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Why don't the Orthodox and the Orientals worship the Blessed Sacrament? It seems like a natural developement of doctrine to me if Jesus is truly present "Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity" (as I believe He is).

If you check these fora, I think a while ago there was a thread on "Byzantine Benediction" or something like that...it was a long thread, and very informative...I think you might find what you're looking for somewhere in there...it's worth the searching.

Dear Alexius,

Glory to Jesus Christ!

What you are asking is really a liturgical question, and like most such questions needs to be seen within the historical context. Basically, among the Eastern Churches there has never been a strong heretical movement which denied the reality of Christ's presence in his Body and Blood in the Eucharist. In the West there were several such heresies. Hence the Western liturgical tradition developed "antibodies" to the disease it was prone to in the form of Eucharistic devotion.

In Christ
unworthy monk Maximos

Dear Alexius,

The Eastern Church does indeed worship Christ in HOly Communion, but the form is different and is related to the Divine Liturgy, Holy Communion and the prayers of preparation before and after.

Devotion to the static Presence of Christ in HOly Communion is not always understood in the East.

The RC Church has emphasized Eucharistic devotion first and foremost as focused on the Mass.

Alex

Hello, Alexius!

Easterners prefer to have adoration as we Westerners understand it, before an icon rather than a consecrated host in a Monstrance. For them, icons represent Presence. They are not just pretty paintings. Indeed, the ancient masters had to undergo fasting, go to confession and receive the Eucharist before beginning work on an icon. They must also follow standard rules: for example, the 3 stars that you will see on an icon of Mary MUST always be on either shoulder and on her forehead (on the cloth). They represent that she was a virgin before, during and after the birth of Christ. These three stars cannot be placed just anywhere on her robe.

When you or anyone sees and icon, one should make a small reverential bow before it and say a small prayer. Icons on an altar or in a prayer corner should have a lit candle in front of it or off the the immediate side.

The Carmelite

Dear Carmelite,

Did you know that there is an Orthodox miraculous Icon of Our Lady of Mount Carmel?

It is in the Orthodox monastery of Horodyschensk and it is still called the "Scaplirna Bozha Maty" or the Mother of God of the Scapular.

Believe it or not!

Also, the original Carmelites were Greek monks living in the "petchery" or Caves of Mt. Carmel.

The original icon of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel is a Byzantine Icon that is today enshrined in Naples, Italy and is called "Our Lady of Naples" or else the "Brown Madonna."

Again, believe it . . .

Alex

[This message has been edited by Orthodox Catholic (edited 07-16-2001).]

Today is the Feast of the Mother of God of Mount Carmel.

Happy feastday, everyone!

Hello, Orthodox Catholic!

No, I didn't know about the miraculous Orthodox icon of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel...thanks for the info! Anyone know where I can find a copy? Or see a picture of in it a book somewhere?

I am a Third Order Carmelite with an insatiable hunger to learn more about the Eastern Church and the Orthodox....I presently have a binder with a few hundred pages on these subjects that I found on the Web! I don't pretend to have a complete understanding thereof whatsoever!

Again, thanks! Bless you!

The Carmelite

Dear Carmelite,

I have been a scapular-wearer of Mt. Carmel for years.

Carmel really belongs to the Eastern Church and Archbishop Raya of the Melkites once told me that there are both Latin Rite and Byzantine Rite Carmelites in Israel.

The scapular itself is likened to the Mantle of Protection of the Mother of God.

Some have said that St Simon Stock saw our Lady extending Her Mantle and said, "Whoever dies under this etc." meaning whoever dies under Her patronage and Mantle of protection will never experience eternal fire. And of course how can such a person?

Russian Byzantine CAtholics have told me their scapular represents the mantle of Protection.

Robert Lentz, a popular iconographer, has done an Eastern icon of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel which resembles very closely the original Icon that is now enshrined in Naples, Italy, brought from Israel by the original Carmelites.

He has a site at www.bridgebuildingicons.com, [bridgebuildingicons.com,] I believe.

In Carmel,

Alex