So, I got a lot of help last time on this, but I have one last teensy question. In my prayer book (HTM) you're supposed to say this Kontakion in the "night before" prayers, and it just says "Seeking Things on High". I tried to find the whole thing elsewhere in the book, but no dice. Anybody know the entire thing?
Prayers Before Communion AGAIN!
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No, it's definitely part of it that you're supposed to do, as far as I can tell. There are other parts of the book with abbreviated inserts like that, and they're definitely essential (i.e. it will just say "Glory. Both Now." instead of the whole doxology when it's part of the prayer. So I think it's part of the night before stuff. I could be wrong, but I think a lot of this is all just vigil, basically, but made for at home. But anyway, I still haven't figured it out.
PS And on a sadly humorous note, I did the whole thing the night before, then in the morning, and I got to The Liturgy (it was actually The Hours) about five seconds too late for a confession (my wife and I live an hour and change from our parish, so being five minutes late can really screw you up). So I didn't commune anyway! ARRGH!
Ήχος β'
Τά άνω ζητών, τοίς κάτω συναπτόμενος, καί άρμα πυρός, τόν στύλον εργασάμενος, δι' αυτού συνόμιλος, τών Aγγέλων γέγονας Όσιε, σύν αυτοίς Χριστώ τώ Θεώ, πρεσβεύων απαύστως υπέρ πάντων ημών.
i.e. (from a different translation)
Mode (or Tone) 2
In seeking the heights, connected to the things below, * and making your pillar a fiery chariot, * O Devout one, you became conversant with Angels by means thereof, * and with them on our behalf * you ceaselessly intercede with Christ our God.
Nevertheless, as Νεκτάριος said, you do not chant that, it merely tells you that what follows is to be chanted in the same manner as the melody specified, in this case "In seeking the heights..." After all, as you can see it is not directly related with the Canon of Communion.