA, tend to be fairly "Russian", if that makes any sense.

laconicstudent, out of curiosity which two? I know St. Spyridon's still retains a good Russian base, but I can't seem to think of another OCA parish in Washington that does

SeraphimSarov · Apr 1, 2010

Anhelyna said:
I personally am very fond of the Old Orthodox Prayer Book [ actually I prefer it to the Jordanville one ]

Oooh, I missed this. I am of one mind with you. The Old Orthodox Prayer Book rules.

laconicstudent · Apr 2, 2010

E.C. said:
laconicstudent, out of curiosity which two? I know St. Spyridon's still retains a good Russian base, but I can't seem to think of another OCA parish in Washington that does

St. Katherine's. I actually have no idea if its particularly "Russian", per se. I just knew it was OCA.

Why did I say that it tends to be fairly Russian? Oh, I posted that at almost 2 AM. That explains much.

SeraphimSarov · Apr 2, 2010

laconicstudent said:
Oh, I posted that at almost 2 AM. That explains much.

Pffft, in my little world, that's still early in the evening.

laconicstudent · Apr 3, 2010

SeraphimSarov said:
Pffft, in my little world, that's still early in the evening.

Lol usually for me too, but I was more tired then usual I suppose. And I tend to ramble. Anyways. I suppose everyone who says its an ask-your-priest is right. Something to do at 3 AM after the Paschal Liturgy. :o

Psalter and/or Prayer Book?

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