Bless Father,

In a time when a good laugh is few and far between, you have given me many smiles! The thought of Metropolitan Laurus adopting the Ruthenian RDL is humorous to me!

In fairness to Father David, he said no such thing; he pointed out that the bishops have changed our books to match parish practice (which is largely true); that Orthodox practice similarly diverged quite a bit from the printed books (which is certainly true); and that he believed the Orthodox would eventually change THEIR books to match their parish practice.

Yours in Christ,
Jeff Mierzejewski

Jeff,

Why would it be so wrong to adopt parish practice to what Rome instructed us to use 40+ years ago?

Why would it be so wrong to adopt parish practice to the vast majority of our Greek Catholic brethern and use the word Orthodox?

Why would it be so wrong to adopt parish practice to the vast majority of our Orthodox brethern and actually celebrate Vespers and Matins?

Please give specific examples of how "Orthodox practice has similarly diverged".

Monomakh

It has been stated that a certain Orthodox bishop has spoken favorably about the Ruthenian Metropolia'a Revised DL. The first hierarch to come to mind is Met. Nicholas. I'm still looking for his written comments about the Revised DL.

Ungcsertezs

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure to meet Bishop Job of the OCA diocese of the midwest. Although our conversation was brief, I asked him for his thoughts on the Byzantine RDL. His words were "Well, you know how people say change is good, that is definitely not a change for the good"

I have trouble picturing Metropolitan Nicholas publicly criticizing the changes. He also has not been in the best of health, and so probably has other things on his mind.

At the parish level, I've heard narry a peep, good or bad.

Amen! His Eminence is very wise.

Now THIS brought me out of my Holy Week preparations with a chuckle! It takes longer for our deacon to cense the Church prior to Liturgy than your "new and improved" Liturgy takes from start to finish! Don't look for Divine Liturgy "Lite" at Jordanville any time soon.

Alexandr

Dear Alexander,

Always glad to bring joy to your heart!

Fr. Serge

As always Alex, you know how to brighten my day!

Blessed Pascha! Christos Voskrese!

Now, now. Divine Liturgy at Jordanville is always Light, but never Lite!

Fr. Serge

I have heard many times that the "new translation" of The Divine Liturgy in the Ruthenian Catholic Church, was meant to bring us closer to our Eastern Catholic and Orthodox counterparts.

I believe that the Ruthenian Catholic Church is currently, the only Catholic or Orthodox Church that has promulgated and approved horizontal inclusive language across the board. Every Liturgy and every prayer is, or is in the process of being completely neutralized. The only other places I see this type of neutralization is in some of the protestant churches. So it seems to me, that the "new translation" has brought us closer to the protestant church.

I am not being sarcastic here. This translation seems to have divided the church within and distanced us from our Eastern Catholic and Orthodox brethren. The only bridge that I see, leads to the protestant church, and it is paved with inclusive language.

Comments?