www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology New to the Melkite Church

Hey everyone,

I'm attending a Melkite Catholic Church, and I am falling in love with the East. I really believe it is where God is calling me, so I hope to immerse myself in the Eastern tradition in the next year or two and hopefully go through a formal transfer of Churches when the Priest feels I am ready.

I was wondering if you had any practical advice about Byzantine/Melkite spirituality? There are so many small traditions and prayers and devotions that I have picked up from the Latin Church over the years, there's not much I haven't at least heard about. Now in the East, though, there's not much I HAVE heard about. I have to learn a whole new Liturgy, new Saints, new devotions. It's the little things that make you feel part of a Church. I remember when I first became Catholic, I was lost at the Roman Mass, just as I am now at the Divine Liturgy. But, I'm looking forward to learning.

Can you maybe give me a little run down of Byzantine spirituality? Stuff that might help me day to day in my spiritual life. I know there is a Jesus prayer tradition (chotki?), and the icons. Any good books that may be of help? Websites?

I haven't been confirmed, will I be able to be confirmed eventually as an EC? I know they confirm as infants.

Anyway, thanks for reading, and I hope to learn a lot from the forum.

Era,

How wonderful! Welcome to the great Patriarchal Church of Antioch!

My recommendation would be to read anything by Archbishop Joseph Raya. His "Face of God" and "Celebration" are probably two of the best places to start.

God bless!

Gordo

Welcome to the Forum and to the Melkite Church, Era Might! There aren't really any "rules" for "switching". But some suggestions I'd make:

1. I wouldn't make any changes to your "private" prayer life for now. Let things grow over the next year or two; continue your Latin devotions and only "replace" them as you "feel" right (I hate using "those" words, but they're the best ones I can think of right now). Feel free to keep Latin devotions.

2. attend the various liturgies your parish has as you can. Vespers, Orthros, Divine Liturgy. Try to go to the special seasonal services that your parish may have (e.g. Paraklesis if for this Nativity season, and the various Lenten devotions - and be sure to NOT miss the Akathistos prayer).

3. get a guide to the various liturgical services, and review them (or better yet, pray a part of them) occasionally, especially before attending them. It took a few years for me to "get" them. PM me if you want suggestions; unfortunately the plethora of translations - sometimes within the same parish - means that you may have to study from a different translation than the one your parish uses.

4. most importantly: ask the same question to your parish priest if you haven't done so already and talk about anything you may do (including this advice) with him beforehand.


That said, what I've done over the past few years when I've moved from the Latin to Melkite Church is basically adopt a (much!) abbreviated mish-mash from the Liturgy of the Hours. If you want more details feel free to PM me.

Some may recommend Chokti beads, the Jesus prayer, the Philokalia, the Ladder of Divine Ascent and other things. I'll leave a final word to others, but I'd be a bit cautious about jumping into all these full steam (except for the Jesus prayer; IMHO it's always good to say. Just say it, don't embellish except with consultation with your parish priest).

Best,

Markos
who's not a spiritual adviser, even on infomercials, and feels uncomfortable writing the above

Era Might,

The posters here have given some great advice!

Curious, are you attending the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral? Or where?
I am Melkite myself. There is so much to learn! Let it sink in. It is great that you are attending over the year. If you would like to discuss anything, PM me.

Obviously, attend Divine Liturgy on Sundays, every Sunday. Worship, Celebrate with the Church you want to be a part of.

Please, attend Orthos and Vespers. These prayers are such an important part of understanding Celebration and Prayer in the East. Get a Father Confessor who is at the Church and visit this Mystery frequently.

Read Sayedna's Raya and Tawil, +memories eternal, and the Early Church Fathers, especially Sts. Maximos, Basil, Gregory of Nyssa, Gregory Nazianzus, Greogory Palamas, and John Chrysostom.

Pray the Jesus Prayer, get a prayer rope, say morning prayers.


Hope this helps,
God Bless,
Chels

Thanks for the advice everyone.

Yes, I am attending the Melkite Cathedral in Roslindale, MA. Beautiful Church.

I definitely plan to keep the Liturgy as my main pivot to immerse myself in the East. I went to Orthros before the Liturgy today and that was very beautiful. They have Vespers as well one day during the week so hopefully I will be able to attend often. I was struck today during the Divine Liturgy when they said something to the effect of, "We offer this Liturgy for Saint such-and-such and Saint so-and-so, and especially for the Theotokos." I never really thought of the Liturgy being offered on behalf of Saints, but it definitely makes sense. I understood in a new way how Liturgy is a heavenly action, and we join all the Saints and Angels for the Eucharist.

And I'll definitely let you know if I have specific questions as I learn more. I just ordered a couple books from the library, one by Patriarch Maximos IV and another book about Melkites by Lucien Malouf, and also some ascetical writings from St. Gregory Nyssa.

The reason why I want to "jump in" is because I'm worried about bringing baggage to the Melkite Church from my Latin formation. I really want to learn and adopt the Melkite traditions and become Melkite, and not just add them to my previous formation. But your caution about not going too fast is well taken.

Thanks again.

Welcome to the Forum, and the East!

I think you have the right attitude. It requires a conversion of sorts even though one may not speak of it that way.

The recommendations above are just fine. And if you pay attention, everything you need to know theologically will come to you through the liturgy. Just stick with it and follow the calendar.

And while you may wish to hold a book or booklet with the text of the liturgy when worshipping, I might suggest that you just listen instead. Put your finger into the place where the Creed is printed, and another by the prayer before communion, that's all you need until you memorize them.

After you become comfortable with the liturgy, pick up the "Commentary on the Divine Liturgy" by Nicholas Cabasilas. The current publisher is SVS.

Later (give it some time), you might like to obtain the "Spirituality of the Christian East" by Tomas Cardinal Spidlik. The publisher of the English translation is Cistercian Press.

Blessings to you,
Michael