www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West Clackers during Lent

Greetings.

I read somewhere that the clackers used during Holy Week are a western device, yet I cannot ever recall this used at my small RC parish, growing up.

Does anyone have any more information regarding the use and meaning of the clackers in both the East and West?

Thank you.

In Christ.

Michael

It was actually called a "clapper". The clapper was to be used in lieu of the altar bell from the end of the "Gloria in excelsis" on Holy Thursday to the beginning of the "Gloria in excelsis" on Holy Saturday. During this interval the clapper (crotalus) was to be used to give the signal for the Angelus. It was not prescribed for use in liturgical functions.

I do think some may have used the clapper during the Mass of Holy Thursday at the Sanctus and at the elevation of the Host and the Chalice when the altar bell was not rung.

I'm not familiar with the use of the clapper in the Byzantine Churches.

I believe (correct me if I am wrong) that the 1646 Union of Uzhorod specifically spoke out against the use of Clackers for Greek Catholics.

Father Deacon John and Ray,

Thank you both for your information. Then the use of the clapper during the Holy Week services is something that, in theory, should not be occurring?

Do either of you suggest a reference or search term that I could use?

In Christ,

Michael

Am I right about the Union of Uzhorod and clackers?

Dear Friends,

I grew up with clappers and I even operated them during Holy Week services as an altar server!

My simple mind imagined that the noise they were making symbolized the sound of the hammers as they drove the nails through our Lord's Hands and Feet . . .

Alex

I believe that the Union of Uzhorod says that we "should not be forbidden to ring our bells on Great Friday," and does not specifically mention that we should use clappers. It's funny that was added as a condition of Union considering that Pascha and the Western Easter did not concide very often (since the GC Church continued to use the Julian calendar). Hope that this helps.

Dear Friends,

Do not the Athonite monks themselves use a form of clapper when they use a wooden mallet to strike on a wooden semantron to call the brethren to prayer?

I have a small semantron at home for the same purpose!

And I would continue to use clappers all year if I could . . .

Alex

I think John K's response to Ray is right - but I think that this idea come from Brest.

Article 22:

Union of Brest states:

Dear Ray,

It is good that the Union of Brest wasn't based on the understanding that if any of the points of union were discarded in future, the union would become invalidated!

If it was, then we UGCC'ers would have reverted to Orthodoxy long ago!

Would you know of a place where one could buy a decent clapper?

Alex

Clackers drive me Quackers. The first time I heard one it sounded like a machine gun.

Incognitus

So I presume you had to duck?

So are you suggesting the the use of clappers was "compelled"?

From a Latin standpoint, my local indult "Tridentine" Mass uses them during Holy Week. I believe the rule is that you can't use bells from Maundy Thursday to Easter. This was on the books during the "Tridentine" era and is still I believe on the books today.

I'm not sure that a clapper is authorized anywhere; my impression is that it's simply a longstanding, unwritten tradition.

Hopefully a liturgically educated traditionalist will answer. My job is to sing Gregorian chant at such times and I'm really quite ignorant about what they do up front.