Hello everyone, peace be with you all.

I have recently visited an eastern Catholic church and I must say, I have fallen in awe and wonder at the beauty and celebration of the eastern liturgy. Not to insult at all my western heritage nor its liturgy, I simply feel a sense of.... completion in the east. I feel that I also have the calling for the priesthood, so I was wondering if anyone could introduce me to the treasures of the Byzantine church so that I may fully experience the divine liturgy of the east.
If there are any traditionalist practices that I should know of or how I can change my rite, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you

It is not necessary for you to change rites in order to participate fully in the liturgical and social life of an Eastern Catholic parish.

Please do not worry about this. If at some later time you decide to become ordained to the deaconate or receive a monastic tonsure, then it may be necessary to change rites which is less difficult now than in previous times.

You are most welcome to participate in these discussions which take place here. Just be aware that most of us get rather passionate about our own individual positions and can come across as pushy and hyper-critical sometimes. (The fact that this is a bulletin board with no face to face contact contributes to this.)

So you are most welcome for as long as you wish to participate in our chruches and discussions.

Stefan-Ivan

thank you for the reply, I shall continue going to an eastern church though I am unfamiliar with certain traditionalist practices that I would like to do in order to seem more "in place" or at least very devoted, for that is what I would like to do, be very devoted according to eastern practice.
thank you for any advice or wisdom,
-Peace be with you,
Justin

Dear Justin,

In my visits to Eastern Catholic and Orthodox Liturgies, I have found that the people around me have been extremely welcoming and helpful.

If you feel comfortable, maybe you can ask the priest to suggest someone who can help you learn the practices that are new to you.

I am a Latin Catholic and I find that there is much beauty in the Liturgies of all of God's Churches. Perhaps you can share what you are learning with us!

Welcome to the Forum!

Steve

Our brothers have given you very good advice.

Byzantine Christians are very communitarian, perhaps because we are relatively small communities.

It is best to pray at the liturgy on a regular basis; become known to the people in the community; work your tail off to build the community (parish festivals, cleaning the church building, cleaning up the parish grounds, etc.). One's integration into the Church necessitates one's integration into the community. Unlike the general idea of the Roman church, for us being a member of the church means being a part of the community. It's not just a matter of showing up with the appropriate papers. Get to know and love the people who are your fellow Christians. And then you'll be a real (rather than just a 'legitimate') part of the Eastern church.

Blessings and welcome!

I am a fairly new Ukrainian Catholic and so can offer you a bit of advice as well. I would like to make an addition to what Dr. John said...talk to the people of the parish, let them know you are interested in learning more about their customs and traditions and that you respect the same. But the other things he says are very true too! Show them you want to be a part of the parish family by your participation in everything!
It works!
Don

Hi, I've also pondered the possibility of changing rites. I too experienced something in the Divine Liturgy that I don't anywhere else. From what I've learned, you'd do well to attend one parish regularly and participate in as many of its activities as you can. All parishes need members, not attendees. AFter you've been active for a couple of years, you can approach the priest with your request and he can help you with the paperwork. Your old bishop must agree to release you and your new bishop must agree to accept you. Bear in mind you can change a ritual church only once in your life. The Catholic Church (all twenty-something ritual Churches) isn't looking for "rite-hoppers".

Thank you for all your replies, you have been most helpfull and kind. Today, I participated in the divine liturgy and, once again, found it beautiful and fulfilling (even when the priest has an accent, it is a magnificent event). After the Mass, I awaited the priest to come from the sacristy and I told him about my desire to join the east and to become a priest. He was most overjoyed from what he said and asked me for my name and phone number. He said he would speak with the other priest and consider the best materials for introducing me to eastern catholicism properly. Ah yes, as I walked out the door he happily said "You've made my day" :-)
-Thank you all for all your help, Slava Isusu Christu (I believe that is how to say it),
Justin

Dear Catholic servant,
Welcome. I hope you find a home here to be able to discuss Eastern Theology and Spirituality.
Like one member said it is not necessary to change ("rites" I dislike the word) Jurisdictions.
I would suggest if you do change, first throughly familiarize yourself with the Eastern Church and its Tradition.
Again welcome!
And Peace.
Stephanos I
Unworthy Monk and Arch sinner

Correction, Justin. BECAUSE the priest has an accent, it is a wondrous event.

(Perfect American or Canadian accents in Byzantine Liturgy make me sick. I'd make an exception with folks from the Isles, though)

So, let us preeeaaaaayyyyy tooo thaa Luuuuuoooooorrrrd. Slava the Slavs, I say.

In IC XC
Samer

(Perfect American or Canadian accents in Byzantine Liturgy make me sick. I'd make an exception with folks from the Isles, though)

What?!

My priest is American and liturgizes without an accent!

Hope you don't get sick at my parish!

anastasios

That's an American accent, English without a foreign accent from the perspective of Americans. I'm not referring to Kennedy or Foghorn Leghorn English (I'd be very interested in hearing the Liturgy conducted with a southern drawl), only what would be considered 'generic' English over here.

Thanks to the miracle of classical Arabic, we have yet to hear how Liturgy would sound like said in the countless number of Arabic dialects (which would be a very humurous experience). The Copts do retain some of their accent, even when praying in classical Fushah.



Just reread that myself. Yes, that came out too strong. (Call it a Freudian slip, articulation mishap, or lack of tact) My apologies. To rephrase that, I tend to find the Byzantine Liturgy unpleasant to the ear when conducted by an American, but then again I dislike the way Arabs speak the language too, as well as English Liturgies in general, but that's just my own opinion. Merely a subjective criticism in phonetics and my biased preference. You may just as well lob a criticism in my direction, of the kind of Liturgy that you don't find appealing, Arabic or otherwise. No attack on persons intended here. Please don't take it so seriously. It sounded harsher than it was intended to be, if it was intended to be harsh at all. It would have been better to say "turn me off", instead of "sick".

In IC XC
Samer

[ 02-03-2002: Message edited by: SamB ]

Q. Do you mean Newfoundland or the Bahamas?

Those Isles would be on the wrong side of the Atlantic, actually.

Still, however, your mention of Newfoundland is very intriguing. A Liturgy conducted in that unique offshoot of Canadian English. It has its fair share of imports from the languages of the American natives. But of course now we're talking dialects here, not accents.

Has anyone listened to prayers conducted in the language of the Inuit?

In IC XC
Samer

[ 02-03-2002: Message edited by: SamB ]