www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Attending Orthodox Divine Liturgy

George,

The question was simply put "is it OK for Catholics to go to EO Divine Liturgy?" how can I presume that you are answering another question?

Anyway, I am glad that you were not answering the question posed.

Bob

I've wondered this myself, on a "legal" level. My family is half and half - or more accurately third and third and third - w/r/t Rom C, Byz C, and Russ O. Similar with my friends. I've attended Russ O services on important days on the old calendar. I've always been told its okay to do that from time to time, esp. in the interest of harmony and celebrating holidays as a family. (I still observe "both" Christmases.) I prefer to attend my own Byz C parish, but in the interest of showing respect to family and friends who are our cousins in faith, I've attended their Russ O churches.

Interestingly, I've never met one who refused to. I've heard that they do, but I've never seen it. I know a few Orth priests (I actually have a cousin who is one) and they've always seemed more concerned that the individual is in the correct state than that the individual happens to be Catholic. Maybe my experience is odd, though. I had a couple friends married in an OCA church and the priest met with the wedding party and asked that Orthodox and Catholic ushers go to confession with him or at their own church if they needed to and to observe a proper fast prior to receiving Communion. He also explained that the Protestant usher and bridesmaids could not receive Communion, but hoped they would join in prayful reflection.

Dear Friends of the Byzantine Forum,

I really appreciate all your replies and how this discussion has been developed. A lot of different and interesting ideas have come about as result of your input.

Dear "Orthodox Catholic,"
Your thoughts are much appreciated. I share your concern to obey the laws of the Church rather than to ignore them. Thanks for your encouragement.

To Brendan and "Orthodox Catholic,"

I understand what you mean about how you always attend(ed) a Catholic Divine Liturgy too because of wanting to receive Communion. But this is not a major issue for me. It is the custom of Armenians to not "always" receive Holy Communion. It is recieved AT LEAST on the 5 great feast days. I like this custom (perhaps this is a good theme for another thread?).

And I just want to reiterate something. A few people have mentioned that Armenian Orthodox will communicate Catholics (Roman or otherwise). This not my experience in Michigan. I have been told by an Armenian Apostolic pastor that this is only in cases of emergencies when we can't reach our own Churches.

Brendan said:
(my wife is a diaspora Armenian ... but grew up RC and is now EO like me).

reply:
Tell her I said "Parev!"

Dear ProCatholico: Thanks for your suggestions, I appreciate your thoughts on this.

IN CHRIST'S LIGHT,

Wm. Der-Ghazarian

Maybe I'm mistaken but I believe this is still in force:

47. A Catholic who occasionally, for reasons set out below (cf. n. 50) attends the holy liturgy (Mass) on a Sunday or holiday of obligation in an Orthodox Church is not then bound to assist at Mass in a Catholic Church. It is likewise a good thing if on such days Catholics, who for just reasons cannot go to Mass in their own church, attend the holy liturgy of their separated oriental brethren, if this is possible.

The "reasons" given in n. 50 are fairly liberal:

50. Catholics may be allowed to attend Orthodox liturgical services if they have reasonable grounds, e.g. arising out of a public office or function, blood relationships, friendships, desire to be better informed, etc. . In such cases there is nothing against their taking part in the common responses, hymns, and actions of the Church in which they are guests....

From "Directory Concerning Ecumenical Matters: Part One," Ad Totam Ecclesiam, Secretariat for the Promotion of Christian Unity, 14 May, 1967, published in Vatican Council II: The Conciliar and Post Conciliar Documents, Vol. 1, p.p. 497, 498.

Certainly if one occasionally attends an Orthodox liturgy simply for the reason of being "better informed" they are doing a praiseworthy thing and are advancing true ecumenism, IMHO.

Dave Ignatius DTBrown@aol.com

Dear Dave Ignatius,

Bingo! That's what I was looking for. Thank you for your assistance. Now I know that I can occasionally visit an Orthodox Divine Liturgy, thereby missing a Catholic Divine Liturgy, and I will not be disobeying the laws of the Church. I appreciate your help.

In Christ's Light,

Wm. Der-Ghazarian

Dear David Ignatius,

Thank you for finding this directive. I remember it from my days as a student years ago, but I did not have the time (or the text at hand) to search it out again. I am delighted to have the exact reference.

Elias

For those who are into visiting Orthodox liturgies...I'd highly recommend visiting a Coptic Orthodox Liturgy. They are very open to visitors and I've even had the experience of them doing more of it in English for my benefit than they'd normally do!

You have to like incense, though. The parish I used to visit in Arizona would have incense so thick that it was almost fog-like! They gave me a pew book with English translation of various liturgies and the book still has the smell of incense!

Dave Ignatius DTBrown@aol.com

Dave Ignatius is correct � it is a wonderful experience. The services are quite long. A listing in the local newspaper for the Coptic Orthodox parish near me for Christmas Eve services listed something like: �Vespers � 6:30 PM followed immediately by the Divine Liturgy at 9:00 PM followed immediately by the Agape Feast at 1:00 AM�. The people of the parish were most welcoming but I admit that we did not stay for the duration. They can really pray!

Does this have something to say to another thread on this forum, inquiring about the correct length of an ideal Liturgy?

Administrator

>>>...it is a wonderful experience. The services are quite long. A listing in the local newspaper for the Coptic Orthodox parish near me for Christmas Eve services listed something like: ?Vespers ? 6:30 PM followed immediately by the Divine Liturgy at 9:00 PM followed immediately by the Agape Feast at 1:00 AM?. The people of the parish were most welcoming but I admit that we did not stay for the duration. They can really pray!>>>

Hieromonk Elias

>>>Does this have something to say to another thread on this forum, inquiring about the correct length of an ideal Liturgy?<<<

+ Father Bless! +

Christmas Eve services, at 5 hours, are a bit longer, perhaps, than ordinary services of the Divine Liturgy. My Antiochian parish begins Sunday Services at 8:30AM with Orthros for an hour, then the Liturgy for 2 hours, with food to follow. At least we are not snoozing off in our pews! [We got no pews!] We are standing except for the homily, which is a 20 minute affair usually.

Prayer is a wonderful time! Would that we could be praying all the time... To not be praying is a place of hazards almost by definition, and certainly in fact, yes? When I first started enquiring, that 3 hours of standing in prayer and moving about and bowing and kissing icons like to have killed me! Now, there is a kind of time warp, where it seems that we are only just starting and it is time to finish [not always, but often!]... I remember having to run to the local supermarket after the Homily once early on, and walking into that store was eerie, and a little disorienting. [Beginners like me get lots of little snags like this.] The store seemed all bright, sharp edged, and harsh - almost artificial... But then, at that time, I was only an enquirer, not yet even a foetus [catechumen] in the womb of our Mother the Church...

The concept of "the correct length of time for an idea liturgy" seems strange to me, having a feel of exteriority, and the subjection of communion to clocks, Father Elias - I missed this thread 'elsewhere' on this forum, but would be interested in reading it. Could you tell me where it is to be found?

geo

Glory to Jesus Christ!

I just popped in here, I haven't read all the posts in this thread, but here is my humble opinion. Yes, I would attend an Orthodox Divine Liturgy if for some reason my Eastern Catholic priest were unavailable for Sunday/Holyday services (happens at least twice a year here). Two weeks ago, the priest was away, and had a Latin priest fill in for him (it was Novus Ordo in a Byzantine Church). Instead of attending this Mass, I opted for the local Russian Patriarchial Church. It was an absolutely MAGNIFICENT Liturgy-- very spiritually uplifting for me, and the parishioners were so friendly and outgoing when they found out I was a visitor.

I feel the "legalistic" idea of fulfilling one's Sunday obligation in a particular church (ie-- under the Roman Pontiff) can be spiritually damaging to some individuals-- for myself, when my priest is away, or I visit an area where no Eastern Catholic church exists, you bet I'm gonna opt for the Orthodox Liturgy over the Novus Ordo. I feel I profit from the East spiritually whether the parish is Catholic or Orthodox.
Just my two cent's --take it for what it's worth.

God bless you all!!
Dan

Dan,

Are you saying that your priest had a RC substitute for him in a BC church but celebrating a RC mass?

Bob

Did just St. John's/St. Mary's have this special treat :rolleyes: or did both parishes luck out? If my pastor ever sprung that on me (he wouldn't -- we'd sing Matins and Obidnycja instead), he'd never see me again. We are not "members of a rite" that we can just switch a Liturgikon with a Missal and everything is hunky dory. What did the cantor think of all this, and what did he/she do? (If she/he was fortunate, she/he found out about it ahead of time and slept in instead.)

I'm not questioning your spirit, but it is a little unsettling for me to hear of those who would willingly opt to attend a service under those who you are not in communion with, rather than attending a service with those who you do commune with. If a good Eastern Catholic parish isn't nearby, why not go a nearby Latin church Saturday night to fulfill Sunday obligation, and then attend an Orthodox church the following morning? Or attend both (if you can) on Sunday. As similar as the Orthodox Churches and the Eastern Catholic Churches are, remember that the former are schismatic and the latter is part of the Catholic communion, just as Catholic as any Latin church.

Soli Deo Gratia,
ChristTeen287