www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall pews, once again

I was talking with my [pro-pew] priest yesterday and he said that all the parishes that had removed pews in the Parma eparchy had put them back in. Is this true? I know Professor Lauffer attended a pewless parish; perhaps he knows.
Also, to read an essay I wrote on pews, padded and otherwise, click here: padded pews [caelumetterra.typepad.com]

For what it's worth, you won't find many organists who like padded pews. Like carpeting, they destroy the acoustics of the building for music. You end up with the usual American church, so acoustically dead everything has to be electronically amplified.

Iconophile,

Your priest in mistaken. We removed 1/2 of our pews and they are still removed.

Dan Lauffer

Those who understand a few words of Yiddish might enjoy this one:

There were a substantial number of members of the synagogue who wanted padded pews. There was only enough money to provide such upholestery for about 1/3 of the pews. After some thought and consultation with the rabbi, the synagogue board decided to put the upholstery in the back third of the pews, on the principle: front row yicchus, back row tucchus.

Icognitus

I know what the back row is, but not the front row! :rolleyes: hehehe...

I await a definition, sir Incognitus!

Love in Christ,
Alice

I was curious about the "pew issue".

I have visited one Orthodox Church, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh. They were having a Greek food festival and my se�ora wanted to go. The food was good and the Greek music and dancing were enjoyable.

When we walked around I was surprised to see a church full of - pews! I have heard that in the Old Country, pews were not in Orthodox churches.
I know that the Cathedral of St. John in Munhall (Pittsburgh) and St. Gregory Nazianzen (Upper St. Clair) both have pews.

I was aware that pews were a Protestant innovation and originally neither East nor West had them.

I wonder how the "rad trads" would feel if they were told that they had to get rid of their pews to be true Catholics. Bet they wouldn't like it.

Well - should we all just get rid of pews? Or save a few for expecting mothers and those with newborns, infants and toddlers, the elderly and infirm, and possibly young children?

Khristos Anesti!

Dear Alice,
"Yicchus" is a Yiddish word meaning honor and/or respect paid (by others, presumably) to oneself - like having the front seat in the synagogue, for example! The concept is of course older than the language - the Gospel refers to people who like to have the front seats in the synagogue.
In our Churches, we have the reverse problem - it's always the front seats that are left vacant. Why, I don't claim to know.

in the Risen Lord,

Incognitus

Hi JW,

Greek Orthodox churches in the U.S. have pews, or in the case of my church, elaborate chairs with cushions set up in pew style.

In Greece, I have seen larger churches with chairs set up 'pew style' like in my New York parish.

I have never seen people sit on the floor in pewless/chairless churches in Greece as some other Orthodox have described their pewless/chairless U.S. churches to me. (Europeans have always tended to be formal people)

Most Greek Orthodox in the U.S. like the option of sitting on and off during the Liturgy, and sitting through the sermon. We tend to dress formally for church on Sundays, so it lends itself well.

I know that this is at odds with the majority here, but I am just speaking for my own church.

Vive la difference, I suppose! *WINK*

In Christ,
Alice

Dear Incognitus,

ALITHOS ANESTI!

Thank you for explaining what 'yiccus' is!

Your friend in Christ Jesus,
Alice

Alice,

Thank you.