Thehorologion orhorologium (pl.horologia), alsoknown by other names, is thebook of hours for theEastern Orthodox andEastern Catholic Churches.[1] It provides theacolouthia (ἀκολουθίαι,akolouthíai), the fixed portions of theDivine Service used every day at certaincanonical hours. Additional parts of the service are changed daily, mostly according to theMenologium.
Horologium is thelatinized version of theGreekhōrológion (ὡρολόγιον), fromhṓra (ὥρα, "time period,hour"),lógos (λόγος, "writing,recording") +-ion (-ιον), together originally meaning asundial,clepsydra, or othertimekeeping device. (The same roots are used inhorology, the scientific study oftime.) InByzantine Greek, the word was repurposed to also denote the Easternbooks of hours, records of the hymns and prayers to be offered at the proper times of each day. The plural form of both the Latin and Greek forms of the word ishorologia.
In English, the horologion is also sometimes known as theBook of Hours or the Orthodox book of hours, from the nearestRoman Catholicequivalent. The book is known as theChasoslov (Часocлoвъ) inChurch Slavonic and as theOrologhion orCeaslov inRomanian.[2]
The horologion is primarily a book for the use of the reader andchanters. TheEuchologion is used by thepriest anddeacon instead. Several varieties of horologia exist, the most complete of which is theGreat Horologion orHorologium (Ancient Greek:Ὡρολόγιον τò μέγα,Hōrológion tò méga;Church Slavonic:Великий Часословъ,Velikij Chasoslov;Romanian:Ceaslovul Mare,Orologhionul Mare). It contains the fixed portions of theDaily Office (Vespers, Greater and LesserCompline, theMidnight Office,Matins, theLittle Hours, theInter-Hours,Typica, and the prayers before meals). The parts for the reader and chanters are given in full, while the priest and deacon's parts are abbreviated. Great Horologia also contain a list of thesaints commemoratedthroughout the year with theirtroparia andkontakia; selectedpropers forSundays;moveable feasts from theMenaion,Triodion, andPentecostarion; and the variouscanons and other devotional services. The Great Horologion is most commonly used inGreek-speaking churches.[3]
Other editions of the horologion are usually shorter. They still give the fixed portions of the Daily Office in full, but other texts are much more abbreviated since they are found in full in otherliturgical books. In addition, such texts also often contain morning and evening prayers, the Order of Preparation forHoly Communion, and prayers to be said after receiving Holy Communion.
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