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I'm in a fog on this. Is it licit for me (Catholic) to attend liturgy or receive direction from a Russian old rite priest? Thank you, Rick

I know quite a few Old Believers in Oregon and Alaska and the Old Rite parish of the Nativity of Our Lord in Erie, PA. Being Catholic you would not be allowed to receive the Body and Blood of Christ, as for instruction and guidance in spiritual life-Old Belivers at least the ones I know feel it is a sacred duty to "offer" "help" "guide" whatever you want to call it because they believe as we all should, that Jesus is present in each person so we should not turn away that person. The Saint John of Kronstadt Press carries the "Old Orthodox Prayer Book" put together by the Old Believers in Erie, PA. Their bishop, Bishop Daniel I met once at the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Washington, D.C., he is very humble, very wise and a man of God. If you should decide to purchase the Old Rite Prayer Book for self education, it is a work out! Lots of bows and prostrations and instructions are given throughout the prayer book which is wonderful, I collect and use prayer books. I hope this helps and I apologize for running on this so long, the Old Rite parish in Erie, PA is with the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.

Rick, absolutely you can. There are issues of intercommunion which you should be aware of, but likely the priest will enlighten you on those boundries. I did for years and very nearly joined an Old Rite community in Alaska when in college.

There are tremendous spiritual treasures living today with the Old Believers. I agree with the above post, Bishop Daniel is a wonderful man, as was the late Metropolitan +Alimpij of Moscow, a good and holy man.

The Old Rite ("Old Orthodox") Prayerbook from Erie is definitely one of the best single edition prayerbook (private prayers and Hours) one can have for private devotion. If you haven't checked it out, try http://www.churchofthenativity.net/

There were several Old Rite Russian Catholic priests who were in communion with Rome, and even as recently as the 70s there were Old Rite services at Mt. Angel Monastery.

St. Avvakum, and all the holy martyrs of Solovki, pray to God for us!

I forgot to mention another interesting note about Bishop Daniel of the Old Rite in Erie, PA. When the time came for the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia to Canonize St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco, not wanting the Old Rite parish in Erie to spend a large sum of money on a plane to San Francisco, Bishop Daniel took a six day bus ride to San Francisco. He is humble, God fearing and ready to defend the Orthodox Faith. I cherish always the Sunday after the English Divine Liturgy at which Bishop Daniel decided to attend vs. the Slavonic when in the parish hall he came to our table and asked us if he "could visit with us?" We were not about to say, "No!" From this humble Bishop who will tell you he is a monk first, priest second and bishop last, my love for the Old Rite was born, I know he would not want me to say this, but Bishop Daniel is a walking icon, living the gospel daily, loving everyone as if Christ has come to him personally, he would refuse no one. I will cherish him always and continue to pray for him and the Old Ritualists daily.

Vadyka Daniel is one of THE truly holy hierarchs of the Orthodox Church in America...or anywhere, for that matter. Humble and unpretentious, self-effacing and gentle; a man of prayer and fasting; a true monk! May the Lord grant us MORE such men!

http://www.churchofthenativity.net/bishop.html Vladyka Daniel's bio.

May the Lord grant him MANY years of health and happiness!

In His great mercy,
+Fr. Gregory

I had always used the Jordanville Prayer Book until a short time ago when I got the Old Orthodox Prayer Book. There are things in the Jordanville one that are not in the Old Orthodox one - they do complement each other , but I think I can honestly say - I prefer the Old Orthodox one

Anhelyna

Thanks for lifting the fog. Rick

I also just recalled that the Old Rite Parish in Erie, PA is preparing "The Horologion" prior to the reforms fo Patriarch Nicon and yes, this will be added and used in our collection at home.