Typica
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The term Typica may be used among Orthodox Christians with two distinct meanings: (a) a description of the fact that within the Church there are a variety of liturgical practices, and (b) a specific service that is read on days when the Divine Liturgy is not celebrated.
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[edit] Variety of Liturgical Practices
- main article:Typicon
The Eastern Orthodox Church has the belief that all Orthodox Christians, regardless of jurisdiction, are united in the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. At the same time each bishop functions independently within his “See”. In the early Church, communication between churches took time and comparisons were rare. And so in natural process small differences in how and when certain services were to be carried out developed. These differences are called by the Orthodox Church, “Typica”, referring to the local style. These sorts of differences are completely acceptable as they accomplish the same end. An example: While the rest of the church celebrates the Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom every Sunday morning, The Patriarch of Jerusalem celebrates the Divine Liturgy of St. James (first bishop of Jerusalem). These differences do not cause dispute as they are accepted and, for the most part, are so minor one hardly notices. There are notable differences between Greek and Russian practices.
[edit] Liturgical Service
The liturgical service known as the Typica (Slavonic: Ezobrazítelniya, Obednitsa) is appointed to be read whenever the Liturgy is not celebrated.[1] This may be either because, (a) the Typicon does not permit the celebration of the Liturgy (as occurs on weekdays during Great Lent),[2] or (b) the priest for any reason is disqualified from celebrating the Liturgy.[3] The Typica is rarely read in Greek churches (aside from Monasteries), but it is relatively common in Slavic churches. The Holy Doors usually remain closed for the Typica, but the Curtain is opened.
The name "Typica" refers to the "Typical Psalms" (Psalm 102, Psalm 145, and the Beatitudes), which typically serve as the Antiphons at the Divine Liturgy (on simple days and Feasts of the Lord, they are replaced with special Antiphons). Essentially, the Typica involves the psalms and prayers of the Divine Liturgy which are not related to the Mystery of Holy Communion.
The Typica may be read publicly in the church, or it may be read privately at home. Often in missions, where there is no priest permanently assigned to serve the parish, the Typica will be said on Sundays in place of the Liturgy.
Normally, the Typica is read after the Third and Sixth Hours (in the place where the Liturgy would normally be celebrated). During Great Lent the Ninth Hour is inserted before Typica, and the format of the Typica changes.
During the reading of the Typica, Troparia may be inserted between the verses of the Beatitudes, as during the Divine Liturgy. However,during Great Lent this is not done; instead, the Beatitudes are chanted by the choir and between each verse they chant "Remember us, O Lord, when Thou comest into Thy kingdom." Also, during Lent, Psalm 102 and Psalm 145 are omitted; and, as is typical of Lenten services, the Typica will contain the Prayer of St. Ephraim.
The Typica is also read as part of the Royal Hours on the Eve of Nativity, the Eve of Theophany, and on Great Friday (in these instances also, the Typica is read after the Ninth Hour).
[edit] Notes
- ^ There is a certain similarity in concept between the Typica and the Missa Sicca of the medieval Roman Catholic Church.
- ^ During the lesser Fasts also, on weekdays on which there is only a simple commemoration in the Menaion, the Typica may be served instead of Liturgy, at the discretion of the Pastor.
- ^ This disqualification may occur for any number of reasons: an emergency beyond his control may have prevented him from preparing according to the Rule for Holy Communion, he may have suffered an injury which would not permit him to enter the Sanctuary, etc.
