www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Parish Life & Evangelization Advice for visiting an Eastern church

Hello, I am hoping to visit a mass at a Melkite Catholic parish. Is mass the proper name or is it something else? I think it's not, but I'm not sure what to call it.

I am a Roman rite Catholic and was hoping that some here could give me some advice to keep in mind when visiting. I am a little hesitant that people might be annoyed with me visiting outside of my rite. Is this improper?

I have a few questions. Should I visit,

1. May I receive communion?
2. What should I know for the communion fast?
3. What is the most respectful or proper way to receive? (standing, should I bow or genuflect, on the tongue... etc).
4. Are there altar rails where one kneels for communion? Or something else?
5. I wear a lace mantilla headcovering to mass. Is that appropriate for a mass at the Melkite parish?

Thank you for any help you may offer.

Dear Rosa,

Welcome to the forum!

I have sent a private message about your post to a member of the forum who is a member of the Melkite Church. His forum name is 'Irish Melkite' and his real name is Neil.

He hasn't been here for a while (unfortunately ), but I am hoping that he will come to the rescue as the gentleman that he is and always has been!

In Christ,
Alice

The proper name is the Divine Liturgy, but many people will call it Mass as well... and it is not at all improper for you to attend - if fact you should be commended for wanting to experience a different Apostolic Tradition.

You may receive if you have Confessed, etc, you don't have to confess to the Melkite priest you may confess to your own.
Easterners normally fast the whole evening prior to receiving, but you can do the 1 hour if the other is not possible for you.
The proper way to receive is to open your mouth and tilt your head back. You shouldn't respond to the priest by saying Amen, just open and let the priest do the rest.
Easterners don't have altar rails, but normally one would reverence the icon by bowing and kissing and then solemnly walk up and receive the Eucharist.
Sometimes there will be blessed bread present to consume after receiving so as to ensure the Eucharist is no longer in your mouth.
You can wear the mantilla if you wish, some women will do so out of reverence as well.

1. Yes, you may receive Holy Communion if you are a Catholic and properly disposed.

2. Follow your normal practice for the communion fast.

3. Everybody stands. The priest dips the Body of Christ into the Precious Blood and puts it into your mouth. Open your mouth but do not extend your tongue. (Byzantine Catholics other than Melkites normally use a spoon.)

4. There is no altar rail, because the altar area (sanctuary) is separated from the nave by the icon screen instead of by an altar rail.

5. Wearing a lace mantilla is absolutely fine.

The service is called the Divine Liturgy rather than the Mass (because "Mass" is derived from a Latin word and "Liturgy" is derived from a Greek word), but if you call it the Mass everyone will know what you mean. Don't be hesitant to attend Divine Liturgy at a Melkite parish. Any Catholic can attend any Catholic church of whatever rite. The congregation will not be annoyed with you, and they may try to feed you afterwards.

Thanks to everyone for your help. It may be awhile before I am able to visit, but when I do, I will come back and let you all know how it went.

Just dont wear the mantilla if going to visit a Russian Orthodox Church, as they prefer women to wear a head scarf. I suppose now I think of it it they dont like hats either.

Have a good Great Lent

ICXC
NIKA

Interestingly there doesn't seem to be a male/female side in any of the Russian Orthodox Churches I've been to in Aust., or if there is it hasn't been observed very strongly.

NW

The Ukrainian certainly tend towards women on the left and men on the right as one faces the iconostas.

ICXC
NIKA

hmm in London in the Rocor Church there is very definitely separation of the sexes but there does not seem to be , as far as I know , in the UGCC.

I have also been to the ROC-MP and the Romanian Orthodox in London and did not observe it there either

Sorry, I should have said the UGCC here in Australia. There are a number of younger ones who sit anywhere but in the church I attend people seem to almost own their places. They just go to the same spot year after year. The husband goes his way to the right and the wife goes the other way. There is a choir gallery at the back and that is almost it's own community up there.

ICXC
NIKA

Hi Rosa,

I'm a bit late in replying, as I regretably haven't been here lately and hadn't done e-mail for a week or so. I see that my brethren have given you good advice though.

No one should ever make you feel uncomfortable for attending the Liturgy in a Rite or a Church other than your own. I won't be so bold as to say it never happens, but it shouldn't. If it helps, I'm pretty confident in saying that the parishes of my Church are particularly known for being welcoming to those who come to celebrate with us - it's rare to hear anyone say that they weren't warmly received at a Melkite temple.

You don't indicate which parish you are considering attending. Some of our parishes are more ethnic than others and it's possible that there are a couple in which you might feel a bit out of place on that count. If you want to post the name or locale of the parish, or PM it to me, I could very likely give you some insights into the particular parish community.

Some of our parishes serve both English and Arabic Liturgies, so you may want to check first to be certain that the one you plan to attend is in English.

As a Latin Catholic, you are bound by the pre-Eucharist fasting requirements of your own Church, although you are free to observe the more stringent requirements of the East. You are, of course, welcome to receive the Holy Mystery.

Michael correctly described "how" to receive the Mystery of the Eucharist. Be prepared for the fact that the Eucharist will be in the form of leavened bread, not the unleavened form to which you are accustomed. It will also have been "intincted", or dipped in wine. Unlike the other Churches of the Byzantine Rite, the Melkites do not generally use a spoon to administer the Mystery; rather, the priest will administer the Mystery by hand. (I say, "generally", because I have heard that one or two parishes are using the spoon, believing it to be the more proper tradition).

Someone mentioned Confession; while it is certainly required that you be in a state of grace, that is between you and God. While our Orthodox brethren not uncommonly require that their faithful have confessed within a particular timeframe prior to reception of the Holy Mystery, that is not generally required in the Eastern Catholic Churches.

If you have other specific questions, please post them or PM me, I promise to be quicker in my reply.

Many years,

Neil

Hey - welcome back stranger - long time no see

Thanks again to everyone who responded. I was finally able to visit this Melkite parish. And WOW. I was blown away by the beauty of the liturgy. I think that I may make this my "home" parish once I get my car in a few months. Everything was so beautiful; I loved the icons. And the people were very friendly. What baffles me is why Roman rite Catholics are not switching in droves.

The reason is that most Roman Catholics don't even know the Eastern Churches exist. I say this as a Latin who has gone east. I have yet to talk to one friend or family member (all RCs) who is well informed about Eastern Catholic Churches. Many are actually under the sad impression that I am not attending a Catholic Church. The reason for this ignorance is that the Latin Church teaches almost nothing about the Eastern part of the Church, it was that way when I was growing up, it is that way still. It is my firm belief that most of the Latin Bishops prefer that this state of ignorance be maintained, just as they fail to ignore anything in the Latin Church that pre-dates 1970.

Rosa Latinia, I am glad to hear you had a positive experience with your visit to the Melkite parish. Eastern parishes are very friendly places, I hope you find the spiritual home you are seeking.

Brgds,

Doug

I attended a Ruthenian parish today for the Divine Liturgy. It was a beautiful service, the entire congregation chanting, incense, but what really grabbed me was the fine Pastor's homily. He based his sermon on a passage from John Climacus' Ladder and how it related to the gospel reading. He didn't pull any punches and went right into the spiritual warfare we're to wage on ourselves in growing closer to Christ. I can't tell you folks how hungry I am for this type of preaching! I'd never thought I'd hear a homily based on the writing of a desert father.