www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology pews, yet again

As a rule of thumb, the Protestants were generally wealthier than Catholics or Orthodox (at least in North America) so maybe they could spend money on such things as pews. Once the Catholics and Orthodox started 'moving up' they could affort the same. In many African and South American congregations I'm sure Protestants, Catholics, and Orthodox still stand during whatever type of services they have. I think that the whole pew thing has less to do with tradition than with economics

I set up a poll in Town Hall to see what the majority of the board felt about pews.

Can someone advise me where one might find a truly beautiful, pewless Byzantine liturgy in the Washington DC area? I'm a newcomer to the eastern tradition, having had my only pewless experience in Topeka, Kansas. But now I live a long way from there. Thanks!

"where one might find a truly beautiful, pewless Byzantine liturgy in the Washington DC area? " Hmmm. Try the parish of the Russian Church Abroad. I'm not sure whether the OCA cathedral has pews. I'm also not sure whether the Ruthenian chapel in the National Shrine has pews, but neither am I sure when and how often there is Divine Liturgy in that chapel.
Incognitus

St Nicholas Sobor (OCA) in Washington DC does not have pews

Dear 'Still Small Voice',

I have had the priveledge of meeting the Orthodox (OCA) chaplain of Georgetown University before my high school daughter attended a summer class there.(Ethical Philosophy, don't ya just love it? )

Anyway, his name is Father Constantine White, and he was kind enough to show us around the OCA Cathedral of St. Nicholas. It is absolutely pewless! And Reverend White told us (yup, me...the one who looooves pews and sitting periodically) that he adamantly refuses to get them!

He shared a cute story with us. One day, his son was helping the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of St. Sophia (just down the street) with some setting up for something or other. When his son came back, he said "dad, they have pews...pleeease, can't we get some too???". Needless to say, dad did not give in to his son's wishes!

I hope that you enjoy the services there, and the beautiful authentic Russian iconography!

In Christ,
Alice

Hritzko,

"I think that the whole pew thing has less to do with tradition than with economics."

I pray that you are wrong. I'd hate to think we are so crass. I pray that you are wrong for my benefit as well.

Dan L

Sharon,

I loved your post The opening line of your most recent post reminded me of a most fond memory.

I had the joy of meeting Archbishop Gabriel Ganaka of Jos, Nigeria some years ago at an Evangelism conference. Bishop Gabriel apparently had caught some flak from his brother bishops because he was on friendly terms with charismatic Catholics. "But they are fanatics," another bishop said. His Lordship replied in his resonant voice "It is easier to control a fanatic than to wake the dead."

And Deacon Stan just replied it's like in Revalations though, it is better to be either one of these than to being luke warm. God says he would rather we are hot or cold, than luke warm. Either extreme, God can work miracles, when we are luke warm we don't reallly care.

One thing for sure, there is very little luke warmness on this forum!

Rather more than 40 years ago, a lady whose husband was then the Episcopalian Bishop of Newark, New Jersey, wrote her autobiography. In one parish where her husband had been the rector, they were planning a church renovation on a tight budget. She said to her husband "darling, my heart is set on new pews". The future bishop responded "then, my dear, please be aware that your heart is the only portion of your anatomy that will set on new pews!".
Incognitus

Many sanctified traditions have such less-than-sanctified roots.

I remember a radio call-in show where the topic was family holiday traditions. A woman called in saying that when she was growing up, her mother had the "tradition" at Easter of preparing the ham in two portions, with the end piece baked in a small pan.

This woman was making her first family Easter dinner and carefully prepared it the way her mother did and expected praise for maintaining the family "tradition." When mom made no comment, the woman brought to her attention.

The mother explained that the family oven had been too small to accomodate a full-sized ham, and so it had to be baked in two pieces.

Add 1,000 years to this family story and it becomes something much more.

--Tim

Pew-less doesn't mean you cannot sit occasionally.

The elderly and infirm or just plain tired out can sit on the benches or the odd stool or monastic stall (if ya got'em).

Are you convinced yet?

Otherwise people sit on the floor, in my experience - esp. if there are strategically placed carpets around. They sit for readings, for the Kathisma Psalms, for the sermon etc.

But ya can't do any kind of poklin sitting in a pew, unless you want to do some sort of self inflicted frontal lobotomy!

Herb

Tim,

Hams cut into two pieces are a far cry from what actually did happen, has happened, continues to happen, and will continue to happen in Churches all over the world. From before Nicaea I people have been standing for worship. Please, don't try to belittle our expression of devotion. If you wish to attend an Eastern Church that has pews there are plenty of them around.

Dan Lauffer

If we are going by what has been done historically, they reclined at the Last Supper...shouldn't we be doing what Jesus did??? Personally, I think this whole pew or no-pew thing is a tempest in a teapot that does nothing to bring people to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I would think we have much greater things to take up our time and energies. Don

If we are going by what has been done historically, they reclined at the Last Supper...shouldn't we be doing what Jesus did??? Personally, I think this whole pew or no-pew thing is a tempest in a teapot that does nothing to bring people to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I would think we have much greater things to take up our time and energies. Don