It should be understood that the originals are books for the use of those who are conversant with the order of the church service, and that, for that reason, many abbreviations appear in them, well known prayers, verses, etc, being indicated by initial words only, or by ecclesiastical terms. As these abbreviations have been imitated in the translations, some notes are given, which, it is hoped, may remove most of the obscurities, which, to the general reader, might appear to pervade the work. G. V. SHANN. Oldswinford, Epiphany, 1894. NOTES. NOTE I. EXPLANATORY OF ECCLESIASTICAL TERMS. _Aër._ The external veil which is used to cover both chalice and paten. _Antidoron._ That which remains of a _Prosphora_ (loaf of oblation) after the portion for consecration has been cut from it. This remainder is given to communicants (together with wine and warm water) immediately after the holy sacrament, and is also distributed to those of the congregation who are not communicants at the end of the Liturgy instead of the holy gifts themselves, and, for that reason, it is called _Antidoron_. In the primitive church its distribution was known under the term _Agape_, _i.e._, Love-feast. _Axios._ Worthy. An exclamation, referring to the candidates, used at ordinations. _Canon._ An ecclesiastical composition, commemorative of any given festival or occasion, consisting of nine spiritual songs, according to the number of the degrees of the incorporeal hosts, based upon these nine scriptural odes, or prayers, I. The song of Moses in Exodus (_chap. xv._ 1-19). II. The song of Moses in Deuteronomy (_chap. xxxii._ 1-43). This song, being indicative of God’s judgment against sinners, is sung only in penitential seasons, hence a Canon usually lacks the second Ode, the third following immediately on the first. III. The prayer of Anna (_1 Kings ii._ 1-10). IV. The prayer of Abbacum (_chap. iii._ 2 _ad fin._). V. The prayer of Esaias (_chap. xxvi._ 9-20). VI. The prayer of Jonas (_chap. ii._ 2-9). VII. The prayer of the Three Children (_Daniel iii_). VIII. The song of the same (_Benedicite_). IX. The song of Zacharias (_Benedictus_), preceded by that of the Virgin (_Magnificat_). Every Ode in a Canon is preceded by a verse called _Irmos_, itself being the rhythmical model of the verses that follow, which are called _Troparia_, because they turn upon a model. The _Irmos_ however is frequently omitted, or is sung only before Odes iii, vi, and ix (as also after these). See pages 210, 214, and 218. A refrain pervades all the Odes. See pages 129, 183, and 209. The refrains for the Canons at pages 85 and 145 are not expressed in the text, but these are respectively, “Have mercy upon me, O God, have mercy upon me,” and, “Rest, O Lord, thy sleeping servant’s soul.” The refrain is sung or said between every verse except the last two, “Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy