Anthologion Prayer Book

I am new to the church. Please forgive me for lack of details, or omissions, or inaccuracies.

I bought this book, and some of the translations are not what I've heard in most Orthodox churches. The Trisagion (Holy God, Holy Strong, Holy Immortal) is the most immediate thing worthy of notice. This is not in the product details for this site (nor immediately apparent at the publishers site) but much of the translation for this book is based upon the EOB translation. "Holy, holy, holy are you, O God; through the Mother of God, have mercy on us." is another jarring one for me personally.

If you search for "Fr. John Whiteford EOB" you will find a review from a priest that details the problems with this particular translation.

Again, I'm new. But I haven't been to a single parish in the US that says the prayers in this way. That makes it hard to use this book to "follow along" in a service (you might rather just use whatever materials the parish has) or to add laity ran daily services to your parish (your parish priest might not want you using an unfamiliar translation) and if you use this at home, you'll start to memorize a different translation which will get you out of sync with the rest of your parish.

Some reviews online have stated to just substitute in other translations if you have committed them to memory. You'll need a copy of the New Testament + other materials to do that.

I don't know if I'm allowed to link to it but if you find the publishers site, on the books product page, they have a 36 page pdf that is a sample of "exactly" what is in the book. I would strongly suggest reading through the "Waking Prayers", then read the review from Fr. John Whiteford, and then showing your parish priest some of the translations for the Trisagion. If none of those are limiting factors, then buy the book, because it's beautiful, and no doubt will it be useful!

I hope they release this book in a more traditional translation format, or correct some of the issues that Fr. John Whiteford outlined.

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Legacy Icons response:

We feel the translation of "Strong" is accurate and perhaps superior, as outlined in Fr. Ephraim Lash's original translation notes. In summary, this choice is justified in four ways:

- Antiquity: The earliest English translations of the Trisagion in the 1700s used “Strong”, based on both Slavonic and Greek sources
- Patristics: Various Fathers and scholars writing about the Trisagion reference Psalm 41/42:3 LXX, “My soul has thirsted for God, the strong, the living."
- Hebrew Linguistics: “El” “Strong (One)” is an epithet for God throughout the OT, which the LXX consistently translates as “Strong”
- Greek Linguistics: “Strong” conveys the force of “Ischyros” better than “Mighty,” which is better reserved for “Krataios,” echoing the usual translation of “Pantokrator” as “Almighty”

With the multiplicity of prayer books available today—both from Orthodox publishers as well as Orthodox jurisdictional authorities—there will always be the chance that the translation of some element of a prayer book is different from that which is used in one's local parish. How important that precise word-for-word matching is, each individual will have to decide.

Stunning book. It’s basically an Orthodox/Byzantine breviary for those who want to pray more than morning and evening prayers. I often follow along at Great Vespers in church and used it to follow along during Holy Week services and the accuracy and similarity of translations was astounding.

Perfect for clergy and laity alike, this is a beautiful book, affordable and it might be the best prayerbook out there, period.

This prayer book was recommended to me and I couldn't be happier with it. It's absolutely beautifully made, and the print is perfect size. Quick shipping and very well packaged also. I think everyone should own this book and I hope to buy more as gifts. Thank you very much.

Would highly recommend this Anthologian for those who wish to pray the Daily Office in the Byzantine tradition