www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology The Organ In Greek Orthodox Churches

And, of course, I meant not the little critters, but choral, although it is said, again Psalm 150:6, Let everything that has breath (i.e. living) praise the LORD. Alleluia!

C. I. X.


�When we got too 'hung up' on externals��
Alice, Moderator

When the Pope has Mass in ballparks with organ accompaniment it is not a mere trifle. Mixed choirs have been the Slavic staple here (US) from before the turn of the XX (20th) century without instrumental accompaniment. The previous mentioned groups have successfully fought this battle maintaining their perspective of not compromising the God made human voice with instrumental accompaniment for generations. When your daughter wants a friend to sing AVA MARIA with a keyboard accompaniment at her �wedding�, is it a mere external? When your son says he�s going down the street to a Western church because the music is not that different, how are you going to reason with a teenager that there is more that is? If music is not culturally important enough to draw the line at, where does one draw the line? Art? Architecture? Or should we just stick to things we can understand like seating, seasonal colors, statuary and hors d'oeuvres?

Patriarch Nikon bullied many unnecessary reforms with �the Greeks do it��. When the Greek Catholics do recited Liturgical Services people are agasped. When the Greek Orthodox admit to doing instrumental accompaniment with temple chant we should be supportive? Already there is a push to Hellenize our Slavic Paschal customs. In some Ukrainian eparchies our Lord�s grave is to be eliminated before the start of the Resurrection Matins, if possible before the Anticipated Paschal Liturgy of Saturday. Next our triple exterior procession will be unnecessary as the church interior will no longer needs time to stage a metamorphose change from a dark mausoleum to a bright paradise. Then as the paschal food blessing being a counterreformation act it may be seen as anti-American as maintaining choirs without organs. Worse has happened with less.

So if organ accompaniment is an organic acceptance of Americanization, we should better incorporate the hymns of Wesley and peers, who used their music to preserve orthodoxy. After all they were the ones who initiated the primary translations of our Eastern �hymns� (prayers) into the Western vernacular, especially English.

Is there a line? Is there no difference?

shiny choir robes ...

I remember the time when we had a visiting Greek Orthodox Bishop from Crete visiting our parish.

When it came down for communion, I came down from the choir loft and approached. I was the only member of the choir who approached the Holy Chalice.

The bishop saw me and look surprised. He asked the pastor twice if I were a member of his church. Twice, the pastor said yes, and still the bishop stalled. Finally he gave me Holy Communion. Afterwards in the parish hall, he said that he thought I was a protestant because of the choir robe.

That day, thankfully, our organist was not playing the organ so we sang acapella. I wonder what would have happened if the Bishop had heard the organ?

Thanks for the article and comments, Alice. I never knew the history behind the organ.

In Christ,
Elizabeth

People, when worshiping, may want to bring their gifts of beauty to the Lord. I am reminded of 2 Samuel 6 & 14 (2 Kings 6 & 14) in the Hebrew scriptures, where David danced before the Ark of the Covenant, and people came out ecstatically to join him, with harb, timbral, and flute!

2 Samuel 6 & 14 (2 Kings 6 & 14) [ccel.org]



One thing I had heard about the prohibition against using the traditional organ was that the bellows may have been made from animal skins which were seen as unclean and not to be brought into the sanctuary. Likewise, priests were not to wear leather shoes or sandals in the celebration of the liturgy. I believe this tradition still holds among some Eastern rites, and is probably also why Muslims shed their shoes before entering a mosque to pray.

That being said there are references in scripture such as those above where God's People used instruments as part of their ecstatic praise of the Lord.

-Pustinik
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"Acquire a peaceful spirit, and thousands around you will be saved." �St. Serafim of Sarov

I heard that since instruments were made by humans and were involved with pagan rites, they were shunned for worship. Our human voice is the best instrument. And then there is the reference to angelic choirs and we are supposedly to take the place of the fallen angels.

Thank you for the reference to replacing the fallen angels. But we still cannot discount the fact that the Hebrew scriptures have examples of the Chosen People praising God in front of the Ark using human-made instruments. (2 Samuel 6:15, see above).

To your point, I wonder if musical instruments were ever used in the Jewish temple. Maybe not?

Blessings to you, Elizabeth Maria!
-Pustinik
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"Acquire a peaceful spirit, and thousands around you will be saved." �St. Serafim of Sarov

No instruments used in Temple worship.

OUTSIDE the Temple, sure, but not in it.

Some further considerations from Alfred Edersheim, [i]The Temple: Its Ministry and Services[/i] [studylight.org]


And




Also, from Scripture: The setting here is the dedication of the first Temple, built by Solomon.