The chanted readings in the Orthodox liturgical tradition

This article by Spyridon Antoniou focuses on the tradition of psalmodic readings in Orthodox liturgy, considered in its historical continuity from its origins to contemporary practice. The study combines a historical and musicological approach to trace the evolution of this practice, inherited from synagogal liturgy and attested from the earliest Christian centuries. The central idea is that the psalmody of scriptural readings — Gospel, Epistle, prophetic texts — is not an accessory ornament, but a mode of transmitting the Word that promotes memorization and comprehension among the faithful. The article analyzes the ekphonetic notation system, its signs and their function, as well as the liturgical role of the reader. It shows that this tradition, codified by conciliar canons and commented upon by the Fathers, remains alive in the Orthodox patriarchates of the East and on Mount Athos, constituting a testimony to the liturgical continuity of the Church.