www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Ash Weds.

I have to admit; as a recently converted Orthodox (from Anglicanism) it felt odd not receiving ashes for the first time since I can remember.

Same here buddy, I was thinking the same thing today.

In Christ,
Aaron

Is today Ash Wednesday? Hmmm, I really should take down that Christmas card display. :rolleyes:

You know, I was just thinking the same thing as I looked at the small Christmas tree on my coffee table. Time flies....

Shall we target removal by Great and Holy Friday?

HEHEHEHE Sounds good to me.

yeah, time flies as we get older, huh Chuckles?
Much Love,
Jonn

just thinlk of the side benefit, no chance of ashes on your pillow slip. fasting is done interiorly. I was at First Pres last night, they had lasagna, I had a salad and bread.
Much Love,
Jonn

Dear Friends without Ashes,

Certainly, the Western Orthodox Churches impose Ashes.

But if you are of the "Eastern Rite" Orthodox ( ), then you are out of luck.

However, I would venture to make a bold suggestion here.

When the mother of the Russian Catholic Hieromartyr Bl Leonid Fyodorov came into communion with Rome, her Polish chaplain expressly forbade her from attending Orthodox churches.

When Met. Andrew Sheptytsky visited her in Moscow, she opened her heart to him and said how difficult it was not to attend the daily Matins, Vespers and not to be able to kiss the Cross - as she did when she was an Orthodox Christian.

"But why shouldn't you do all that?" Met. Andrew responded to her beaming surprise. "The Cross etc. - that is all holy!"

Therefore, could you not do the same? Could you not attend an RC church for the Ashes, seeing as there is no Western Rite Orthodox Church near you?

Alex

Dear Friends with Christmas cards and trees,

As I"m on the Tru . . .Ju-lian Calendar, I'm not taking down my Christmas decorations until February 15th, the Feast of the Meeting of our Lord.

And we use the Nativity greeting until then as well . . .

We had a snowfall last night and it was all so very depressing until I turned on the outdoor lights . . .



Alex

Hmmm.. this is all very interesting dialogue.
I was unaware that other Christian denominations used ashes as well.
I'm assuming that this was adapted from the Latin Church.
Last night at Mass, I noticed that the Penitential Rite ( i.e.. I confess to Almighty God....) was omitted but the Kryrie was included. I did not get the opportunity to ask Father why.

Brad

Bran,
Oh yes, to my knowledge there are several "western" denominations that impose the ashes. Among them: Methodist (at least the United Methodist), Lutheran, Anglican, Episcopal,and I am sure other "high" churches. You are probobly right about them inheriting it from the Latin church!

In His Name,
Stephen

The ashes even if one practices Julian Pascha, are a good reminder of the penitential time to come. The Oriental Orthodox have the wonderful pre-Lenten "Fast of Nineveh", and the ashes certainly do bring us in the spirit of the repenting Ninevites.

Alex, I have to disagree. It is well known that Madame Lyubov Dmitrievna Fyedorova never stopped attending Orthodox liturgies when her Russian Catholic priests (Frs. Zerchaninov, Susalev, Deubner) were unable to have services. When she came into communion in 1908 the Russian Catholic mission was already present and organized with several clergy.

She was an excellent and accomplished artist and supposedly helped in the building of the iconostasis at the chapel in St. Petersburg.

Dear Diak,

Well, this was written in a book on Leonid Fyodorov that is on our university library.

This happened when she became a Russian Catholic and her then Polish confessor forbade her from attending Orthodox services, according to the book.

Of course, I wasn't there!

The next time I'm there I'll look it up, but the title is "Leonid Fyodorov" something like that.

Again, I didn't make it up, but read it there.

That book also states that the Russian Catholic Community that Leonid Fyodorov belonged to was an Old Rite one - that he had a letter from the Tsar himself addressed to their community calling it "Old Rite" and "in communion with Rome" thanking them for their prayers for Tsarevich Alexei.

It was this letter that they showed to the Tsarist police whenever the latter descended on them to eject them from their current premises where they celebrated the Divine Liturgy.

It's a fascinating read, but again I would have to visit my old haunt to get the exact title and other particulars.

The visit of Met. Andrew Sheptytsky to Leonid's mother to assure her of her legitimate right to continue to visit Orthodox churches is also mentioned in a number of other places I've encountered, but none of which come to mind right now.

Alex

Dear Diak,

Well, this was written in a book on Leonid Fyodorov that is on our university library.

This happened when she became a Russian Catholic and her then Polish confessor forbade her from attending Orthodox services, according to the book.

Of course, I wasn't there!

The next time I'm there I'll look it up, but the title is "Leonid Fyodorov" something like that.

Again, I didn't make it up, but read it there.

That book also states that the Russian Catholic Community that Leonid Fyodorov belonged to was an Old Rite one - that he had a letter from the Tsar himself addressed to their community calling it "Old Rite" and "in communion with Rome" thanking them for their prayers for Tsarevich Alexei.

It was this letter that they showed to the Tsarist police whenever the latter descended on them to eject them from their current premises where they celebrated the Divine Liturgy.

It's a fascinating read, but again I would have to visit my old haunt to get the exact title and other particulars.

The visit of Met. Andrew Sheptytsky to Leonid's mother to assure her of her legitimate right to continue to visit Orthodox churches is also mentioned in a number of other places I've encountered, but none of which come to mind right now, except for Patriarch Josef Slipyj's personally mentioning it to me during my audience with him at the former residence of Vladyka Isidore Borecky in Toronto way back when.

Forgive me, but as much as I revere you, I will take Patriarch Josef as a primary reference over and above all others!

Alex