Dear Father:

Even those in the post-retirement age group can learn a new language.

In fact, studies have shown that learning a new language after retirement stimulates brain cells and somehow may protect the brain from senility. This is new research I found when studying second language acquisition.

So, I am open to learning as many languages as I can. Of course, I am a linguist.

Father Serge, bless!

I am still awaiting a reply to my question: What does "nasushchnyi" mean? This in response to your statement about some elderly Russian ladies: They also thought that "nasushchnyi" meant "daily" (your implication being that it does not).

It occurred to me on rereading my posted question that you may have been put off by the second paragraph. I am not lecturing or trying to show off. I was only trying to explain the reason for my question. I really just want to know if that Slavonic word is a more accurate rendition of the original Greek.

Will you answer?

"nasushny" = "daily"
"hlib nasushny dayz nam dnesh" = "give us this day our daily bread"

Glory to Jesus Christ!

I learned somewhere that "nasushchnyi" means "real", or "essential" or "genuine" and refers to our request "give us" or "dazhd nam" for bread "chleb" that represents whatever is truly necessary for our spiritual and material existence, "daily" or "dnes." I hope this is helpful!

A student

C. I. X.

The parish I usually attend has 120 years of experimenting under its belt. Back then there were three services; Vespers, Matins and Liturgy each time period developing its own following to this day. Scripture readings are usually repeated in tandem liturgical AND vernacular languages as agreed upon by our missionary apostle Saint Methodius and Pope John VIII in 873. Of course back then the liturgical was probably Classical Greek and vernacular Slavonic. The choir sings the Liturgy in Slavonic for which the compositions were orchestrated while most priests intone in Ukrainian. Seasonal services and movable parts are often according to the preference of the crowd responding. If its Liturgy with American born often English seasoned with Slavonic is used as we believe the Lord is trilingual. If there are more new immigrants but the English responses are the ones being sung with gusto, guess which gets preference. Microphones don’t count. If its balanced it’s balanced, requiring a cantor fluent in three language traditions. What is unfortunate is when a newcomer thinks if it is not broke brake it and see what happens. With luck they are not around long so the natives have a chance to pick up the pieces before everything is swept away. Like someone asked “How many Russians does it take to change a light bulb? (answer) We use candles”. It tickles me that when the Ukrainian Orthodox use Ukrainian it is so modern only an independent Ukrainian citizen understands it, but when they use English it is full of “thees” and “thous”. Do you know how many Ukrainians it takes to change a light bulb? (answer) WE DON’T CHANGE!

Mandated English Liturgies are fine, but mandated evangelization and outreach has to occur as well. I know of many parishes that the new immigrants see as too American and thus don't attend that parish, and Americans see as ethnic and so they don't attend that parish. Thus it is the same people that are there and the parish doesn't grow, and in places like Ohio and PA their kids move away to other states or just don't attend church. The remaining people grow older and die out and then no one is left. How does anyone expect a model like that to work?!?! It is doomed for failure. Many UGCC, BCA, and Orthodox parishes follow this and it is ridiculous?!

Monomakh