There have been two or three previous translations, from the Greek or Slavonic, of portions of these services, by other persons than myself. But in practice they have proved unsatisfactory, either in language or arrangement or both, or because neither singly nor combined do they furnish the services in that completeness which is imperatively necessary. My aim has been to remedy these defects.
A list of the service books which have entered into the composition of my volume will afford some idea of the difficulties of the problem.
(i) The Sluzhébnik, or Service Book, which contains most of the fixed portions of the Liturgies of St. John Chrysostom and St. Basil the Great, and of the Presanctified Gifts ; also the Litanies and Prayers of Vespers and Matins, together with the Graduals and Benedictions appropriate to all occasions. This is used by the Priest and the Choir.
(2) The Tchásoslov, or Book of the Hours (Horologion), which contains, in addition to the Hours and the Typical Psalms, those fixed portions of Vespers, Compline, Matins, Midnight Service, and so forth, which are used by the singers and the readers ; also a selection of Hymns for various occasions.
(3) The Pontifical Service Book (Tchinovník), which contains the fixed portions of the Liturgies above mentioned, as celebrated by a Bishop ; together with all the Offices of Ordination, ecclesiastical promotion, the blessing of an Antimíns (corporal), and so forth.
(4) The Októikh, or Book of the Eight Tones, which contains the Canons and certain of the Hymns used during Little and Great Vespers, Compline, Midnight Service, and Matins; the Hymn for the Day and the Collect-Hymn from the Canons being used also at the Liturgy on the following morning. There are eight complete sets for each service mentioned, for every day in the week, all during one week being sung in the same Tone.
(5) The Monthly Minéya, in twelve volumes, which contain the order of services for all the fixed days in the year celebrating some special event in the history of the Faith or the Church, or commemorating a Saint or Saints. All the Minéya contain the Prayers for Vespers and Matins, while some have special Prayers for the Hours, Liturgies, Compline, and the Midnight Service.
(6) The volume known as the Anthológion, or Prázditchnaya Minéya (Festival Minéya) contains the Services for the Twelve Great Feasts.
(7) The Fasting Triódion (Póstnaya Triód) contains the variable portions of the services on the movable days which constitute the preparation for the Great Fast (Lent), and during the entire Great Fast. It is so called because the Canons have only Three Odes (or Theme-Songs), instead of the customary nine –practically eight — which are in the Book of the Eight Tones (Októikh).
(8) The Tzvyetnáya Triód (Flowery Triódion), or Penticostárion, contains the order of services during Easter-tide, beginning with Easter and ending with Pentecost, including the following day, — Whitsun
