Changes in the Order of Matins during the Reform of Liturgical Books in Moscow in the 17th Century

This article deals with the changes in the structure of the order of matins that are refl ected in the fi rst printed Slavonic edition of Irmologion published in Moscow in 1657 during the emendation of liturgical books and the liturgical reform of Patriarch Nikon. The author of the article compares the structure of matins in Irmologion of 1657 and in pre-reform books of the earlier print and reveals the following changes: the omission of the Blameless when Polyeleos is sung at the Sunday vigil; changes in the structure of Polyeleos and the omission of the Magnifi cation; changes in the structure of hymnography following Psalm 50 during the preparatory Sundays before the Great Lent; changes in the structure of biblical odes; the omission of the canon of the Octoechos during weekday services of the Lent; changes in the order of performing catabasiae. For each of these changes, the author of the article attempts to identify possible sources, which is done by means of comparison with pre-reform books printed in Kiev and Lvov and Greek liturgical books printed in Venice. In most cases the author demonstrates that the source were Venetian printed editions of Typicon and Irmologion. The author concludes that as a result of the Nikonian reforms of the 17th century, not only the order of the divine liturgy, but also the order of matins in Moscow was made to conform to contemporary Greek practice, as recorded in the Venetian printed liturgical books