Friends--

Since some on the Forum enjoy learning of the strange, unusual and/or unexpected, this series of YouTube videos may be of interest. These videos show a 14 station "Way of the Cross" at an Orthodox monastery of Feredeu, Arad, Romania. The service was done in conjunction with the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross. I have not watched all the videos, but the service seems to be a series of Gospel readings with a prayer, some litanies, the singing of "Cruci Tale" (Your Cross we adore) and some other hymns.

This is not a widespread devotion among Romanian Orthodox, and it most likely just a local custom. Still, just when you think you've seen it all...

http://youtu.be/TfA9u3zf4lc

You will have to scroll through the user's other videos to find the rest.

Fr. David

Bless, Father David,

Us, enjoy the strange, unusual, and/or unexpected ... oh, pshaw - you're obviously thinking of some other forum

Many years,

Neil, aghast at the temerity of the man to suggest it - and after all his years here among we who thrive on the commonplace, the boring, the predictable

Seriously, thank you for these, Father.

I've only ever seen the traditional Way of the Cross performed in a few EC Churches (all but once in a Ukrainian parish, I believe) and never in an Orthodox Church that I remeber. However, it isn't too difficult to imagine that the processional aspects and opportunity to venerate multiple icons could seem familiar and exert an appeal, despite the focus on the Lord's Passion, rather than His Resurrection. Of all the latinizations that have crept into our history, this might be the one that I'd find least disturbing.

Certainly, the videos portray a very devout and prayerful community.

Many years,

Neil

Considering that Stations of the Cross is derived from the Jerusalem Paschal Liturgy, and was imported by Crusaders returning from the Holy Land, it's an easternization adopted by the Latin Church then reimported as a latinization by a number of Eastern Catholic Churches. However, in the East, the rite never caught on outside the Church of Jerusalem; in other Eastern Churches, different Lenten and Paschal rites evolved, most notably the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, the Akathistos, and the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete.

The Great Canon is one of my Favorite services. Don't forget Lamentations, another great service.

My goodness, shouldn't we American Eastern Christians go to Romania and put a stop to this?