www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Church Slavonic liturgies in the Ruthenian Metroplolia...

I would like to find out how many parishes in the enitire Ruthenian Byzantine Catholic Metropolitan Province (including Passaic, Parma and Van Nuys)offer the a Sunday Divine Liturgy in Church Slavonic (at least 75% of both the priest and laity parts sung in Church Slavonic)? I know of a few in the Greater Pittsburgh area, but I'm curious about the existence of such Sunday liturgies in the other Ruthenian Eparchies.

Ungcsertezs

I know that there are no church slavonic services at the three churches in Arizona. I hope you get lots of responses. I'd like to know the answer to your question myself.

I haven't been to St. Nicholas parish in Munster, IN in a couple of years, but they did have an all Slavonic Liturgy every Sunday at I believe 9AM. Knowing Fr. Korba, I would think that this is still the case.

I doubt you'll find any 75%(or even 2%) Slavonic Liturgies celebrated anywhere in the Van Nuys Eparchy. :rolleyes:

I go to Annunciation in Homer Glen and I can almost positively say that we have not had a complete Slovanic liturgy on a Sunday in at least 5 years. I think people are alergic to it or something. St. Nicholas parish in Munster Indiana still has a liturgy in Slavonic.

--Katie G

In that case, how many Spanish language liturgies are there in Van Nuys Eparchy??

English liturgies will never hold a candle to the traditional, congregationally-sung Church Slavonic liturgies. Many cradle AND CONVERT Byzantine Catholic faithful appreciate the traditional Church Slavonic Prostopinije liturgies because they are sung from the heart! (Just my personal observation.)

Ungcsertez :rolleyes:

I'm not sure, but I do know people pep up on the parts we sing in slavonic, they sing them loud. we still sing songs in slavonic even if we don't use slavonic in the liturgy. But people still sing with their hearts in English!

I myself do not know how many all Spanish (or majority Spanish) liturgies are celebrated in the Van Nuys Eparchy, though I would suspect that the number of parishes that do have Spanish in the liturgy is rather small; though possibly larger than the number that use any Church Slavonic liturgically on a regular basis.

It seems to me that any Slavonic in the Divine Liturgy equates to being ethnic. Though Spanish as the vernacular in some regions is acceptable. Perhaps we should stop being a Slavic church with a Slavic background and Slavic history and throw out all that old world Slavic music and start over with some new Western music. :rolleyes:

Personally, I like the prostopinije in Slavonic. Though English set well to the original prostopinije melodies keeps the musical heritage alive.

Is Slavonic such a reviled language in the Eparchy? Why do we fear it so much? True, while English is the venacular in most regions, to lose our heritage because of a fear of a language would seem to be true foolishness.

Steve, that's your opinion. Many people do appreciate a time-honored liturgical tradition.
I've heard more "visitors and converts" compliment
congregations that still use Church Slavonic. Even "non-nash" people detect a difference in the congregational singing when Church Slavonic is used. Never heard such remarks at the "English only" sung liturgies.

Which leads to my next question. Will there be a 9:00 am (Sunday) Church Slavonic Divine Liturgy at Uniontown "Otpust" this year? I'd like to know ahead of time. If there isn't, I don't think I'll even attend "Otpust" this year. All English services just doesn't seem like a real Mt. Macrina "Otpust".

Ungcsertezs

Ung--

What church is your Avatar of? I can't read the small print! ;-)

I love to see old pictures of churches...

John

Perhaps my phrasing didn't convey very well that my frustration was with the official doing away with Slavonic. It is not that we don't use Slavonic in the liturgy rather that we can't. I know there are some in my own parish who are vocally against any Slavonic period.

I grew up with Slavonic liturgies and still personally look forward to Slavonic liturgies being celebrated when I can find them. (I usually have to go to Orthodox churches to hear any Slavonic in the liturgy).

This is just my opinion from the Western side of the US.

Steve

At the risk of sounding like a champion of the obvious, English settings are easier for English speakers to learn.

Many Years (English and Slavonic) and Eis Polla Eti Despota (which is actually Greek) are almost the only settings that we venture away from English in my parish. Past experience showed us that when we try slavonic mostly 5 or 6 cradle Byzantines sing, not the entire congregation. The settings that are especially meaningful to the cradle folks are usually only for around Pascha or Christmas, and seem to appeal more to personal nostalgia.

It is hard to express from the heart in a language you don't honestly understand.

Steve Petach offers the comment that "any Slavonic in the Divine Liturgy equates to being ethnic." I realize that he is writing this tongue in cheek. But I can't resist asking just what ethnos is Church-Slavonic? Bulgarian, maybe?

Incognitus

Dear Incognitus,

I think he means it in the North American usage where "ethnic" isn't "mainstream."

If so, then the cupolas on our churches will have to go too!

Unless, they can be used as marketing tools for the onion industry . . .

Alex

Dear Alex,
But surely onions are an art form!

Incognitus