LIVE BROADCASTING OF DIVINE SERVICES FROM CHRIST THE SAVIOUR
ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL, JOHNSTOWN, PA

Please follow this link to watch live Divine Services from Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Johnstown, PA.

http://www.acrod.org/livebroadcast.html

The first liturgy was yesterday and has been archieved. Please keep this valuable outreach tool in your prayers. May God bless the builders and benefactors of His holy Church.

Ray
www.theologyincolor.com

A very fine resource, and a beautiful liturgy.

But I was a little surprised that the Creed and the Lord's Prayer were not sung, but simply recited by a lady member of the congregation (at 32' 45" and 51' 00" respectively).

Beside the creed, surprisingly the Our Father was also recited, led it seems by a member of the congregation.

There were also two "extraordinary ministers" giving Communion, one vested as subdeacon (who I think also read the lesson) and another in just a sticharion. It seems they also received Communion in the altar which I would have thought was reserved (following the rubrics) to deacons and priests.

I thought it was very interesting to watch this liturgy in English from Johnstown. It looks like a very beautiful church with a fine choir. The quality of the video and sound too were quite good.

It is very good that resources like this are made available online!

I have been, and yes, it's a beautiful cathedral (it's only an hour's drive from here). I was a bit taken aback also that the Lord's Prayer and the Creed were recited. I had, based on my personal experience, assumed that singing/saying them was one of those small-t Byazantine/Slavic tradition differences (we said them at my Antiochian parish, but chanted them at every Slavic parish I've attended). I'm sure on this forum I needn't remind anyone of how ACROD came to be, or that they still have a few Latinisms that they have not yet purged.

I assume that the "eucharistic ministers" (when I was there, only the priest and a deacon administered the Mysteries) were tonsured. If not, I am at a loss to explain it.

I want to be honest with everybody here. I knew that posting this would set off some form of "discussion" about "practices" seen in the broadcast. Can we please refrain from that?

In the spirit of Great Lent, I am asking for us to rejoice at this new internet ministry of our church, and not cast stones upon some things that you see. There must some practice in your parish of which I do not agree, but will continue to bless your efforts to glorify God.

Ray

"I want to be honest with everybody here. I knew that posting this would set off some form of "discussion" about "practices" seen in the broadcast. Can we please refrain from that?"

Why? How are we to understand, unless we ask questions? Frankly, I was surprised to see how much like a Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church of the forties and fifties the Cathedral appeared.

There's a good reason for that. It was built in 1952. I visited there a few years ago, and got a tour from Father Frank Miloro, (the priest who is serving the liturgy in the video). Very friendly and hospitable priest.

Can we not accept the traditions/ practices of another Church ?

I'm very grateful to Ray for putting this up .

I was only giving my immediate gut reaction about the recital of the Creed and the Lord's Prayer. Frankly, it did make me jump. But I don't want to criticize or start a big debate. I certainly take your point that there are probably practices almost everywhere that could be criticized in some way!

I do think this is an excellent internet ministry, and all honor to those who are providing it. I am looking forward to watching your Palm Sunday celebration

"Can we not accept the traditions/ practices of another Church ? "

So, asking questions is equivalent to "not accepting"? How can we even begin to accept, if we are not permitted to understand?

Just for correction, both were wearing oraria, and both are ordained subdeacons.

I do not believe that ACROD blesses those who are not subdeacons to wear oraria, at least not among seminarians.

Dave