www.byzcath.org Forums Corpus Christi Procession in Germany

I had to work Sunday so I attended the Saturday evening mass at my parish. Driving home from work around 3:45 PM I was passing a church near my workplace. The sound of church bells caught my ear and I looked over and there was the procession coming around the corner with the priest carrying the monstrance and altar servers with candles leading the way with a fairly large procession following. I slowed down, bowed my head, made the Sign of the Cross and said the Jesus Prayer. Gave me goosebumps.

Am I mistaken in believing that all of our Eastern Churches have two Processions with the Burial Shroud (Plaschanitsa)?
The first represents the burial procession during Great Friday Vespers when the Priest takes the Shroud from the Holy Table and begin the candlelight procession through and outside around the Church during the repeated singing of the Tropar " The noble Joseph took down from the cross Your most pure body....."
Then the procession re-enters the church and the body of Christ (shroud) is placed in the tomb in the nave of the Church. During this procession the faithful can physically "be present" at this holy event in our Redemption.

Then on Great Saturday at the beginning of Resurrection Matins the Shoud is taken from the tomb, symbolicly reliving the Resurrection, and the Candlelight Procession takes place again through and outside around the Church. As the procession enters the Church and the Resurected Christ (the Plaschanitsa) is enthroned upon the altar as the people joyously sing Christ is Risen!
Has this wonderful and awesome tradition died (like home blessing after the Theophany) in our sanitized "American" Church?
I think I have seen hints from our last two pastors that this is not the "norm" but we have continued it anyway, barring inclement weather (we process inside the Church in that case).
Deacon Paul

Paul, we lift up the Plaschitsya over the doorway in the narthex after entering the church and everyone enters in underneath it as if entering a tomb.

There is much variation in the practice of the processions, between Greek and Russian/Slavic usage as well as various local peculiarities.

Alex, thanks for the compliment but I somehow don't think St. Leonid made it to 275 lbs nor was a defensive end on his American football team...and if there is any resemblance at all it is strictly external when compared to the holy Hieromartyr Exarch Leonid, who truly had acquired the indwelling Holy Spirit. Hieromartyr Leonid, pray to God for us!!!

And yes, actually St. Leonid was my inspiration for having our parish participate. Eis Polla Eti Despota to Bishop Finn who was so gracious to us.

I attend a Ruthenian Rite Byzantine Church
where there is an Orthodox Church right
next door. I just happened to be going by
at the "right" time this past spring and
observed the Orthodox Church's Great Friday
Vespers procession with the Shroud. However,
I was astounded to see that immediately
behind the priest was a parishioner holding
up a large American flag. Now, I'm not being
unpatriotic or anything, but this seemed highly
inappropriate to me. Surely this isn't standard
Orthodox practice, is it?

Randy,

Thanks for sharing the photos. The RC priest was right, you definitely outdressed the Latins .

Dave,

Holy Trinity has a beautiful parish website - and a wonderful collection of photos. Although you got short shrift in that photo with the Copts, I notice that another family member (is that Mom?) gets a lot of good photo opportunities .

Many years,

Neil

Neil,

I try my best to keep the site nicely designed and updated, at least while I'm home during breaks.

I am in a number of photos, you just have to know where to look. Plus, I am often the one taking the photos.

And yes, that's my mom!

Dave