www.byzcath.org Forums Mysteries: The Life of Worship The Kliros Prostopenije from Transcarpathia/Uzhorod

I believe that it did so remain in use.

The Choir useage was unique and quite nice. It sang the longer hymns and the Pontifical Liturgy parts but allowed the congregation to sing the common responses. A very good idea.

Looking at it from a deacon's point of view, I noticed that the Deacon didn't "gird" after the Otce Nas. I don't know if this is normal in the eparchy or if it was because he wasn't a "permanent" deacon, he looked too young. Another thing that I noticed as well on other DL's in Subcarpathia is that their orarion doesn't match their sticharion. My thinking is that they have a common orarion (red with gold trim) which they "borrow" when needed, due to the cost and need to conserve fiscal resources.

Thoughts or corrections on this?

The Choir/Cantor methodology was common under the late Metropolitan Nicholas of ACROD. Those from the Pittsburgh area who may have attended pilgrimage liturgies at Camp Nazareth can attest to this. As his family's Rusyn roots were from Transcarpathia, this should not be a surprise. With his passing, I hope we don't lose this. No clue on your deacon question.

That deacon is wearing what is called the "double orarion." This is practiced primarily in Russian churches among deacons awarded this privaledge. I would like you to imagine the traditional orarion worn on the left shoulder. Now take two and join them to the length of the Greek-style orarion...that's the double orarion. Sometimes you will see the words...Holy, Agios, or Svjat on them. You cannot cross this style of orarion for communion, so to tuck them under is manner of keeping them out of the way. Deacons in the Russian tradition only wear the orarion of the left shoulder and not under the arm. Maybe Deacon David/Chtec can add to this or correct it.

I think a more interesting question may be why this style of orarion is now being utilized in TransCarpathia. To my knowledge, it was always the Greek style - left shoulder and wrapped under the right arm that was used.

Ray

Christ is risen!
Hi Ray.
I saw the orarion was extra long, but I thought because it was a "borrowed" orarion and he looked fairly short, that made it look extra long. Upon looking again I see that you are correct...it is a double orarion. It would be a monster to "gird."
My impression is that a double orarion is a special honor, and this deacon looks to be way too young to be an archdeacon. I looked up in CNEWA's website and it list zero deacons for Mukachevo, so they probably use the only orarion available, so I wouldn't read anything into diaconal tradition.

Paul B, the Carpathorusyns normally follow Greek practice where all deacons can wear the double orarion. In the Russian practice it is an award.

I notice that they use the traditional Carpathian cross with the horizontal bottom bar rather than the slanted bar of the Greek cross. Any ideas why the Greek cross is generally used in the Byzantine Catholic Church? What is the practice in ACROD?

The deacon has wrapped the orarion but because it is not one straight peace of cloth but has a V cut under the right arm the front of the orarion was looped in there, as with this style is not possible to do wear it in the usual way. It is as already noted an Archdeacon or Protdeacon style of Orarion. Interesting they take communion with a plate propped up under the chin.

I say the following not as official policy statements, but rather as private, personal observations:

In ACROD, deacons may wear either the single "Russian" orarion or the longer "Greek" orarion. Only elevated protodeacons or archdeacons, however, may wear the kind that is pointed and sewn together under the arm.

Regarding crosses, while historically one could argue that a cross with three straight bars was a legitimate variant of the three-armed cross, the fact is that among Carpatho-Rusyns in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, such a cross was seen as a marker of being in the Unia, and a cross with a slanted bottom bar was seen as a sign of Orthodoxy. In ACROD, I have never seen a cross with three straight bars in or on any of our churches. As far as I can tell, it was never utilized.

Dn. David

I agree with Dn. David. In our town, the BCC church built in the 1950's after the schism did not incorporate any three bar cross, the domes had a Latin cross. Their social center, built in the 1960's had the three straight bar cross on it. Last year they rebuilt the towers and guess what? A shiny, gold three bar slanted cross is atop each of the towers. Life is a journey, as they say.

Our friends from Muchachevo are posting a series of beautifully shot videos from the Blessed Teodor Rhomza Centennial pilgrimage this week in Transcarpathia. Well worth viewing....They make me a bit sad as they remind me of the late Metropolitan Nicholas and the annual camp youth pilgrimage he so loved. This is one of many from yesterday. I am sure that many of you will be reminded of the 'old days' at Uniontown as well!
http://www.youtube.com/user/logostvuzhgorod#p/f/2/L6zHB3Uig-A

Very well done videos--good quality images and sound. I would be immensely happy to see this level of liturgy observed in the Ruthenian Metropolia, even if it had to be done in Slavonic.

Bishop Milan's style of liturgics and that of the late Metropolitan Nicholas of ACROD bear great similarity. (THis should be no surprise, remember that the Metropolitan's roots were from Transcarpathia and that his home parish of St. John's in Perth Amby, New Jersey was founded by Rusyns from the Uzhorod districts.) What you see on these videos is typical of the liturgical celebrations in most ACROD parishes today, even down to the mixing of choral and plain chant responses in both Slavonic and the vernacular.

Interesting that it is in Ukrainian and not CS. I have never heard Ukrainian in the Carpatho-Rusyn chant style before. Something about total congregational singing is very beautiful.

Thank you very much for sharing these videos, DMD.