The Typikon Decoded: An Explanation of Byzantine Liturgical Practice (The Orthodox Liturgy, 3)

I am a student in applied theology and was looking to write a Master's dissertation on The Triodion in the Orthodox Church. My advisor recommended that I read this book and what a difference it made. I especially recommend reading this book with the various liturgical services books. In my case, I read this book in conjunction with the Triodion (Ware and mother Mary), and I got a lot out of it. I am pretty sure it made my thesis a better.

This thing is amazing. It reads like stero instructions - not 'chatty' or simplified in its approach, but is quite complete. It even has an excellent glossary for those of us who aren't mavens with all of the liturgical terms. It is a comprehensive step-by-step manual for a form that developed over centuries and isn't learned quickly. Like any good technical manual it's broken down into small, incremental chapters, each related to and building upon the other. The cross-references are excellent and useful. This was written by men who are tops in their field and it shows.

Ok a bit more detailed than I expected wanted more analysis and interpretationBut did the job I wanted so ok

I am Orthodox Christian but I have only read first chapter, the writing is dry, not very interesting, Cannot rate whole book.

... then buy this book.In Orthodox Christianity worship comes first, before any other consideration: customs, church authority or even theology (which is seen, in fact, a form of worship/communion with God in itself). Even the meaning of the word "orthodox" - usually understood as "doctrinal correctness" - actually means "right glorification/worship" (orthos=correct, doxa=glory).It is no accident that Orthodoxy preserves a massive body of liturgical works used throughout the year to form a complete, complex and intricate construction aimed at glorifying the Creator and His works in His people. The amount of liturgical material is so big that approaching it may seem daunting or even frightening to the unprepared.This is where "Typikon Decoded" comes to help: it explains the history of Orthodox liturgical worship as well as its structure as it is today. This book, when accompanied by the yearly Typikon and the other Orthodox liturgical books, brings light and much joy to the one wishing to understand the living Christian Holy Tradition at its best.

Extremely dense and not likely to be of use to the ordinary folk in church but for priests and students a good buy.

This is a very detailed presentation of all the Church services in the Orthodox Church and some historical development of these services. The reading of this book is a bit difficult for the someone who would not have prior exposure to the Orthodox Church services. The content could serve for future liturgical research.