www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Parish Life & Evangelization EWTN - Light of the East

I spoke with Father Michael today and he said they are going to be filming a new Light of the East [ewtn.com] TV series. Not sure how long it will take before it airs. Most likely 6 months or longer but I am just guessing.

Hi Ray.
That is great news!!! I love their series. I've corresponded with Fr. Mikael several times because I've been trying to purchase a copy of his Light of the East series on DVD or video. EWTN no longer sells the tapes and referred me to Fr. Michael and Fr. Joseph, who apparently don't have copies either. I've gone back and forth with EWTN for 2 months with no success. They made it completely clear they cannot help me purchase a copy, period, end of sentence.

I have my VCR scheduled to tape the show weekly, but unfortunately EWTN has preempted the show many times. When I get up in the morning and turn on my VCR frequently there is some other "special" show recorded.

And on the new line up starting in August or Sept. EWTN has cut the show altogether :-( I've politely but firmly complained any number of times that this is the only program they carry- 30 mins out of 24/7 programming- that is focused on the Eastern Catholic Churches and they should not ever preempt it, and now definitely shouldn't be cutting it out of the schedule.

I love EWTN but having spoken with a half dozen people there over several months each one I talked with could not be less concerned about any of these topics- the series no longer being available for purchase, the frequent preempting of the program, and now the cancellation altogether of the show. I realize it's a huge operation and this is one teeny concern but I've done my best to say that's part of the problem- they need more ongoing coverage of the ECCs. So I'm definitely excited to hear they are in fact going to produce a new series with Fr. Michael and Fr. Joseph. Here's hoping this one will be an hour weekly!

I'm involved in RCIA and other adult formation within the Latin/Roman Catholic community and would love to be able to use Fr. Mike's series with our folks. I'll be impatiently awaiting the new series LOL. -Mary Louise

[quote=Ray S.]I spoke with Father Michael today and he said they are going to be filming a new Light of the East [ewtn.com] TV series. Not sure how long it will take before it airs. Most likely 6 months or longer but I am just guessing.



Fantastick! I have watched the series a vcouple of times over, great to hear they are doing another one.

EWTN aired one show from the series during Advent 2008- the program on The Feast of the Nativity. Thankfully I was able to tape it. I hope we will see more of Fr. Mike Sopoliga and Fr. Joseph Bertha. They do a wonderful job of sharing the treasures of the Eastern Churches.

'bout time!

Glory to Jesus Christ!
LIGHT OF THE EAST II: GREAT LENT

Rebroadcast from their old series.
Fri, 03/06/09 2:00 PM Eastern, 11 AM Pacific

"Father Michael Sopoliga and Fr. Joseph Bertha discuss the beautiful pre-festive and holy season of Lent, the Great Fast. Called the “Great Lent,” because it is the longest fasting, and abstaining period of the entire Liturgical year. It takes extensive preparation and long in duration: 47 days, culminating in the most glorious feast of feasts, the Lord’s Triumphant Resurrection from the Dead."
http://www.ewtn.com/tv/NAAdv0309.asp

Don't ask me what calendar this relates to LOL but better "late" than never.

Upcoming rebroadcast of Light of the East, and some other programming on the ECCs. Please let EWTN know that you appreciate these programs and want more programs about ECCs. I woke very early the other morning and Catholic radio was broadcasting a Melkite Liturgy. (Times given here are EDT)

http://www.ewtn.com/tv/NAAdv0409.asp

Sun 04/05/09 7:30 30 mins PM LIGHT OF THE EAST II: Ep. 2309 Great Lent
Fathers Sopoliga and Bertha continue their journey through the liturgical year in the Byzantine Catholic Church with a look at Great Lent.

Thu 04/09/09 6 PM 30 mins LIGHT OF THE EAST II: Ep. 2310
Liturgical Year: Holy Week Fathers Sopoliga and Bertha continue their journey through the liturgical year in the Byzantine Catholic Church with a look at Holy Week.

Also of interest related to ECCs:
IRAQ'S CHRISTIANS Mon 04/06/09 2:00 PM EDT and Sat 04/11/09 12:00 PM Italian producer provides insight into Iraq’s rich Christian heritage amidst desperate times. This program is basically a clarion call to the world, particularly the Christian world, about the suffering that Iraq’s Christians have endured as a result of fallout from Iraq War. Shot during Holy Week, various tragedies are covered. Ends with hopeful Easter and wedding celebrations.

EPARCHY OF OUR LADY OF LEBANON CONVOCATION CONCERT: LENTEN SONGS Tue 04/07/09 5:30 AM EDT and Wed 04/08/09 9:00 PM

BYZANTINE DIVINE LITURGY HYMNS Sun 04/12/09 3:00 PM Wed 04/15/09 3:00 PM This music represents segments of the Byzantine Easter Sunday Divine Liturgy. These hymns are sung in Greek or Arabic. In each instance, an English translation is presented in subtitles, while various religious icons are shown.

EPARCHY OF OUR LADY OF LEBANON: ANCIENT ROOTS...NEW SOIL Tue 04/21/09 3:00 AM and Tue 04/21/09 6:30 PM
An introduction to the Maronite rite of the Church in America with interview of pastors and parishioners from various Maronite parishes throughout the Midwestern US, speaking favorably about their rite and their Catholic faith.

EPARCHY OF OUR LADY OF LEBANON CONVOCATION CONCERT Sun 04/26/09 1:30 PM and Sat 05/02/09 3:00 AM
Voices from the Mountains highlight this vocal performance of Middle Eastern music from the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon in Convocation.

THE MELKITE CHURCH IN AMERICA: Ep. 1 Thu 04/30/09 6:00 AM A brief history of the Melkite Church which began in Antioch, where St. Paul first preached the good news to the Gentiles. Bishop John Elya explains the Role and Mission of the Melkite Church in America

http://www.ewtn.com/tv/NAAdv0409.asp

Missed it....ugh

According to this:
http://www.ewtn.com/tv/NA_040509.asp

It was also supposed to have been on at 10:30pm Eastern time on Palm Sunday. It was not--they had an encore of the Pope's Palm Sunday Mass.

On Thursday, it is scheduled for a different time than previously stated.......

Yes.... when I went to view my videotape I found that the Pope's Palm Sunday Mass apparently exceeded the time allotted for that. This series has been preempted many times in the past. It's so frustrating. If they would just go back to selling the tape/dvd of the series I'd gladly buy it to watch.

The episode Thursday is a different episode. Hopefully it will be at the time stated there.

"This series has been preempted many times in the past. "

It almost seems that the series is used as a "filler" for scheduling live event programming with a preemptable filler that most likely won't get full or any airtime due to time overruns of the live event.

EWTN is Roman Catholic, and while they speak the speak of JPII on "two lungs" the reality is that programs about the Eastern Churches are significantly less of a programming concern.

It would be much easier to make the series available on DVD and not bother with trying to find some arbitrary (2:35 AM or such) time slot.

Business as usual. The Eastern Catholic Churches will always be treated as red headed step children. It sometimes just wants to make me want to pull the pins and punch out.

Einar

Please do write and tell them so. I've been trying to get them to start selling it again ever since they stopped showing the series. Apparently the series had been on weekly for several years at the point when I first started to watch it weekly. Then suddenly they stopped showing it. I'm glad they're bringing back pertinent individual episodes at the time of great feasts etc. The one that was just preempted was a repeat of the one shown on 3/6 (see my post 02/23) which did air as scheduled.

I do hope people will make their wishes for more ECC programming known to EWTN and any Catholic radio in your area. Any donation I make I specify that it's because of an ECC program I heard/viewed.

Hmmm, well that definitely wasn't Father Michael Sopoliga and Fr. Joseph Bertha last night... I'm guessing it was EPARCHY OF OUR LADY OF LEBANON CONVOCATION CONCERT: LENTEN SONGS listed as 04/07/09 5:30 AM EDT and Wed 04/08/09 9:00 PM.

Well they were on tonight.

Saw it. Pretty good, except when they said something akin to: well, we're going to draw you a picture of what the Byzantine Catholic Church would look like at this particular time of year..."

JUST SHOW ONE--THIS IS THE MAGIC OF TV.

YOY!

I talked to Fr Mike yesterday. He said that there isn't going to be another Light of The East right now. What EWTN was proposing wasn't feasible at this time.

????

Is that good or is that bad?!?

What EWTN was proposing wasn't feasible at this time.

Makes you wonder. Well I did catch the one on Thursday and I really enjoyed it, it is too bad the interior of a Byzantine Church wasn`t shown especially for that particular segment. Could it maybe be what EWTN proposed conflicted with the schedules of Father Michael and Father Joseph?

I'd love to know what that proposal was.

It was too difficult at this time. Which I think is a good thing. It shows EWTN is thinking big.

I will try I get some details tonight.

Glory to Jesus Christ! No one here noticed, or was too kind to point out, that I was looking at my taping from Wed., not Th. I just ran upstairs and there it is on my video tape!

All,

What do people think about trying to establish our OWN channel on satellite and/or cable for Eastern Christian -- both Catholic and Orthodox -- programming? Then we would not be a the "mercy" of others running the show, and controlling the access!

There seems to be a growing interest in media evangelization and education, with many Orthodox and Catholic jurisdictions starting or expanding their media programs. If we could get everyone involved in a single "umbrella" network of Eastern Christian Churches, and perhaps dedicate one evening to each major Eastern Church in the US (Greek Orthodox, Byzantine Catholic, OCA, Ukrainian Catholic, etc.), then we might be able to pull it together.

Would we find a steady viewership? How large might it be?

Jack

In my most humble opinion, I would think that Orthodox Christians would first want their own network, similar to EWTN. It's only natural.

It IS a good idea though.

Christ is Risen!
EWTN has the following schedule that may be of interest:

Thursday, April 30, 6-7 am: The Melkite Church in America, Episode 1.

Friday, May 1, 6-7 am: The Melkite Church in America, Episode 2.

Also on Saturday, May 2, 3-4 am: Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon Convocation Concert.

Deacon El

That would be nice, though I do have a strong opinion that we need to continue communicating with EWTN about ECC programming. They have offered some wonderful programming, and some of their regular presenters are very faithful about including information about the ECCs and Orthodox in their responses to various questions. Here I'm thinking of Father Mitch Pacwa who is himself a bi-ritual priest, Father John Trigilio, and Father Benedict Groeschel.

I'd like to see EWTN show some of Father Tom Loya's Theology of the Body materials. He's got audio and some video programming on a number of websites in addition to his weekly Light of the East radio program, which is broadcast on my local Catholic Radio. He's clearly involved with the new Eastern Christian Media.

The internet does provide increasing options. It would be nice to have a site that had links to these many offernings. Are you familiar with the new Eastern Christian Media? www.easternchristianmedia.com [easternchristianmedia.com] They continue to add to their site. I think Catherine's interviews on Youtube with the monks from Holy Resurrection Monastery are very good. http://www.youtube.com/user/YourWordFromTheWise
Ancient Faith Radio has wonderful Orthodox programming, audio only http://ancientfaith.com/

This past Sunday morning on ABC “Pascha: The Resurrection of Christ” I thought was wonderful. www.goarch.org/news/paschaabc2009 [goarch.org] (There are links to podcasts and other media resources on goarch.org)

I'd like to see both ongoing increasing of ECC programming on EWTN and the idea of an Eastern Christian media ministry.

This seems like a couple threads emerging...

MLouise,

Thanks for your comments. I would also like to see EWTN have more Eastern content in their programming, but if they pre-empt the few random shows that they do air, how can any regular viewership be established?

Yes, I'm aware of Eastern Christian Media and Fr Tom's various programs, and the others you mention. I've been in touch with them about joining forces and building links.

But are you familiar with our sites:

www.oltvweb.com [oltvweb.com] and www.olconference.com? [olconference.com]

We have about 30 programs of past OL conferences and liturgical services available for online streaming at oltv, and now nearly 100 CDs and DVDs of recorded programs for sale on the OL Conference site. Both sites include BCC and EO speakers and liturgical services (e.g. Patriarch Gregory serving the Divine Liturgy in Constantinople, Metropolitan Kallistos giving plenary talks, and Fr Tom giving a talk about the icon screen in his church).

Jack

Deacon El,

Thanks for the info about the upcoming EWTN schedule.

But honestly, how many people are going to arise at 6 am or 3 am to watch those shows? Doesn't that speak volumes about how interested EWTN is in the Eastern Churches?

Jack

And when things are repeated for the UK - that's when we tend to get them - unless of course , as it happens , they change the schedule at the last minute

Jack,

Christ is Risen!

I agree with your comments on the timing of the EWTN programming. I posted the information so those interested may record the programs and watch them later.

Deacon El

Might I add a few bits for thought?

1. EWTN is a Roman Catholic network. That they air anything Eastern is a plus, and should be looked upon as a gift.

2. People do watch things in the middle of the night, and they certainly do tape them. Whenever they run something I get questions (and not having seen the episode it is sometimes difficult to figure out what was discussed (given the often confused nature of the person asking the question!).

3. Having our own evangelical tools is a plus (that is why this website exists). But the best work can be done at the parish level, and it starts with good Liturgy (that is what attracts people and keeps them).

And also an apporpriate response to JPII's message in Orientale Lumen that it is "... the first need for Catholics is to be familiar with that [ancient tradition of the Eastern Churches], so as to be nourished by it and to encourage the process of unity in the best way possible for each."

I'm happy to hear that you get nibbles from the programming, and that I'm not the only one setting my record function for these middle of the night features :-)


Amen, amen! This holds for east and west. I was at a wonderful lecture last spring by a young Orthodox priest and the one thing I remember from it was "the priest sets the tone of the parish". It so resonated with my experience in my RC parish. I was practically jumping up and down today listening to Archbishop Dolan at his installation as he spoke with such love and support for his priests. How much this is needed!...
And this is a great website!

Hi Jack-
Glory to Jesus Christ!
I wondered if that was you in the previous post :-) I was at the OL conference in San Diego last year, one of the tiny number of Latin Rite Catholics there. It was absolutely wonderful. It really gave my interest in the Eastern churches the boost it needed, including a lovely long chat with Father Maximos in the airport which lead to other good things. I wish I could afford to go to DC this year, maybe next.

May I add another thing about EWTN's Eastern coverage...

At my seminary next door to me and in the two subequent rooms live three of the Franciscan Friars from the network. They are studying for eventual priestly ordination.

We often get to talking about their programming. One thing is the underlying theme: money. They air what people PAY them to show. They were proud that they aired the centennial celebration of Bishop Ortynsky two falls ago - they mentioned the good response they received for doing it. They said that they wished they could do more, but they have no steady monetary resource other than viewers' contributions: "between the gas and electric bill".

Fact: Every day their satellite truck is on the road, it costs tens of thousands of dollars to run it. It may seem easy to say "Well, they should cover the Orientale Lumen Conferences" but who could/would pay for it?

Fact: They listen to what the viewers like and don't like. I asked on of the brothers, one I've known for almost 10 years, "Why don't they do a new rosary so that it's not so '80s" and the response was along the lines of "We tried an update once and the public response was huge - and not for the better!" This is the best - about a year and a half ago they renovated the TV chapel: the pews squeaked and the carpet was wearing. They replaced them with exactly the same carpet and exactly the same style (new) pews because people got upset with change and would thus withold a contribution or two!

Aside from Light of the East, I have seen something from the Eparchy of St. Josaphat - locally produced, I believe, and then submitted.

In short, come up with ideas for Eastern programming, FUNDING, and present it to the Network. The brothers have told me about hot they're always open to fresh ideas especially ones that don't cost alot!

Funding? Well, one of EWTN's least enjoyable features are the fake commercials which they call "breaks". If they must do this (and I realize that Marshall McLuhan would approve) maybe they should run some real commercials for suitable goods and services. There is no shortage of edifying goods and services and worthy causes that almost no one knows about but whose backers might be able to contribute something appropriate to EWTN.

They could also try actually answering the mail, instead of insulting the correspondent with a computer-generated "response" that is unresponsive and says nothing. Showing a lack of interest in one's constituency is unlikely to produce enthusiastic, generous viewers.

Sorry about that.

Fr. Serge

What would people think if I were to approach EWTN about having a regular program to broadcast past Orientale Lumen Conference plenary sessions and liturgical services? If they are open to fresh ideas that don't cost a lot, perhaps they would consider broadcasting some of the many video programs we have in our archives from the last ten years of OL conferences in Washington, San Diego, Detroit and Constantinople. Is there interest out there?

Jack

Great idea. Go for it! Look forward to updates on EWTN response to your proposal.

With the proliferation of digital camera technologies I would also think a rotating cycle of Eastern Catholic services at least on Sundays would be possible. I have spoken informally over the last few years with several Eastern Catholic priests including Ukrainian, Romanian, BCCA, Melkite and Maronite clergy who would be interested in such a thing. As an earlier poster has already observed from personal experience, my letters of proposals or ideas for shows have also not received much other than the generic response.

Diak, who were the priests interested in broadcasting their liturgies? Perhaps I can do a video recording of them, and from a DVD I can make them available on our OLTV website as well as for purchase by people who would like a copy for home use. I already have the equipment and computer software to do it, and have done it many times in at the OL Conferences, in Ukraine, Slovakia and Rome.

It wouldn't be "live", but better than nothing. Send me a PM if you wish to discuss further details about your proposals. I'm open to any new ideas.

Jack

Jack,
Christ is Risen!
St. John's Byzantine Catholic Church in Solon has taped their Divine Liturgy every Sunday with a fixed camera in the back of the church.
That taping is then aired on a local public use TV station during the week.
No zooming, no camera movememt, nothing fancy at all. But the liturgy is broadcast on a regular basis.
They have been doing this for several years now.
Deacon El

Jack - I will contact you off-forum as there are some other things I want to run by you.

I just watched these first two episodes which I'd taped the past two nights- 3am showing out here. Good, simple intro information, especially given that there are a total of 5 Episodes, the next 3 airing 5/4,5,6 6:00am EDT. I noticed that the credits gave 1996 as the date the series was made. The material is timeless so that isn't an issue per se.
http://www.ewtn.com/tv/NAAdv0509.asp

4/30 Ep. 1 A brief history of the Melkite Church which began in Antioch, where St. Paul first preached the good news to the Gentiles. Bishop John Elya explains the Role and Mission of the Melkite Church in America

5/1 Ep 2 Bishop John Elya continues his study of the rich traditions and history of the Melkite Catholic Church in America with a look at Sacramental life in the Melkite Church.

5/4 Ep 3 Bishop John Elya continues his study of the rich traditions and history of the Melkite Catholic Church in America, with a look at the life of St. Basil the Great.

5/5 Ep 4 Bishop John Elya continues his study of the rich traditions and history of the Melkite Catholic Church in America, with a look at the use of iconography in the Melkite Tradition.

5/6 Ep 5 Bishop John Elya continues his study of the rich traditions and history of the Melkite Catholic Church in America, with a look at the spirituality of the Melkite tradition.

Also coming up: VESPERS (90 min)
Pope Benedict XVI will preside at the celebration of Vespers with priests, religious, seminarians and ecclesial movements in the Greek-Melkite cathedral of St. George in Amman.
Sat 5/09/09 10:30 AM ET / 7:30 AM PT LIVE
Sat 5/09/09 6:00 PM ET / 3 PM PT

-Marylouise

As many know, we started Orientale Lumen TeleVision with the following goals in mind:

-- Present the tradition of the Byzantine Churches to our faithful coming from the homelands in the Middle East and Eastern Europe.

-- Help the faithful of the Byzantine Churches to be more aware of their tradition, to know it, to deepen it, and preserve it in a pure conscience.

-- Help our brothers and sisters of Latin traditions to have a real, clear and inspiring insight of our Eastern traditions, as belonging to One Church with an Eastern flavor.

-- Share with all citizens of these countries the richness of the Eastern tradition,

-- Help the One Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church breathe with two lungs, as Saint Irenaeus said and after him, the late Pope John Paul II.

I have done some research into various options, technologies and the costs for taking our existing OLTV programs into some form of broadcast distribution so people can watch them on their TVs in addition to their computers. In order to gather market data for making decisions and planning our future, I have created a web-accessible survey at the following link:

www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=5H9iHfJh8r1tgz01FXvZcg_3d_3d [surveymonkey.com]

I would very much appreciate if everyone could complete the survey (it’s only about 7-8 questions) so we can more accurately plan our future for OLTV based on your input. THANKS!

Jack

Jack-
Great hearing you on Father Tom's radio program this week!
http://www.byzantinecatholic.com/feed.xml

I just got my DVDs from last year's OL conference and am loving them!

Next year in Constantinople!
-Marylouise

I was listening to Catholic Radio early this morning when a PSA for vocations came on with a familiar voice. It was Father Michael Sopoliga! It was a fairly long message about his call to the priesthood, by long I mean over a minute, and encouraging others to consider the call. Good to hear a Ruthenian priest among those encouraging vocations in these PSAs, tho no mention was made of his being one.

Unfortunately, where I live EWTN and Inspiration TV share the days of the week on the channel they use, and somehow I never get to see these things. It's very disappointing.
abby
<*)))><

Praise the Lord! I just googled "Light of the East EWTN Father Michael Sopoliga", hope springs eternal they say , and a copy of the 3 tape set came up used on an Amazon dealer. I'd rather have DVDs but it was never issued in DVD, and since the videos haven't been available at all for well over a year I just decided to jump on it. I'm already trying to get help copying from video to dvd a couple other things I do own that are no longer available anywhere so when they come I will add to the others I hope to transfer. I'd love to be able to use them in my parish occasionally and maybe I finally can. My efforts to tape the shows off EWTN in the past, of which the Nativity one is set to broadcast again 12/22 and 12/24, have been less than stellar.

Have you tried someone who gets into this sort of technology transfer? I have a cousin whose husband has done copying of 8 mm film to video and then on to DVD. He wants to try it on our wedding film. I'm sure if you look around someone has the technology equipment.

BOB