Editing Lectionary

{{Short description|Book of approved scripture readings in Abrahamic religions}}
{{More citations needed|date=April 2014}}
[[Image:BambergApocalypse06LargeInitialE.JPG|thumb|upright=1.1|Page from the 11th-century "[[Bamberg Apocalypse]]", Gospel lectionary. Large decorated initial "C". Text from Matthew 1:18–21<ref>{{bibleverse|Matthew|1:18–21}}</ref> ([[Bamberg State Library]], Msc.Bibl.140).]]
A '''lectionary''' ({{langx|la|lectionarium}}) is a book or listing that contains a collection of [[scripture]] readings appointed for [[Christianity|Christian]] or [[Judaism|Jewish]] worship on a given day or occasion.  There are sub-types such as a "gospel lectionary" or [[evangeliary]], and an [[:wikt:epistolary|epistolary]] with the readings from the [[New Testament]] [[Epistles]].

==History==
By the Medieval era the Jewish community had a [[Weekly Torah portion|standardized schedule of scripture readings]] from both the Torah and the prophets to be read in the [[synagogue]]. A sequential selection was read from the [[Torah]], followed by the "[[haftarah]]" – a selection from the prophetic books or historical narratives (e.g. "Judges", "Kings", etc.) closely linked to the selection from the Torah. Jesus may have read a providentially "random" reading when he read from [[Isaiah 61:1]]–[[Isaiah 61:2|2]], as recorded in Luke 4:16–21,<ref>{{bibleverse|Luke|4:16–21}}</ref> when he inaugurated his public ministry. The early Christians adopted the Jewish custom of reading extracts from the Old Testament on the Sabbath. They soon added extracts from the writings of the Apostles and gospels.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia | title =Lectionary | encyclopedia =Encyclopædia Britannica Online | url =http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9047577/lectionary | access-date =2007-07-06}}</ref>

Both Hebrew and Christian lectionaries developed over the centuries. Typically, a lectionary will go through the scriptures in a logical pattern, and also include selections which were chosen by the religious community for their appropriateness to particular occasions. The one-year Jewish lectionary reads the entirety of the Torah within the space of a year and may have begun in the Babylonian Jewish community; the three-year Jewish lectionary seems to trace its origin to the Jewish community in and around the Holy Land.<ref name="Elgoben lectionary development">Elbogen, Ismar. ''Jewish Liturgy: A Comprehensive History''. Original publication 1913. Trans Raymond P. Scheindlin for Jewish Publication Society edition 1993.</ref>

Within Christianity, the use of pre-assigned, scheduled readings from the scriptures can be traced back to the [[early church]], and seems to have developed out of the practices of the second temple period. The earliest documentary record of a special book of readings is a reference by [[Gennadius of Massilia]] to a work produced by [[Musaeus of Marseilles]] at the request of Bishop [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Marseille|Venerius of Marseille]], who died in 452, though there are 3rd-century references to liturgical readers as a special role in the clergy.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lectionary |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/lectionary |publisher=Britannica |access-date=12 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Palazzo|first=Eric|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EDYts-KZe2MC&pg=PA91|title=A History of Liturgical Books from the Beginning to the Thirteenth Century|date=1998|publisher=Liturgical Press|isbn=978-0-8146-6167-3|page=91}}</ref>

==Western lectionaries==

===In the Latin liturgical rites before the Second Vatican Council===
Before the liturgical reforms of [[Vatican II]], the [[Latin liturgical rite]] used a one-year lectionary consisting of a limited selection of sacred readings from the Scriptures. The reason for these limited selections was to maintain consistency,{{cn|date=December 2024}} as was a true feature in the Roman Rite. There was one reading to be proclaimed before the Gospel, either taken from the Old Testament (referred to as Lesson) or from the letters of Saint Paul, Saint John, or Saint Peter (referred to as Epistle).{{cn|date=January 2023}}

The Lesson (or Epistle) is contained in a book called the {{lang|la|[[wikt:epistolary|Epistolarium]]}}, a [[liturgical book]] containing the epistles that were to be said or sung by a subdeacon at a solemn High Mass. The Gospels are contained in a book called {{lang|la|[[Evangeliary|Evangeliarium]]}}, or more recently called as "Book of the Gospels", that were to be said or sung by a deacon at a solemn High Mass.

However, the Ambrosian Rite and the Mozarabic Rite have two readings to be proclaimed, called {{lang|la|Prophetia}} and {{lang|la|Epistola}}.

===Catholic Mass Lectionary and the Revised Common Lectionary===
[[Image:Gerard Dou - Portret van een lezende oude vrouw.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Portrait of [[Rembrandt]]'s mother reading a lectionary, {{c.|1630}} ([[Rijksmuseum]], [[Amsterdam]]). The painting has more recently been attributed to [[Gerrit Dou]].]]
After the [[Second Vatican Council]] of 1962–1965, the [[Holy See]], even before producing an actual lectionary (in [[Latin]]), promulgated the {{lang|la|[[Ordo Lectionum Missae]]}} (Order of the Readings for Mass), giving indications of the revised structure and the references to the passages chosen for inclusion in the new official lectionary of the [[Roman Rite]] of [[Mass (liturgy)|Mass]]. It introduced an arrangement by which the readings on Sundays and on some principal feasts recur in a three-year cycle, with four passages from Scripture (including one from the [[Psalms]]) being used in each celebration, while on weekdays only three passages (again including one from the Psalms) are used, with the first reading and the psalm recurring in a two-year cycle, while the [[Gospel]] reading recurs after a single year. This revised Mass Lectionary, covering much more of the Bible than the readings in the [[Tridentine Mass|Tridentine]] [[Roman Missal]], which recurred after a single year, has been translated into the many languages in which the Roman Rite Mass is now celebrated, incorporating existing or specially prepared translations of the Bible and with readings for national celebrations added either as an appendix or, in some cases, incorporated into the main part of the lectionary.

The Roman Catholic Mass Lectionary as revised after Vatican II is the basis for many Protestant lectionaries, most notably the [[Revised Common Lectionary]] (RCL) and its derivatives, as organized by the [[Consultation on Common Texts]] (CCT) organization located in [[Nashville, Tennessee]].  Like the Mass lectionary, they generally organize the readings for worship services on Sundays in a three-year cycle, with four elements on each Sunday, and three elements during daily [[Mass (liturgy)|Mass]]:

*First reading ({{lang|la|Prima lectio}}) from the [[Old Testament]] or, in [[Eastertide]] from certain books of the [[New Testament]];
*[[Responsorial psalm]] ({{lang|la|Psalmus responsorium}}) (ideally, to be sung, as contained in the Simple Gradual) or '''Gradual''' (as contained in the Roman Gradual);
*Second reading ({{lang|la|Secunda lectio}}) from one of the [[General Epistles|New Testament Letters]] (only on Sundays and Solemnities); and a
*Gospel reading ({{lang|la|Evangelium}})

====Three-year cycle====
[[File:St. Nikolaus Germete Ambo mit aufgeschlagenem Lektionar Lesejahr C.jpg|thumb|A German Roman Catholic lectionary for year C on an ambo]]
The lectionaries (both Catholic and RCL versions) are organized into three-year cycles of readings. The years are designated A, B, or C. Each yearly cycle begins on the first Sunday of [[Advent]] (the Sunday between 27 November and 3 December inclusive). Year B follows year A, year C follows year B, then back again to A.

*Year A: [[Gospel of Matthew]] (Advent 2025 through 2026)
* Year B: [[Gospel of Mark]] (Advent 2026 through 2027)
* '''Year C: [[Gospel of Luke]] (Advent 2024 through 2025 – current year)'''

The [[Gospel of John]] is read throughout [[Easter]], and is used for other liturgical seasons including [[Advent]], [[Christmas]], and [[Lent]] where appropriate. In Year B, [[John 6|chapter 6 of the Gospel of John]] is read on the 17th to the 21st Sundays of [[Ordinary Time]] (ninth to thirteenth Sundays after Trinity), during July and August.

====Daily lectionaries====
The Roman Catholic lectionary includes a two-year cycle for the weekday mass readings (called Cycle I and Cycle II). [[Parity (mathematics)|Odd-numbered]] years are Cycle I; even-numbered ones are Cycle II. The weekday lectionary includes a reading from the Old Testament, Acts, Revelation, or the Epistles; a responsorial [[Psalm]]; and a reading from one of the gospels. These readings are generally shorter than those appointed for use on Sundays. The [[pericopes]] for the first reading along with the psalms are arranged in a two-year cycle. The gospels are arranged so that portions of all four are read every year. This weekday lectionary has also been adapted by some denominations with congregations that celebrate daily Eucharistic services. It has been published in the Episcopal Church's [[Lesser Feasts and Fasts]] and in the [[Anglican Church of Canada]]'s [[Book of Alternative Services]] (among others).

This eucharistic lectionary should not be confused with the various Daily Office lectionaries in use in various denominations. The Consultation on Common Texts has produced a three-year Daily Lectionary which is thematically tied into the Revised Common Lectionary, but the RCL does not provide a daily Eucharistic lectionary as such. Various Anglican and Lutheran churches have their own daily lectionaries. Many of the Anglican daily lectionaries are adapted from the one provided in the 1979 Book of Common Prayer.

====Other lectionary information====

In some churches, the lectionary is carried in the entrance procession by a [[lector]]. In the Catholic Church, the [[Book of the Gospels]] is carried in by a [[deacon]] (when there is no deacon, a lector might process in with the Book of the Gospels). When the Book of the Gospels is used, the first two readings are read from the lectionary, while the Book of the Gospels is used for the final reading.

The lectionary is not to be confused with a [[missal]], [[gradual]] or [[sacramentary]]. While the lectionary contains scripture readings, the missal or sacramentary contains the appropriate prayers for the service, and the gradual contains [[Gregorian chant|chants]] for use on any particular day. In particular, the gradual contains a [[responsory]] which may be used in place of the responsorial psalm.

===Anglican lectionaries===
Present day Church of England [https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-and-worship/worship-texts-and-resources/common-worship/churchs-year/lectionary Common Worship Lectionaries] were derived from the [[Revised Common Lectionary]] and published between 2000 and 2010.
{{main|Book of Common Prayer}}

==Eastern lectionaries==
[[File:Jaharis Byzantine Lectionary MET DP160636.jpg|thumb|''Jaharis Byzantine Lectionary'', [https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jaharis_Byzantine_Lectionary_MET_DP160636.jpg Metropolitan Museum of Art]]]
In the [[Eastern Christendom|Eastern Churches]] ([[Eastern Orthodox]], [[Oriental Orthodox]], [[Eastern Catholic]], the [[Assyrian Church of the East]], [[Ancient Church of the East]], and those bodies not in communion with any of them but still practicing Eastern liturgical customs) tend to retain the use of a one-year lectionary in their liturgy. Different churches follow different liturgical calendars (to an extent).  Most Eastern lectionaries provide for an epistle and a Gospel to be read on each day. Other known witnesses of the Christian Jerusalem-Rite Lectionary are those preserved in [[Georgian language|Georgian]], [[Caucasian Albanian language]], and [[Armenian language|Armenian]] translations (6th to 8th centuries CE).

[[Image:Codex Harcleianus.PNG|thumb|right| An example of Byzantine lectionary — [[Lectionary 150|''Codex Harleianus'']] (''l''<sup>150</sup>), AD 995, text of John 1:18.]]

===Byzantine lectionary===
Those churches (Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine Catholic) which follow the [[Rite of Constantinople]], provide an epistle and Gospel reading for most days of the year, to be read at the [[Divine Liturgy]]; however, during [[Great Lent]] there is no celebration of the liturgy on weekdays (Monday through Friday), so no epistle and Gospel are appointed for those days. As a historical note, the Greek lectionaries are a primary source for the [[Byzantine text-type]] used in the scholarly field of [[textual criticism]].

====Epistle and Gospel====
The Gospel readings are found in what Orthodoxy usually calls a [[Gospel Book]] (''Evangélion''), although in strict English terms the Greek ones are in the form of an [[Evangeliary]], and an [[wikt:epistolary|Epistle Book]] (''Apostól''). There are differences in the precise arrangement of these books between the various national churches. In the [[Greek Orthodox|Byzantine]] practice, the readings are in the form of [[pericope]]s (selections from scripture containing only the portion actually chanted during the service), and are arranged according to the order in which they occur in the church year, beginning with the Sunday of [[Easter|Pascha]] (Easter), and continuing throughout the entire year, concluding with [[Holy Week]]. Then follows a section of readings for the commemorations of [[saints]] and readings for special occasions ([[baptism]]s, [[funeral]]s, etc.). In the [[Russian Orthodox|Slavic]] practice, the biblical books are reproduced in their entirety and arranged in the [[Biblical canon|canonical order]] in which they appear in the [[Bible]].

The annual cycle of the Gospels is composed of four series:

#''The Gospel of St. John''
#:read from Pascha until [[Pentecost]] Sunday
#''The Gospel of St. Matthew''
#:divided over seventeen weeks beginning with the Monday of the Holy Spirit (the day after Pentecost). From the twelfth week, it is read on Saturdays and Sundays while the Gospel of St. Mark is read on the remaining weekdays
#''The Gospel of St. Luke''
#:divided over nineteen weeks beginning on the Monday after the Sunday after the [[Elevation of the Holy Cross]]. From the thirteenth week, it is only read on Saturdays and Sundays, while St. Mark's Gospel is read on the remaining weekdays
#''The Gospel of St. Mark''
#:read during the Lenten period on Saturdays and Sundays — with the exception of the [[Sunday of Orthodoxy]].

The interruption of the reading of the Gospel of Matthew after the Elevation of the Holy Cross is known as the "Lukan Jump".<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Lukan Jump - Professor N.D. Uspensky - From the Desk Manual of the Moscow Patriarchate|url=https://www.orthodox.net/ustav/lukan-jump.html|access-date=2023-01-25|website=www.orthodox.net}}</ref> The jump occurs only in the Gospel readings, there is no corresponding jump in the epistles. From this point on the epistle and Gospel readings do not exactly correspond, the epistles continuing to be determined according to the moveable [[Paschal cycle]] and the Gospels being influenced by the fixed cycle.

The Lukan Jump is related to the chronological proximity of the Elevation of the Cross to the Conception of the Forerunner (St. [[John the Baptist]]), celebrated on 23 September. In [[late Antiquity]], this feast marked the beginning of the ecclesiastical New Year.  Thus, beginning the reading of the Lukan Gospel toward the middle of September can be understood. The reasoning is theological and is based on a vision of Salvation History: the Conception of the Forerunner constitutes the first step of the New Economy, as mentioned in the [[sticheron|stikhera]] of the matins of this feast. The [[Luke the Evangelist|Evangelist Luke]] is the only one to mention this Conception ({{bibleverse||Luke|1:5-24|KJV}}).

In Russia, the use of the Lukan Jump vanished; however, in recent decades, the Russian Church has begun the process of returning to the use of the Lukan Jump.

Similarly to the Gospel Cycle, Epistle readings follow this plan although some exceptions vary:

#''Book of the Acts of the Apostles''
#:read from Pascha until Pentecost Sunday
#''Letter to the Romans, 1 Corinthians and 2 Corinthians''
#:From Pentecost to Elevation of the Holy Cross
#''Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Hebrews''
#:From Elevation of the Holy Cross to the Circumcision of Christ, 1st of January
#''James, Hebrews, 1 Peter and 2 Peter''
#:read from the Circumcision of Christ to the Clean Monday, first weekday of Great Lent.

====Old Testament readings====
Other services have scriptural readings also. There is a Gospel lesson at [[Matins]] on Sundays and feast days. These are found in the ''Evangelion''. There are also readings from the [[Old Testament]], called "parables" (''paroemia''), which are read at [[vespers]] on feast days. These parables are found in the [[Menaion]], [[Triodion]] or [[Pentecostarion]]. During Great Lent, parables are read every day at vespers and at the [[Sext|Sixth Hour]]. These parables are found in the Triodion.

===Syriac and Malankara churches: Catholic, Orthodox===
[[Image:Coptic small.jpg|thumb|250px|Small portion of a [[Coptic language|Coptic]] lectionary]]
In the [[Jacob Baradeus|Jacobite]] [[Syriac Churches]], the lectionary begins with the liturgical calendar year on ''Qudosh `Idto'' (the Sanctification of the Church), which falls on the eighth Sunday before Christmas. Both the [[Old Testament|Old]] and the [[New Testament]] books are read except the books of [[Book of Revelation|Revelation]], [[Song of Solomon]], and [[I Maccabees|I]] and [[II Maccabees]]. Scripture readings are assigned for Sundays and feast days, for each day of Lent and Holy Week, for raising people to various offices of the Church, for the blessing of Holy Oil and various services such as baptisms and funerals.

Generally, three Old Testament [[lection]]s, a selection from the [[prophet]]s, and three readings from the New Testament are prescribed for each Sunday and Feast day. The New Testament readings include a reading from Acts, another from the [[Catholic Epistles]] or the [[Pauline Epistles]], and a third reading from one of the [[Gospel]]s. During Christmas and Easter a fourth lesson is added for the [[Vespers|evening service]]. The readings reach a climax with the approach of the week of the Crucifixion. Through [[Lent]] lessons are recited twice a day except Saturdays. During the [[Passion Week]] readings are assigned for each of the major [[canonical hours]].

If there is a weekday Liturgy celebrated on a non-feast day, the custom is to read the Pauline epistle only, followed by the Gospel.

==See also==
{{columnslist|colwidth=20em|
* [[Book of Alternative Services]]
* [[Dominical letter]]
* [[Ekphonetic notation]]
* [[Gospel Book]]
* [[Lection]]
* [[Lector]]
* [[List of New Testament lectionaries]]
* [[Liturgical year]]
* [[Manzil]]
* [[Mass (liturgy)]]
* [[Pericope]]
* [[Revised Common Lectionary]]
* [[The Text This Week]]
* [[Weekly Torah portion]]
* [[The Syro-Aramaic Reading of the Koran]]
}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book | author=Evans, Helen C. | title=''Byzantium: faith and power (1261-1557)'' | location=New York | publisher=The Metropolitan Museum of Art | year=2004 | isbn=1588391132 | url=https://archive.org/details/byzantiumfaithpo0000unse | url-access=registration }}
*{{cite book | author1=Evans, Helen C. | author2=Wixom, William D. | title=''The glory of Byzantium: art and culture of the Middle Byzantine era, A.D. 843-1261'' | location=New York | publisher=The Metropolitan Museum of Art | year=1997 | isbn=9780810965072 | url=https://archive.org/details/gloryofbyzantium00evan | url-access=registration }}

==External links==
{{Wiktionary}}
* [http://www.lectionary.eu Thesaurus Antiquorum Lectionariorum Ecclesiae Synagogaeque] A database on ancient and medieval Jewish and Christian lectionaries allowing to automatically compare 25000 readings of ca. 35 lectionaries of many ancient denominations (Jewish Ashkenazy, Sephardic, Yemenite, Byzantine, Italian, Talmuds, Mishnah, Tosefta, Rav Saadia Gaon, some Midrashim, triannual from the Geniza, Armenian rite of Jerusalem, Gallican, Mozarabic, Roman, Byzantine, Coptic, West- and East Syriac, Maronite). Automatic synopsis and automatic calendar reconstruction tools.
*[http://www.goarch.org/chapel Greek Orthodox Online Chapel lectionary] Lectionary of the Greek Orthodox Church according to the typicon of the [http://www.patriarchate.org Ecumenical Patriarchate]
*[http://www.episcopalbookstore.com Books and Resources] Books and resources to learn more about the Eucharistic lectionary.
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20140209120801/http://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/ The Revised Common Lectionary]
*[http://www.usccb.org/bible/liturgy/index.cfm The Roman Catholic Lectionary] - based on the [[New American Bible]], as approved by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (also used in the Philippines)
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20071023053657/http://www.catholicliturgy.com/index.cfm/FuseAction/DocumentContents/Index/2/SubIndex/11/DocumentIndex/126 General Introduction to the Lectionary] (Roman Catholic)
*[http://www.jlg.org.uk/ The Joint Liturgical Group (UK)] – which developed [https://web.archive.org/web/20090214223314/http://jlg.org.uk/Book%20-%20Four%20Year%20Lect.htm The Four Year Lectionary (One Gospel per Year)]
*[https://www.workingpreacher.org/narrative_faqs.aspx Narrative Lectionary] with history, contexts, and links to readings
*[http://www.orthodoxresearchinstitute.org/articles/liturgics/peter_archbishop_liturgical_matters.htm The "Lukan Jump"] Orthodox Research Institute
*[http://www.orthodox.net/ustav/lectionary-explained.html Orthodox Christian Lectionary Explained] (Russian Orthodox)
*[http://sor.cua.edu/Lectionary/ Lectionary] of the Syriac Orthodox Church
*{{CathEncy|wstitle=Lectionary}}
*[http://catholic-resources.org/Lectionary/index.html Roman Catholic Lectionary for Mass] Resources for the study of the current Roman Catholic lectionary.
*[http://www.wdl.org/en/item/4088 "The Four Gospels"] a lectionary in Syriac from 1687
*[http://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-and-worship/worship-texts-and-resources/common-worship/churchs-year/lectionary Church of England Common Worship Lectionary] Readings and Psalms for Sundays, weekdays, and festivals

{{Eastern Orthodox liturgical books}}
{{CatholicMass|collapsed}}
{{Sacraments, rites, and liturgies of the Catholic Church}}

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[[Category:Christian genres]]
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