Monday, April 6, 2026

Typika Chants in Western Notation

"Typika", meaning the typical, or regular prayers of the Divine Liturgy that are prayed by laymen, when a priest is not available to offer the Divine Liturgy.  It is proper for these prayers to be chanted, rather than recited, if possible.  
To these prayers are added the scripture readings and variable prayers for the Feast.   The variable prayers can be found here: 

Variable Portions for Typika (Russian schismatic)
https://saintjonah.org/typ/ 

Troparia and Kontakia for Sundays http://orthodoxievco.net/ecrits/liturg/perso/tktriode.htm 

Troparia and Kontakia for Sundays in Pascha and Pentecost http://orthodoxievco.net/ecrits/liturg/perso/tkpente.htm 

Troparia and Kontakia for Fixed Feasts
If Matins is not prayed right before Typika, the beginning Trisagion Prayers are also prayed.  There is a rich Orthodox tradition of rotating weekly through the eight chant tones, but this can be quite daunting for those of us who are recent converts, especially when living far from an Orthodox parish!  The chant selections below are from Greek, Russian, English and Alaskan traditions.  They are chosen for their ease in learning, and sight-singing, for those who are used to western music.  It's helpful to practice with an instrument in order to be sure you've hitting the right notes, but of course, instruments are never used for actual worship, whether it is the Divine Liturgy, the canonical Hours, or any other prayers.  Rubrics are printed in red.  God bless you!



TYPIKA
We pray standing, especially on the Lord's Day, preferably facing east, in front of an icon of our Savior, with a candle, and other icons, especially honoring the Mother of God (Theotokos).

If Typika is not preceded by Matins, begin here:

+ Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us.

Trisagion Prayers:

O Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of truth, who art everywhere present, and fillest all things; Treasury of good gifts and Giver of life:  Come and abide in us and cleanse us from all impurity.  Save our souls, of Good One! 
This prayer can be chanted insted, if desired:
Exceptions:

Replace “O Heavenly King…” with the following:
From Pascha to the Ascension:  
Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life!  (3x)

Christ is Risen 
https://resources.myrrhbearers.ca/sites/default/files/Christ-is-Risen_Byzantine-English-and-Greek.pdf

From Ascension to its leave-taking:

Thou hast ascended in glory, Christ our God, granting joy to Thy disciples by the promise of the Holy Spirit. Through the blessing, they were assured that Thou art the Son of God, the redeemer of the world.

 On the Saturday before Pentecost, just omit “O Heavenly King…” 

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal: have mercy on us. (3x)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our iniquities. Holy God, visit and heal our infirmities for thy Name’s sake.

Lord, have mercy. (3x)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and let us not fall into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

For Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.  Amen.

Lord have mercy. (12x)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
These beginning prayers change for the week of Pascha (Bright Week):
If Typika is preceded by Matins, begin here:

+ Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us.

Typical Antiphons:  (sometime replaced with festal antiphons)

Third Antiphon:  Beatitudes
Troparion (according to the Feast)
This is usually read between the Beatitude verses, as shown here:

Trisagion:

On Christmas, Theophany, Lazarus Saturday, Pascha and Pentecost, we sing the following instead of the Trisagion Hymn: 
 
As Many as Have Been Baptized

Kontakion (according to the Feast)
Prokeimenon (according to the Feast)
Prokeimena for Liturgy

Epistle:

Daily Readings
https://www.ponomar.net/cgi-bin/menologion.cgi


Gospel:
Daily Readings

Cherubic Hymn
(Greek Hymn)
Commemoration of the Living and Departed 

Or, for those not yet baptized:
Lord have mercy on me.  May I be accounted worthy to flee unto Thy Holy Name and to be sheltered under the shadow of Thy wings.  Remove far from me that ancient error, and fill me with faith, hope and love that is in Thee, that I may know that Thou alone art the True God:  Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Grant me to walk in Thy commandments, and to observe those things that are acceptable before Thee; for if a man does such he shall find life in them.  Inscribe me into Thy Book of Life, and unite me to the flock of Thine inheritance.  Father, let Thy Holy Name be glorified in me, and that of Thy well-beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and of Thy Life-creating Spirit.  Let Thine eyes look upon me in mercy, and Thine ears be attentive unto the voice of my prayer, that I may give thanks to Thee, worshiping and glorifying Thy great and Most High Name; that I may ever praise Thee all the days of my life.  For all the Powers of Heaven praise Thee, and Thine is the Glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.  Amen.
---adapted from prayers for the making of a Catechumen:

(Lenten)
Closing Hymn Selection:
Polyeleion - O Give Thanks to the Lord - Psalm 135 (from Matins)
https://stnicholasjuneau.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Polyeleion-Serbian-Final-Draft.pdf

Christ is Risen (Kievan)

Finally, a Sermon is read:
Writings of the Early Church Fathers

Writings of the Fathers (French)

Sayings of the Desert Fathers (French)

The True Orthodox Church of Greece (Stephanos) broadcasts radio sermons in Greece, but since the loss of bishops and clergy in America, there are no live internet sermons in English.  However, the Holy Protection of the Mother of God Mission in Astoria, NY often posts sermons read by Reader Wasyl (Basil) Schumylowych:

Holy Protection of the Mother of God Mission
https://www.facebook.com/TheHolyProtectionMission/



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Additional Resources (from schismatic websites):
Typika:  When a priest is not present in order to celebrate the Divine Liturgy
St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, Juneau, AK - Sheet Music
https://stnicholasjuneau.org/orthodox-liturgical-sheet-music/

Hymns and Music, Greek Orthodox Diocese of America 
https://www.goarch.org/chapel/chant

Orthodox Sacred Music Reference Library
https://www.orthodoxchoral.org/en/home

Holy Myrrh Bearers Orthodox Mission
Pascha Sheet Music

Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)