Categories: orthodox-life, family, linguistics
Date: 26 June 2012 10:57:26
First though, any prayers appreciated for my brother-in-law who will finish up soon at the job he is at and is searching for a new job. He is a tradesman and has his own business, but needs regular work and pay within a company while he builds up his business. With three children and a mortgage and as the sole wage earner, I do pray he can find regular work soon. Thank you.
I was asked at Matins on Saturday evening to assist with some of the Psalm and hymn readings: the fact the choir at my old parish asked me to help out occasionally helped me greatly, though there are a number of different practices between the Antiochians and Russians which I will write about soon. It was a blessing to be asked, and a blessing -- and responsibility -- to be able to contribute to the worship of the church; the priest and the priest's wife, who is the choir director, helped me with the various books and which parts to read which was very helpful as I learn.
Unlike in my old parish English is not as predominant in the services and Church Slavonic is used often: though of course I read only in English as my Church Slavonic knowledge is close to zero. My priest suggested I may want to learn the letters and sounds of the Slavonic alphabet so I can at least pray the common prayers of the Church for now, and as someone who is happy to add a new language, or at least the letters of a new language, to my knowledge, I searched on the Internet and found The Church Slavonic E-Tutor which looks rather wonderful -- and is free. I plan to make a start on some of the letters tonight.
I know some readers are in Russian Orthodox parishes or know the Cyrillic alphabet: if anyone has any suggestions on resources, online or in book form, free or paid, please comment and let me know. And also let me know if you have any tips for, at this stage, learning the alphabet and the sounds. The fact some letters look like English letters but have different sounds will trip me up I am sure, but I am looking forward to giving it a go.