Pre-Communion prayers

[Theodora Elizabeth]

I'm just wondering how everyone does their pre-Communion prayers. Or more exactly, WHEN?

Until two weeks ago, I would just say the six or seven prayers that are in the little red Antiochian prayerbook (my parish is Antiochian). Last week I used the prayer book from St. Tikhon's (that has the same prayers as the Jordanville, just a little bit different translation).

When using the Antiochian prayerbook, I would get to church early, before Matins (I read/chant at Matins) and say them then. Last week, and this, I did all but the last two or three prayers from the St. Tikhon's book AT HOME, and then finished up at church. I've been told previously on the Orthodox-Convert list on Yahoo that you don't want to do all your prayers at home, especially if you drive, because if you get ticked off in traffic (seems to happen to me all the time in Chicago traffic), you've basically just thrown out the window all the prayers you've said.

As the preparation I'd done before (and what seems to be done my many in my parish) is rather short, compared with the Russian prayers, I'm still trying to figure out how best to do the longer pre-Communion prayers.

Thanks,
Theodora Elizabeth

[尼古拉前执事]

In Russian Usage I have found that some parishes, before the 3rd & 6th hour will do pre communion prayers publicly. As for the Canons and Akathists, you can do those after Vigil (Russian usage is to do Vespers, Matins and the First Hour at night) or in the morning before the 3rd Hour starts. Some parishes do the last of the pre-communion prayers right before Communion, making the last part easy, otherwise just bring your Jordanville Prayer Book with you and read the last ones on the way up to receive.

[Justin2]

Yeah, I know you sort of just answered the question about the Communion Prayers (or, Pre-Communion Prayers, as it were), but I still am unsure about it. I have the HTM Prayer Book (blue with gold writing on the outside, just like The Ladder), and I can't tell where the Pre-Communion ones end and the Liturgy begins, because it seems to run right into it. We do the end part of it in church, collectively ("I believe, O Lord, and I confess...") but what about that part where you say the Isiah thing about the coal right before you commmune? Any help on this would be most appreciated!

[OrthodoxyOrDeath]

Justin,

In the HTM book, as you probably know, the communion prayers are broken up for the evening before (which includes small compline), the morning of, which is read before service at home, and then of course after communion prayers. Our church always has the after communion prayers read in church.

Theodora,

the Antiochian prayer book is an abridged version of just about everything, although it is a good collection and size. I would just love if HTM had something that compact and collected.

[Theodora Elizabeth]

ODD ~

Yes, the Antiochian prayerbook is abridged. I guess if you travel a lot, it handy to have in your pocket.

Theodora Elizabeth

[OrthodoxyOrDeath]

I guess if you travel a lot, it handy to have in your pocket.

That it is! Very handy indeed. There is a prayer for more than a few things for people like me who have a brain capacity of a rock and cannot remember a thing.

[Justin2]

OOD, thanks for the pointers on the Pre-Communion Prayers. I still have a question or two, if you're not busy There's this part on the morning prayers (before going to the Liturgy) called "didactic verses" on how one must approach the mysteries. Do you actually read this to yourself, because it's almost instructional. Finally, there are ten prayers after this, each by a different Father. I know that from the tenth prayer on, we say everything communally just before (and after) Holy Communion. But do you read the first nine prayers at home, or is it a "pick and choose" thing because there are so many? If you're not sure about this one, I'd be glad to hear some advice from anyone else :mrgreen: Thanks!