Jordanville Prayer Book

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soldier
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Jordanville Prayer Book

Post by soldier »

I like this prayer book very much, but there are indications of what seem to be contradictions in it. For example, in the last page of the supplicatory canon to the Theotokos, it says:

"...for I have no other help beside thee, no other intercessor, nor good consoler, except thee, O Mother of God"...

Really?

Then why does the very next page begin with the Canon to the Guardian Angel? Why even bother with this prayer, if the Theotokos is the only "help," "intercessor" and "consoler"?

And the last part of the prayer to the guardian angel ends with the words:

"I know truly and confess with my mouth that there is no other friend and intercessor, protector and champion, such as thou, O holy Angel"...

You can't have it both ways.

And what about our patron saints and all the saints and angels?

soldier
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Posts: 26
Joined: Wed 19 June 2013 12:47 am
Jurisdiction: ROAC

Re: Jordanville Prayer Book

Post by soldier »

Here's a couple other parts I don't understand. At the end of the Akathist to Christ, it says:

"...for frightful and terrible is the place that I must pass through when I have separated from this body, and a multitude of dark and inhuman demons awaiteth me, and there is no one to come to my help or to deliver me"...

If there is no one to come to my help or to deliver me, why do I bother praying to the Theotokos, my guardian angel and patron saint? I thought the Church teaches that we are met by two angels at our death.

Also, in the Canon of Repentance to Christ (page 328 in my book), it says:

"Now I turn to you with tears, holy patriarchs, kings and prophets, apostles and holy hierarchs, and all the elect of Christ"...

Two points to make: First, who is in tears when they read that part? Second, it seems to me that the apostles should be mentioned first in that list.

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