Holy Week Epistles and Lessons
  • BenBen
    Posts: 3,114
    I am working with a subdeacon (well, a lay man who will be acting as one) to prepare the singing parts for holy week, specifically Good Friday afternoon liturgy, easter vigil, and easter morning.

    Excuse my ignorance, but I've never done an EF triduum before, so I'm a bit clueless, but what are the musical responsibilities of the subdeacon for these Masses? I know Easter Sunday is fairly easy, with the one epistle. What about Friday and the vigil?

    Any help would be appreviated.
    Thanked by 1Ioannes Andreades
  • ClemensRomanusClemensRomanus
    Posts: 1,023
    It's my understanding the Subdeadcon chants all epistles (unless there's a Lector?). He'll of course chant R/ Levate. after the Deacon's V/ Flectamus genua.
  • rarty
    Posts: 96
    The book The Rites of Holy Week quite exhaustively explains the (revised/1956) Holy Week.

    For Good Friday, the Subdeacon chants the 2nd Lesson (from Exodus), and for the vigil and Easter morning, he chants the Epistle.

    But it is the Deacon who sings both "Flectamus genua" and "Levate" for the prayers on Friday and Saturday, whereas previously, "Levate" was sung by the Subdeacon.

    The only other thing I can recall, is that when the Priest intones "Ecce lignum Crucis", the Deacon and Subdeacon sing the rest of the line with him (and each time this same way).

    Since there is an extra lesson on Good Friday and the 4 lessons at the Vigil, it would seem to be best to have at least two Lectors prepared as well.
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