Acolyte's(Altar Assistant's) Manual
Compiled and Published by
Very Rev. Thomas P. Mundukuzhy Cor Episcopa
Introduction Kalpana by HG Job Mar Philoxenos,
Metropolitan, Delhi Diocese.
I have not seen any other book which explains the duties and
responsibilities of an acolyte in such detail. As achen writes in
the preface "while the clergy learn the meaning of every word and
action in the seminary, acolytes and laymen are often confined to
absorbing by osmosis". There was a definite need of formal
instruction of the acolytes about the standard duties and tasks and
this book fulfils that void.
Starting from the making of the Qurbana bread, to the preparations
to be made at the altar for Qurbana, to the various tasks during the
Qurbana, to the tasks after the service, to the changes and care to be taken
when a bishop is present, detailed explanations are
given to the significance of the roles and tasks of the acolyte, the
various significances and events in the Qurbana, "the crown of
worship and of Holy Sacraments" are also dealt with. The book is
laid out in 3 Parts:
Part I - What is an Acolyte.
Part II - Preparing for the Service -- (8 chapters)
Part III - Indian Orthodox Christian Worship (4 chapters)
Appendices contain the Church Calendar showing the dates and
significance of each of our Sundays till 2011, a section on the
changes during Passion week services, and a section on various
popular recipes including the ones for making Pesaha Appam.
"This manual is dedicated to the growing English-speaking members of
our church and in the memory of HH Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews 1st,
Catholicose of the East..".
The book of 78 pages has several color photos taken of the various
items used during the Qurbana, the vestments, the altar etc.
Our church currently does not have an official training mechanism
for the acolytes, the efforts of Mundukuzhy achen and his team in
bringing out this book is to be especially recognised, and deserves
our appreciation and gratitude. Written in simple language, the book
will be an invaluable guide and a reference manual to anyone
assisting at the alter, or aspiring to be an acolyte, as also to
answer the curiousity of the common laity who participates in the
Qurbana and our services. I have learnt several new things while reading the
book and so I can vouch for its usefulness and worth.
I encourage all acolytes to get a copy of this book and use it as a manual for
their reference. Please contact achen at
veryrevtpm@ yahoo.com (without a space after @) for the details.
I hope and pray that the "Acolyte's Manual" becomes a defacto
reference manual for all our future and present acolytes, helping to
make our worship service even more angelic and divine.
Regards,
Mathew Samuel,
Albany, NY.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianOrthodox/message/10044
Compiled and Published by
Very Rev. Thomas P. Mundukuzhy Cor Episcopa
Introduction Kalpana by HG Job Mar Philoxenos,
Metropolitan, Delhi Diocese.
I have not seen any other book which explains the duties and
responsibilities of an acolyte in such detail. As achen writes in
the preface "while the clergy learn the meaning of every word and
action in the seminary, acolytes and laymen are often confined to
absorbing by osmosis". There was a definite need of formal
instruction of the acolytes about the standard duties and tasks and
this book fulfils that void.
Starting from the making of the Qurbana bread, to the preparations
to be made at the altar for Qurbana, to the various tasks during the
Qurbana, to the tasks after the service, to the changes and care to be taken
when a bishop is present, detailed explanations are
given to the significance of the roles and tasks of the acolyte, the
various significances and events in the Qurbana, "the crown of
worship and of Holy Sacraments" are also dealt with. The book is
laid out in 3 Parts:
Part I - What is an Acolyte.
Part II - Preparing for the Service -- (8 chapters)
Part III - Indian Orthodox Christian Worship (4 chapters)
Appendices contain the Church Calendar showing the dates and
significance of each of our Sundays till 2011, a section on the
changes during Passion week services, and a section on various
popular recipes including the ones for making Pesaha Appam.
"This manual is dedicated to the growing English-speaking members of
our church and in the memory of HH Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews 1st,
Catholicose of the East..".
The book of 78 pages has several color photos taken of the various
items used during the Qurbana, the vestments, the altar etc.
Our church currently does not have an official training mechanism
for the acolytes, the efforts of Mundukuzhy achen and his team in
bringing out this book is to be especially recognised, and deserves
our appreciation and gratitude. Written in simple language, the book
will be an invaluable guide and a reference manual to anyone
assisting at the alter, or aspiring to be an acolyte, as also to
answer the curiousity of the common laity who participates in the
Qurbana and our services. I have learnt several new things while reading the
book and so I can vouch for its usefulness and worth.
I encourage all acolytes to get a copy of this book and use it as a manual for
their reference. Please contact achen at
veryrevtpm@ yahoo.com (without a space after @) for the details.
I hope and pray that the "Acolyte's Manual" becomes a defacto
reference manual for all our future and present acolytes, helping to
make our worship service even more angelic and divine.
Regards,
Mathew Samuel,
Albany, NY.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianOrthodox/message/10044
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