January 23, 2003
The Reverend Fathers,
The Esteemed Parish Councils
Beloved in the Lord,
We have been blessed by devoted clergy and laity who have spent countless hours producing the services of the Church in ways that would make it easier for you to conduct and participate in the worship services of our holy faith.
Reflecting back several decades, we are truly grateful to Father George Papadeas for producing the Holy Week Services and making them available to our people. Because of him, the Holy week services are attended by many of our parishioners throughout the country.
When the Orthros services were slowly being eliminated from the worship schedules of the parishes, it was Father Spencer Kezios who brought them back with his voluminous work. With his Orthros books, one did not have to use several books for the service, such as the Menaion, the Paraklitiki, the Orologion, the Triodion, and the Pentekostarion. His Orthros books are complete for every Sunday of the year. He has continued in his all-important work by producing the Vespers and the Feastday services in the other publications which are readily available to everyone.
I again urge you to use these excellent works by Fathers Papadeas and Kezios.
In the recent past other Holy Week books have been produced which are available to those who wish to use them.
Now through the Saint Gregory Palamas Monastery in Ohio, Father Seraphim is producing the services with Byzantine and Western musical notation. These include parts of the Orthros services, such as the Katavasies, as well as Apolitikia for Vespers services.
At present, Father Seraphim has the Orthros available in Greek and in English, with the English having a metered translation.
Those of you who use the internet can download each Sunday's Orthros for your use. The web site is http://www.bright.net/-palamas/. If you wish to contact Father Seraphim for additional requests, you may write to him at:
Saint Gregory Palamas Monastery
Father Seraphim
Perrysville/Hayesville, OH 44864
May these publications and productions from these devoted clergymen enhance your work as you schedule your services to the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. However, please keep in mind the Teleturgical Encyclicals I have been sending to you, establishing certain phraseology which is to be used in every parish of this Metropolis.
With Paternal Blessings,
Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver