Dear Friends,

What is the rationale for reading the Paschal Gospel of St John in several languages?

I have my own theories , but am wondering how our Church understands this.

Alex

Alex,
Christ is Risen! Indeed, He is Risen!
The typicon for the Byzantine Ruthenian Church simply says the Gospel is read "in various languages...by tradition".
Deacon El

Dear Reverend Father Deacon,

What do you feel could be the reason for this?

It seems to me that the speaking in various languages, symbolically, is more liturgically appropriate for Pentecost - am I way off base here?

Did it originally have something to do with the three languages used in Pilate's composition of the Title of Christ?

Something I've always wondered about, but was reticent to ask.

Alex

Dear Alex,

Could be, but I don't know.

I watched Vespers on that day from the Greek Orthodox Cathedral in New York, and got to hear that very thing...the Gospel read in Greek, English, Slavonic, Latin, French, and Spanish, to be exact. It sounded good...but the Greek guy had HORRIBLE Latin pronunciation. "Iesus dixit ad diskipoolees", and the like. Atrocious. But overall it was nice.

Anyway, maybe it's done to emphasise the universal importance of the Resurrection?

Dear Catholicos,

Actually, Greeks have had trouble pronouncing Latin since that unfortunate incident at Constantinople in AD 1054 .

And vice-versa I suppose . . .

You are probably right.

In the time of Sts. Cyril and Methodius, there was a theory of the three languages, Latin, Greek and Aramaic/Hebrew (which?) that Pilate used in writing the charge against Christ for His Cross.

That's why the Thessalonian brothers had some difficulty getting a Slavonic liturgy approved - some say they never got permission from Rome for it.

We had a priest who was a theology professor and a linguist (like Dr. John the Theologian ) and he once read the Paschal Gospel in no less than 12 languages, from memory.

Alex

To me, it represents the teh commission of our Lord to go forth and preach the Gospel to all nations. Since different nations use different tongues, it only makes since that the Gospel should be read in different languages. Now, why is it that the Gospel in question is John 1?

Food for thought:

Gospel Readings for Christmas

-At the Vespers & Divine Liturgy of St. Basil on Christmas Eve: Luke 2:1-20
-At the Divine Liturgy of Christmas Day: Matthew 2:1-12


Gospel Readings for Pascha:

-At the Vespers & Divine Liturgy of St. Basil on Holy Saturday: Matthew 28:1-20

-At Pascha Matins: Mark 16:1-8

-At the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom: John 1:1-17

"A monk of the Eastern Church" (Fr. Lev) says that the reading of the Gospel in many languages underscores the universality of the Christ's message.

Then I'm glad Father Lev and I are of one mind...great minds, you know.

Dear Friends,

Could you also comment on the theory that the Gospel could only be preached and the Liturgy celebrated in the three languages used by Pilate to write Christ's Title?

Alex