www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News Encourage EWTN to air more Eastern programming

Hi there. I just sent a friendly note to EWTN, encouraging them to air Eastern Christian programming, including the idea of a weekly airing of the Byzantine Liturgy in an Eastern Catholic Church.

Perhaps you would like to do the same?

Email: viewer@ewtn.com

Dear Shawn:

"Light of the East" on EWTN has been a long-running series hosted by 2 Byzantine Catholic (Ruthenian) priests: Fr. Michael Sopoliga and Fr. Joseph Bertha.

Also, Fr. Sopoliga is a member of this Forum.

Airing largely depends on their availability. I think your appeal should be directed to Eastern Catholic Churches for more materials and for more active participation.

Amado

I've written EWTN in the past similarly and they sent nice responses. I think what would help to get these sort of things aired would be help in the production area. Some ideas:

The Akathist to the Theotokos...Perhaps a parish or Eparchy could film this celebration with priest and choir (or congregation) singing this in English in a parish setting.

Similarly the Paraklesis service. And the Divine Liturgy. Filming celebrations of these (and other such services) in English and making them available for use on EWTN would go a long way to helping make the Eastern "lung" more known to Western Catholics.

Thanks for the tip - I shall write them as you suggest. I would also suggest such programs as the HOly Week services (which can be recorded and broadcast during Old-Calendar Holy Week so that they don't have to compete with the RC services).

Meanwhile, a bit of destructive criticism - in fact two bits:

a) it would help if their announced programs had some reference to the programs that they actually show - quite often this is not the case.

b) they are running a program on Great Moments in Church History, consisting of yet another talking head (a professor, who is a convert from the Episcopalians) who has this amazing habit of laughing at himself every 45 seconds or so. It would help if they either tell him to cut out the giggles, or used tv technology to edit the giggles out.

Incognitus

Well, there was a broadcast in EWTN a year ago about the Byzantine Catholic Christmas with two priests, about the compline and vespers services, the Znami Bog chant, and others.

They do have programs about the Eastern Churches - just not enough of them.

Most EWTN programs are discussion shows, with a set and somebody talking. These don't cost too much to produce. Documentaries cost more money.

I wish that EWTN did regularly televise a Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom.

Precisely. I commented on the Light of the East program to them in my email, thanking them for it, and giving some suggestions they might consider. For example, perhaps an Eastern priest could give a talk on St. John Chrysostom on the network.

What I mainly would like to see is more of the Byzantine liturgy. But I also realize there needs be demand. Hence, if people make it known they'd really love that to be on there, perhaps one day it will happen.

I did send EWTN such an e-mail yesterday - here's hoping. Talking heads really are a turn-off, and it isn't that overwhelmingly expensive to provide some illustrations (good still photographs, video-recordings et al).

Incognitus

Golly, it would be nice to see a video of a high TLM. The local ordinary from what I understand woln't even allow this for crying out loud !!

The ordinary of Birmingham sent a letter to EWTN forbidding the priests there to face East during Mass. He instructed them to face the people.

The new chapel Mother Angelica built is suited for the TLM - should it be permitted in Alabama.

At the new monastery the Mass is said with the priest facing east, but not if it is televised. It is just at EWTN they cannont face east. However, our bishops letter for retirement has been accepted. It was actually the last one accepted by JPII, but they had him stay for now. We are waiting for the selection of the new bishop for the Diocese of Birmingham. So Lord willing we will have a change in that status soon!

PaniRose

Perhaps some of you are coming Aug. 6 to Whiting to share this idea. We hope to bring a new vision to the Metropolia which includes Television.

Dan L

There are some videos available of the Tridentine Mass, including one of Cardinal Stickler celebrating Pontifical High Mass at Saint Patrick's Cathedral in New York.

I would take it for granted that the local Latin bishop has no conceivable authority to forbid the broadcasting of Eastern Catholic divine services.

Incognitus

EWTN's "daily" chapel is fitted with cameras, mics, and other such items; it functions much like a studio from what I can gather.

Now, how expensive/difficult would it be to install the necessary equipment into a Byzantine church/chapel?

Perhaps if some knowledgeable people put together a proposal for this, found financial backers, and approached EWTN, you could see a Byzantine liturgy on regularly.

Dave

EWTN has aired a number TLM related broadcasts. In fact, just this past week they aired the FSSP video "Pilgrimage" which included many clips of solemn high Pontifical TLM masses from Rome on the occasion of the 10th annivesary of the FSSP.

They've had other interviews where they've had clips of high masses from England, etc.

It would be wonderful if they would air something like a high Mass from the FSSP or ICKSP, but again, they all cost money I know.

My thinking is that the Eastern Church is very well represented by numbers, and also doesn't have the same polemics attached to it as the TLM, so it probably easier to swing that. Plus we know under our Holy Father, Benedict, the Eastern Church is getting more and more prominence.

I know EWTN has done Eastern liturgies in their own chapel in the past. Melkite priests celebrated it I think. I think its immportant to have it done in a well-appointed Eastern Church though.