Shall I become Melkite Catholic? - The Byzantine Forum

You are not logged in. [Log In] www.byzcath.org » Forums » Faith & Christian Life » Faith & Theology » Shall I become Melkite Catholic?

Newest Members

Mendeleyev, Vinolentus, RusOrthCath, Cavaradossi, Roman Interloper, ftbond, NitaMacdonald1930, SOL, etomaria, Kostyantyn, Benny, Ivanov325, DocH, andria, Joe Smith
4467 Registered Users

Who's Online

10 registered (Booth, theophan, Latin Catholic, Fr. Deacon Lance, Peter J, babochka, Curious Joe, antv, Nicole, 1 invisible), 179 Guests and 3 Spiders online.

Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod

Latest Photos

Hierarchial Divine Liturgy at Holy Trinity Cathedral OCA SF

Easter Sunday - Pascha - Velik Den- St. Michael's, Binghamton,NY

Forum Stats

4467 Members
26 Forums
30166 Topics
373796 Posts

Max Online: 1087 @ 07/16/07 01:09 PM

Topic Options

#372453 - 11/30/11 04:22 PM Shall I become Melkite Catholic?
EasternByzantine1 Junior Member Registered: 11/13/11 Posts: 5 Loc: United States , Connecticut	I'm a Maronite catholic and I have a strong Love for the Melkite Catholics because of there liturgy , art , and hymns. Shall I become Byzantine or stay Maronite ? God Bless
Top

#372454 - 11/30/11 04:40 PM Re: Shall I become Melkite Catholic? [Re: EasternByzantine1]
Administrator John Member Registered: 11/02/01 Posts: 5910 Loc: Virginia	Welcome, EB1! No one can answer that question for you. It can only be discerned through prayer. Where is the Lord calling you to be? Pray over that and follow Him. Make sure you have a good spiritual director/confessor. John
Top

#372455 - 11/30/11 04:44 PM Re: Shall I become Melkite Catholic? [Re: Administrator]
EasternByzantine1 Junior Member Registered: 11/13/11 Posts: 5 Loc: United States , Connecticut	See that's the confusing thing because the lord wants me to be both but i need to decide which rite. This is confusing for me
Top

#372456 - 11/30/11 04:53 PM Re: Shall I become Melkite Catholic? [Re: EasternByzantine1]
Thymiato Member Registered: 11/17/01 Posts: 305 Loc: California	There is great spiritual beauty and depth in the Syriac Tradition, even if it isn't always apparent in the modern Maronite experience. I would suggest you explore it further before making a decision though you won't be cut off from it if you do join the Melkites.
Top

#372457 - 11/30/11 04:58 PM Re: Shall I become Melkite Catholic? [Re: EasternByzantine1]
Administrator John Member Registered: 11/02/01 Posts: 5910 Loc: Virginia	Originally Posted By: EasternByzantine1 See that's the confusing thing because the lord wants me to be both but i need to decide which rite. This is confusing for me It's not likely the Lord is calling you to be both - living in two Churches in two parishes is neither possible in the long run (nor healthy). It is more likely that He is happy with whatever your personal choice is. Possibly the only way forward is to spend time in both Churches to see which one is more home to you, and then when you find that to settle there. And again, speak with your spiritual father. No one here can advise you on your spiritual life, except in providing the most basic of information.
Top

#372460 - 11/30/11 05:30 PM Re: Shall I become Melkite Catholic? [Re: EasternByzantine1]
Michael_Thoma Member Registered: 07/10/05 Posts: 1929 Loc: Chicago	There are other options within the Syriac family - including the Malankara Syriacs, the Syriac Orthodox, and the Syriac Catholics (although I think the Syriac Catholics resemble the Maronites, especially in the West)
Top

#372463 - 11/30/11 06:49 PM Re: Shall I become Melkite Catholic? [Re: EasternByzantine1]
Yuhannon Member Registered: 08/08/02 Posts: 1309 Loc: Las Vegas, NV	Shlomo, I like you am a Maronite one of the things I would encourage you to do is to look at our Ancient Holy Traditions. Our eparchs Patriarch have called on us to embrase who we where so that we can know who we are. I.would suggest you visit Maronite websites that have examples of our iconography, hymnology, and our legitimate theology. I think when you see those you will fall in love with your home tradition. Fush BaShlomo, Yuhannon
Top

#372468 - 11/30/11 11:01 PM Re: Shall I become Melkite Catholic? [Re: EasternByzantine1]
Pani Rose Member Registered: 11/06/01 Posts: 10158 Loc: Irondale,AL	Well we have St George Melkite, the about three blocks away is St Elias Marionite, we are so closely intertwined that many of the families are intermarried, but they changed rites.
Top

#372472 - 12/01/11 12:38 AM Re: Shall I become Melkite Catholic? [Re: EasternByzantine1]
sielos ilgesys Member Registered: 05/07/09 Posts: 1090 Loc: Texas/USA	MY quandry is: should I remain Greek Catholic or lapse into either agnosticism or atheism?
Top

#372474 - 12/01/11 01:06 AM Re: Shall I become Melkite Catholic? [Re: sielos ilgesys]
Slavipodvizhnik Member Registered: 07/23/05 Posts: 2436 Loc: The Third Rome	When you stand praying, burdened with many sins and overpowered with despair, begin to pray with hope, with a fervent spirit, and remind yourself that 'the Spirit Itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered!' (Rom. 8:26). When you remember with faith this action of the Spirit of God within us, then tears of emotion will flow from your eyes, you will feel in your soul peace, sweetness, justification, 'and joy in the Holy Ghost,' (Rom. 14:17) and you will cry in your heart, 'Abba, Father!' St. John of Kronstadt, My Life in Christ
Top

#372481 - 12/01/11 08:54 AM Re: Shall I become Melkite Catholic? [Re: EasternByzantine1]
Ot'ets Nastoiatel' Member Registered: 07/03/06 Posts: 226 Loc: 266 Mulberry St. NY, NY 10012	Does no one out there realize that the will of the Church, as expressed in Canon Law, is that one ought to retain one's ritual ascription (normally the rite of one's father, if he is Catholic)? In other words, bloom where you're planted! There are exceptions, of course, but only for the most serious of reasons!
Top

#372485 - 12/01/11 11:51 AM Re: Shall I become Melkite Catholic? [Re: Administrator]
EasternByzantine1 Junior Member Registered: 11/13/11 Posts: 5 Loc: United States , Connecticut	Originally Posted By: Administrator Welcome, EB1! No one can answer that question for you. It can only be discerned through prayer. Where is the Lord calling you to be? Pray over that and follow Him. Make sure you have a good spiritual director/confessor. John Thank You ! And yes the lord has called me to become Byzantine !
Top

#372486 - 12/01/11 11:54 AM Re: Shall I become Melkite Catholic? [Re: Administrator]
EasternByzantine1 Junior Member Registered: 11/13/11 Posts: 5 Loc: United States , Connecticut	Yes the lord has called me:) except there arnt any Melkite Parishes where I live :( there a hour or two away:(
Top

#372487 - 12/01/11 11:56 AM Re: Shall I become Melkite Catholic? [Re: Yuhannon]
EasternByzantine1 Junior Member Registered: 11/13/11 Posts: 5 Loc: United States , Connecticut	I seen our icongraphy , hymns etc many times :) but the Maronite Church is too western and I'm looking for a Church from Antioch that's more Byzantine and has lots of icons you know?
Top

#372490 - 12/01/11 02:33 PM Re: Shall I become Melkite Catholic? [Re: EasternByzantine1]
Administrator John Member Registered: 11/02/01 Posts: 5910 Loc: Virginia	EB1, It sounds like you are saying that the Lord is calling you to attend a Church you can't become part of because it is not located near enough to attend regularly. The Lord does not typically lead people into something as difficult. Again, pray and speak with your spiritual director and seek his advice. And consider Ot'ets Nastoiatel's advice to grow where you are planted. John
Top

Previous Topic

Index

Next Topic

Moderator: Alice, Father Deacon Ed, theophan

The Byzantine Forum provides message boards for discussions focusing on Eastern Christianity (though discussions of other topics are welcome). The views expressed herein are those of the participants and may or may not reflect the teachings of the Byzantine Catholic or any other Church. The Byzantine Forum and the www.byzcath.org site exist to help build up the Church but are unofficial, have no connection with any Church entity, and should not be looked to as a source for official information for any Church. Contents copyright - 1996-2012. All rights reserved.