June 3, 1999
The Pious Priests
of the Holy Diocese of Denver
Beloved in the Lord,
In my recent pastoral visits to some parishes, I realized that the Orthros is not usually scheduled before each Divine Liturgy.
It is a mystery to me how any priest can enter the sanctuary on a given Sunday or feast day and simply begin the Divine Liturgy. Each Divine Liturgy must be preceded by proper preparation on the part of the priest so he realizes that he is not simply "performing" the Eucharist, but concentrating in fervent prayer as he relives the life and death of our Lord on the Cross.
Today no priest in this Diocese has the excuse that the proper books are not available for all the Orthros services in a given year which include Sundays and feast days. The same is true for Sunday and feast day Vespers.
We are fortunate today that through the efforts of Father Spencer Kezios of Narthex Press we have the required Orthros and Vespers books, not only for Sundays but for all feast days of the year.
As your hierarch, I instruct each priest to procure at least two copies of each Orthros book that is printed, as well as two copies of each Vespers book that is printed, one for the chanter and one for the Altar. In this way those of you who have chanters that are not proficient in the services can be assisted by you from the Altar.
Here on in I would like to see a copy of these books in all the parishes of this Diocese both in the Altar and at the chanters' stand. I know that this will help to smooth out your services immensely.
May the summer months bring necessary relaxation to you as you continue to serve the Lord and His people.
With Paternal Blessings,
+Metropolitan Isaiah
Presiding Hierarch
of
the Diocese of Denver