Erick Sampson
@ericksampson
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… If the question is, do you think the Church should produce a new Typikon, my answer would be no… and yes.
For the time and place that we currently find ourselves in, I would humbly submit that the Church would receive greater edification by, first, focusing her efforts on offering greater scholarship and education, to both clergy and laity alike, regarding the Typikon(s) that she currently has in place before concerning herself with producing or implementing something new. However…, once that has been accomplished (to the degree that she sees fit), I do envision how a new type of Typikon (similar to the Systema Typikou) could be a beneficial to guide to future generations of Orthodox Christians living in the information age.
Allow me to ellaborate.
Considering this question of the production of a new Typikon, the question continues to come to mind, how could we even begin to consider producing a new Typikon if our knowledge of the ancient Typikon of St. Sabbas is virtually inaccessible and unknown to the English speaking world? Personally, I do not think that the significance of the Typikon of St Sabbas can be overstated. To the heterodox who claim “catholicity” via denominationalism or a complete redefining of the term, Orthodox Christians can confidently say, and with peace, love and joy share with all the world, that there is a real Catholic ecclesiastical unity to be found in the Orthodox Christian Church, doctrinally via the Nicean-Constantinopolitan Creed, and practically/liturgically via the Typikon of St Sabbas. Although few parishes and monasteries follow this Typikon to the letter, the fact that every Typikon in current practice is a variation to one degree or another of this Ancient Typikon, speaks volumes and offers a tangible evidence of a unity that cannot be found elsewhere in the religious world.
In a perfect and complete world, I envision 3 types of Typikons being beneficial and edifying to the Church, for both practical use and scholarly reference:
-The Ancient Universal Typikon
-The Received Parish Typikon
-A Typikon Theory Handbook/Encyclopedia“The Ancient Universal Typikon” would be a Bilingual Edition of the Typikon of St Sabbas. This is the Typikon of which all other Parish Typikons are derived, therefore a scholarly, critical edition of this text could prove to be invaluable for the life of the Church worldwide.
“The Received Parish Typikon” may be different depending on what jurisdiction you find yourself a part of, but for us it would be a Bilingual Edition of Violakis’ Typikon of the Great Church. This is the Typikon that we of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America have received, and we especially would benefit greatly if an edition of this was produced (with enhanced charts, rubrics and outlines) with both practical parish use, and educational qualities mind.
“A Typikon Theory Handbook/Encyclopedia”, I envision, would be something akin to the Systema Typikou, and potentially released in a two volume set: Vol. 1 being an actual Typikon with copious suggestions for various service variations (in an almost encyclopedic, potentially chronological, format), and Vol. 2 being notes offering historical/pastoral varacity to the variation options presented in Vol. 1. If this were executed properly, I could imagine how this could potentially lead to the development of a type of “Typikon Formulae” that could guide future generations in both liturgical practice and development while keeping them rooted to the Tradition of our Fathers.
These three types of Typikons, together, could offer a sort of literary system of checks and balances, allowing the Church to evaluate proposed liturgical “innovations” and check them to both the current parish practice and the ancient universal, while also providing a framework on how to adapt to the, “…weakness of the worshipers and the realities of modern life…” that so often is the cause for liturgical innovations leading to variety/disunity in ages past.
Hello, my name is Erick Sampson and I am from Kingsport, TN. My wife, our daughter and myself were brought into the Orthodox Church in 2020, and since, God has added 2 healthy twin boys to our family. We currently attend Christ the Savior Greek Orthodox Church in Bluff City, TN.
My wife and I actually met in our highschool choir, and music has always been apart of our lives. My bachelor’s degree is in Worship Arts, and while music was a great part of that experience for me, the focus on the worship of God in and through the whole of the created world was always and repeatedly emphasized. Now, by God’s grace, that I am an Orthodox Christian, many of the principles that were instilled in me at that time have taken on new and truer forms, and it seems that the longer I live, I see not only a great significance in the offering up of all of the external, material world to God, but also *time* itself.
If asked, at times, I would say that we live in strange times, trying times, and sometimes even dark times, but at other times, if asked, I would say that we live in great times – sometimes, even Holy Time. I know that it is God that holds this world together. I know that the Divine Services and the liturgical cycles of the Orthodox Christian Church are holy. I know that the Typikon is holy. I want to internalize it, live out of it, and understand it in such a way as to pass it on as an endless, invisible and untouchable, eternal treasure to my children, and lead a life as a family that is holy and pleasing to God.
That’s amazing! Wow… That means, then, that there really is a real liturgical unity in the Orthodox Christian Church that truly is unparalleled when compared to any of the other heterodox traditions/denominations… I am amazed. I wonder, has there been an effort to translate the Typikon of St. Sabbas into English? Thank you.
Also, thank you for the information on the upcoming Typikon 101 class. Lord willing, I will be here for it! I second Paul’s interest.
Hello, my name is Erick Sampson and I am from Kingsport, TN. My wife, our daughter and myself were brought into the Orthodox Church in 2020, and since, God has added 2 healthy twin boys to our family. We currently attend Christ the Savior Greek Orthodox Church in Bluff City, TN.
My wife and I actually met in our highschool choir, and music has always been apart of our lives. My bachelor’s degree is in Worship Arts, and while music was a great part of that experience for me, the focus on the worship of God in and through the whole of the created world was always and repeatedly emphasized. Now, by God’s grace, that I am an Orthodox Christian, many of the principles that were instilled in me at that time have taken on new and truer forms, and it seems that the longer I live, I see not only a great significance in the offering up of all of the external, material world to God, but also *time* itself.
If asked, at times, I would say that we live in strange times, trying times, and sometimes even dark times, but at other times, if asked, I would say that we live in great times – sometimes, even Holy Time. I know that it is God that holds this world together. I know that the Divine Services and the liturgical cycles of the Orthodox Christian Church are holy. I know that the Typikon is holy. I want to internalize it, live out of it, and understand it in such a way as to pass it on as an endless, invisible and untouchable, eternal treasure to my children, and lead a life as a family that is holy and pleasing to God.
I am also interested in the current parish use of the Typikon across jurisdictions, as well as the biblical and historical roots of the Tradition.
