Glory Forever!

Jeff,
To the best of my knowledge, the Council of Hierarchs has not given general approval to use the provisional text and music publications on the MCI website in all of the parishes of the Metropolia.

For example, all of the materials published by John Vernoski carry a statement at the bottom: "Approved by Bishop Andrew Pataki, J.C.L., D.D., Eparch of Passaic." (Note: No similar statement exists on the MCI Materials.)

It is clear that the text and music in the Vernoski materials may be used by Cantors and Faitful in the Eparchy of Passiac and, as such, I do review them prior to using them in the Parish Setting for a Feast.

Certainly, if the MCI materials are made available on the Web early enough, I suppose that one could review them and provide the feedback; I still conclude that there is a bigger question that must be answered about whether these materials should even be used in the parish setting at this point.

- Cantor JKF

That is correct, the Hierarchs have not given any approval at all, general or specific, for these texts, translations and musical settings, and they may not be used in the Churches.

Nick

Nicholas,

Interesting...

Ungcsertezs

Nick,

You go to far. The MCI materials were translated by the Inter-Eparchial Liturgical Commission and set to chant by the Inter-Eparchial Music Commission. They at least were used with permission in the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh. You will question the use of materials that the Hierarch's commissioned but say nothing about using Msgr. Levkulic's booklets or the Sister of St. Basil books which also do not have approbation? According to your logic then everbody but Passaic should not be having Vespers or Matins at all because there are no books with the official seal.

Fr. Deacon Lance

Thank you, Father Deacon Lance, for putting the approval matter into better perspective.

Our priorities ought to be effective worship by our communities, not who has written approval to use materials and where they are approved. Given the limited resources we all have, there is a need to be more pragmatic- to use what works best in our local churches- which DOES differ from place to place.

Father Lance makes a very good point. The Council of Hierarchs gave specific direction to both the Inter-Eparchial Liturgical Commission and the Inter-Eparchial Music Commission to prepare these new translations and musical settings. The bishops have also paid for this effort, have directed (or at least permitted) its use at the seminary, have directed (or at least permitted) its use at the Pittsburgh cantors school, and have directed (or at least permitted) the publication of these materials on an official website of an official organization of the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh. None of this means that this material is formally approved and/or mandated, but it does certainly demonstrate the direction that the bishops have set for our Church. Where other official translations or editions do not exist, it seems that these materials would be at least acceptable for use at this time, if not the preferred texts and musical settings. Where other official translations or editions do exist, it seems that they should still be preferred, at least until the bishops give specific blessing to the new materials. Ultimately, until the bishops give a specific directive to the Church on the matter, the clergy will have to use its own judgment. Cantors will need to continue to defer to the direction of their pastors.

As I have now stated numerous times, there are a number of corrections to the texts that I welcome, but I strongly disagree with the changes to the rubrics for the Divine Services as well as those changes to the texts which go beyond actual correction to errors (and possibly standardization). The music, however, is another matter. I repeat that everyone should welcome and encourage anyone providing their ideas for new settings. Each should place his gift in this area on the altar. Ultimately, the Lord will bless what He will bless and what is best will be embraced by the Church.

Two more things (again, both are simply my opinions). While much of the Levkulic material does not have a specific blessing from the bishops, it does outrank everything else. Metropolitan Judson noted (I think in the clergy newsletter) that Msgr. Levkulic’s materials have been blessed through use and parishes should continue to use them until official editions are promulgated. AFAIK, the current bishops have not spoken to overrule this (but I am certainly not privy to how they direct their clergy!). Additionally, while most of my own work does carry the blessing of one of our bishops there has never been a directive that it is to be preferred over other editions. They also seem to have been blessed through use over the past 25 years (if only because they have always used the traditional texts, been faithful to the received tradition as documented by the Roman editions of the Ruthenian Liturgical books, and have gained acceptance by the Church at large). Also, an approval for use is not the same as the giving of a new, normative edition.

In the end, this is not an issue that we can resolve here on the Forum. Cantors need to look to their pastors for guidance and pastors need to look to their bishops.

Our Administrator wrote:
Where other official translations or editions do exist, it seems that they should still be preferred, at least until the bishops give specific blessing to the new materials.

In parishes where some services are being introduced for the first time, I am less certain of the advisability of the above. It could mean having to change to another order of service later on.

Ultimately, until the bishops give a specific directive to the Church on the matter, the clergy will have to use its own judgment. Cantors will need to continue to defer to the direction of their pastors.

Fortunately, this most always seems to work. No matter how strident discussions get on the Forum itself, life in the parishes goes on.

Just to clarify, I have nothing against using Msgr. Levkulic's booklets, my parish does, or the Sister's books just the idea that the MCI books are unallowed/unfit for use.

Fr. Deacon Lance

That has been my understanding: "Provisional" texts and music may be used, with the approval of one's Pastor and/or Bishop, in those situations where an existing edition (carrying official approbation or "tacit" approbation simply due to widespread, long-standing usage across the Metropolia), does not exist.

Using that logic, the MCI Materials for the Vesperal Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great for Theophany should not have been used in any parish of the Metropolia (except in those situations in the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh where Metropolitan Basil has specifically approved it) because the Levkulic Edition exists and is the current normative edition for the Metropolia.

The materials for the other services could probably be used by Cantors, subject to the appropriate approval (Pastor, Liturgical Commission, or Bishop) - but, again, there may be a need to specifically clarify that in each Eparchy to avoid this confusion.

It is of the utmost importance that we, as Cantors, do not put the Faithful in a position where they will have difficulty participating in the Divine Services with which they have become familiar because we are using "provisional" music/text settings - some of which may change before (and if) they are promulgated.

Flexibility and patience are key in all this, I believe.

A factor that does have to be considered when using MCI materials is whether it is likely to be easier to revise it later, or to wait to introduce a final MCI version in place of some older service material. Which one is easier to learn, AND is less likely to have to be replaced? Sometimes, tweeking an existing document is easier than a total makeover.

In parishes where a service is being introduced for the first time, I can see that going with MCI materials may be easier, from the standpoint of future revisions. Of course, pastoral judgment should be involved in such decision-making, just as it is when deciding to use materials not officially approved outside the Eparchy of Passaic. Clearly, that does not necessarily mean obtaining approval from one's bishop, but from one's priest who functions as persona christi for the parish. He may or may not need to consult the bishop. That's his call.

The trouble with being reluctant to use things for fear they may end up being changed, is that lots of things end up that way, whether planned for or not. For example, I was surprised to learn that SJK Press is revising its monthly menaion series, which is very expensive. I never thought I would see that happening.

So, we can all count on change, whether we want, like, or need it personally, or not. At least with sound pastoral judgment changes ought to occur with minimal agita.

"very expensive" is a relative term. Personally, I consider the Saint John of Kronstadt Press Menaion an excellent bargain and well worth having. It was said from the beginning that the bound editions were still provisional, and that the entire translation would be revised - AND that those who purchased the provisional editions would be able to purchase the revised edition for 50% of the price, which is also a good bargain.

Incognitus

I wholeheartedly agree with the above statement. The above is also true when the spiral-bound Octoechos (the complete English translation from the Slavonic by Isaac Lambertsen (many years!!!) becomes hard-bound and finalized.

I have found no better texts than these, certainly none more complete. The Octoechos works very well with either Obikhod or Samoylka (I haven't had the pleasure yet of using the new Old Rite Octoechos).
DRLB

I don't question the intrinsic value of the SJK Press menaions. However, $1000 to 1200 for the set is not cheap in my book. There are parishes that cannot afford that outlay, or could not use the menaion because it lacks episcopal approval, but there are patrons who have been known to donate whole sets for use, too. Personally, it is the most complete text-form menaion I know in English.

It seems that would cover nearly every work discussed on this thread.

Exactly.