www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Byzantine Village II

U-C,

Father Deacon has already answered that. He said we must be free to celebrate the fullness of the Byzantine tradition, and we must go where that is possible. He said he knows of a bishop who will be supportive. It is likely that bishop is not from the Ruthenian church.

So a point for discussion will be how do we best reflect the many ethnic traditions and languages and provide a place where all of them feel welcome?

Hmm. I've wondered if all the politicians would fast from talking twice per week if that would reduce green house emissions and global warming . . .


-- John

I'm not sure I'm following . . . ? ?

We're talking about forming a Byzantine Village. How are we going to unite the Ukrainians, the Romanians, the Melkites, the Ruthenians, the Russians, the Slovaks, the Hungarians, the Bulgarians, and any other Byzantine who wants to live and worship there? Do we fully follow the tradition of the Church whose patronage we are under? If it is Melkite, that means no Slavonic. I know some here who wouldn't be happy.

How and when do we use Ukrainian, Russian, Slavonic, Spanish, English, Slovak, Romanian, Greek, Arabic, or other languages? How do we bridge the recension, tradition, and ethnic differences between the Byzantine Churches to form one unified community of worshipers from any or all of them? How do we best reflect the many ethnic traditions and languages and provide a place where all of them feel welcome?

Well, we could all just move to Pittsburgh, where there's a church of a different Eastern jurisdiction on every corner . . .

:::ducking:::

-- John

Actually, my home town of Windber is not too far off the mark--from sixth street to tenth street, there were six Catholic churches. Not on the same block, but one block wide by five blocks long! Corner of sixth and Graham--St. Cyril & Methodius Slovak Roman Catolic. Corner of seventh and Graham--St. John's Polish Roman Catholic. Corner of Somerset and seventh (one block up from Graham Avenue) St. Mary's Hungarian RC. Corner of Somerset and eight--St. Mary's Byzantine Catholic. Corner of ninth and Somerset Avenue--Saints Peter and Paul's ACROD. And finally, on the corner of tenth and Graham Avenue--Holy Child, the Irish Catholic RC. St. Anthony's of Padua (the Italian RC) was on 22nd and Graham.

Oh, the above list did not include the Methodist church on the corner of ninth and Graham Avenue or the Presbyterian on the corner of tenth and Somerset!

Sadly, the RC diocese closed the Hungarian Catholic church and combined them with the Polish church, changing it from St. John's to Mother Mary Seton, I belive it is now. And the ACROD church burned down many years ago and they moved just out of town. It was fun while it lasted!

Tim

The offer still stands. 160 acres of sheep and goats, maybe a log chapel someday (Nikonian recension of course!) and lots of room for little ones to experience God's creation the way it was meant to be experienced.

Alexandr

I think perhaps this is the cart before the horse. Once you have like-minded people who are willing to try this, and be serious, they will likely be willing in humility and charity to work with whatever chosen liturgical tradition and hierarchy that supports the parish church. Every family, of course, is not only free but encouraged to keep particular traditions within the family at home.

Father Deacon,

Then where should we start? Dumpling potluck at the undisclosed bishop's location? List of people who would seriously support the endeavor with their financial contributions or intended presence? What do we need to do to move into the concrete?

Obviously pray first. I recommend everyone pray the Akathist to the Sweetest Jesus this week for the inention that His will be done in all of this. If anyone does not have it, it can be found at http://pages.prodigy.net/frjohnwhiteford/akswjs.htm

Today on the Gregorian calendar is the feast of the great and holy Anthony of the Pecherska Lavra, who ventured into the caves of Kyiv and became the father of monasticism of Rus'. Ask for his intercession as well.

Then perhaps we should form our own group focused on discussing this further in another more focused venue whether by email list, Yahoo group, whatever. I am open.

The Yahoo group has been constructed - "Greek Catholic Village". http://groups.yahoo.com/group/greekcatholicvillage/

Thank you Fr. Deacon. I see the group now has three members. Is no one else here serious?

I'm going to send out a few PMs for those who might have missed it. Do you remember who had shown interest before?

I'll pray the akathist this week and ask for the intercession of St. Anthony of the Pecherska Lavra.

Having actually done homesteading with Orthodox and Catholics, both lay and monastic, I'm interested - though our ability to move over the next couple of years would be limited. I'll try to join the group later on.

Jeff

Was there being air conditioning in 19th century Russia? No!
IS OUTRAGE!

_____
Card-carrying member of the Father Vasiliy Vasileivich Fan Club

Upon reflection, having scanned the posts on this subject, I guess I will not participate at this time. It strikes me that anyone willing to consider such an enterprise has much to contribute to the life of the parish/eparchy in which he/she now resides, and an obligation to be the leaven in that dough, rather than wandering off to another bakeshop.