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In eastern cannon law, can anyone tell me if only a priest or higher can sit in the santuary, that is beyond the Icon screen(altar rail)? Also,what is the cannon. I don't think that altar servers shold be sitting near the altar during sermons and such.
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sto:
The general rule is that any of the ministers who are admitted to the holy place (that is, the area behind the iconostasis) may sit there during a homily. Note that your question, as asked, would imply that you think deacons should not sit there either. There is no canonical ruling on this as it is a liturgical function and not particularly canonical.
Now, having said that, the tradition would be to use only men who have been ordained to the appropriate ministry for the minor functions (reader, candle-bearer, subdeacon, etc.). Tradition holds that only those who have been ordained are to serve behind the iconostasis. Necessity, however, premits the use of the non-ordained for minor functions such as altar servers and they, by virtue of function, may sit behind the iconostatis.
BTW, when referring to church law there is only one "n" -- canon -- the double "n" refers to a military weapon.
Edward, deacon and sinner
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Dear Fr. Edward, Yes, thank you for clearing that up! I thought this thread was possibly on the war issue with Iraq!  Alex
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Hello: In eastern cannon law, can anyone tell me if only a priest or higher can sit in the santuary, that is beyond the Icon screen(altar rail)? Also,what is the cannon. I don't think that altar servers shold be sitting near the altar during sermons and such. The one time I received the sacrament of reconciliation from a Byzantine Catholic priest, we were sitting in the sanctuary, behind the altar. I am not in any Holy Orders, and I am Roman Catholic. Of course, this wasn't during the Liturgy. Shalom, Memo.
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My understanding�based on a rubric I read somewhere but cannot now recall�is that those inside the altar may sit if, and only if, they are priests or a hierarch. I read somewhere that anyone vested in a sticharion (and hence all servers, sub-deacons, and deacons) may not sit while so vested. Is that not correct?
Adam, sinner
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Adam,
I have never seen such a rubric, and neither of my bishops have ever asked me to remain standing during their homilies.
Edward, deacon and sinner
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