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I was reading the bulletin of a Ruthenian Church not too far away and it says this Sunday Rosary will be recited before the 10:30am Divine Liturgy instead of after the Liturgy as it is at present. The purpose of the change is hopefully to allow more people to participate. [ Linked Image] I don't know what to say.
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Dear Father Serge,
I would never misconstrue your quote of a shout. Don't worry! 
Actually, this country has, if one thinks about it, replaced the Advent calendar with the Shopping calendar. It is no longer the religious countdown to the most holy Feast, but the 'shopping days' count down.
Also, in European countries, there is atleast a week off AFTER Christmas...and the twelve days of Christmas were, I suppose, the days when one should have been celebrating. I am usually so bored after the hype leading after Christmas day...I really wish that the traditional way of celebrating it were back...and it would be so much easier if that week were given off too...but alas, Americans have much fewer vacation days than Europeans anyway.
In Greece, as you know, New Year's Day, (St. Basil's day) is a nice family feast day just as Christmas, (and many of us in the diaspora still celebrate it that way). Although this aspect has now changed in Greece as it has become more Westernized-- traditionally, gifts were given by St. Basil on that day instead of by Saint Nicholas on Christmas.
Ofcourse, in the USA, New Year's day is a day for watching sports and nursing hangovers. 
Alice
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I'm happy to say that our priest announced Philip's fast before it began and placed reminders in the bulletin. I get the impression that everyone knows what it is and most folks are following it.
Fr. presented a lecture on Eastern theology earlier this fall and showed us how he prepares the gifts during Divine Liturgy. This has helped make it clear that this is an Eastern church and disucssion meets twice a month, and some of the changes in the DL have already been discussed. We're already doing most of it anyway. I mention all this because an earlier Orthodox poster expressed dismay over the lacksadaisical approach some ER churches seem to have about observing Orthodox traditions. Not all churches are like that and I suspect my church is not the only one on the ball. There is hope.
Peace,
Indigo
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Ilian, you wrote:
"I found the statement that none must fast to be rather hard to understand."
But indeed that is the truth, Ilian. Fasting was made for man, not man for fasting (to take liberties with the NT). +John Chrysostomos wrote:
"Are there any weary with fasting?
Let them now receive their wages!
If any have toiled from the first hour,
let them receive their due reward;
If any have come after the third hour,
let him with gratitude join in the Feast!
And he that arrived after the sixth hour,
let him not doubt; for he too shall sustain no loss.
And if any delayed until the ninth hour,
let him not hesitate; but let him come too.
And he who arrived only at the eleventh hour,
let him not be afraid by reason of his delay.
For the Lord is gracious and receives the last even as the first.
He gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour,
as well as to him that toiled from the first.
To this one He gives, and upon another He bestows.
He accepts the works as He greets the endeavor.
The deed He honors and the intention He commends.
Let us all enter into the joy of the Lord!
First and last alike receive your reward;
rich and poor, rejoice together!
Sober and slothful, celebrate the day!
You that have kept the fast, and you that have not,
rejoice today for the Table is richly laden!
Feast royally on it, the calf is a fatted one.
Let no one go away hungry. Partake, all, of the cup of faith.
Enjoy all the riches of His goodness!"
Don't get me wrong. Fasting is among the finest disciplines we can undertake. Most of us know how valuable the Fast of Great Lent is for each of us. And the other "big" fasts are, or can be too. But fasting is a tool, not a rule to be adhered to or else. This year the calendar has, I believe, 184 fast days. Aside from monastics and a few very holy people, I don't know anyone who follows that. The Church teaches, "Do this and you will become like God" not "Do this or you will go to hell".
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Papaflessas,
My question did not pertain to the fast (though I found it hard to understand how the pastor of a church could tell his flock the fast is optional).
My question was about the Rosary. First, why an Eastern church would be using a western devotion in place of an Eastern service, and secondly why an Eastern church would be using a private devotion in corporate worship. It doesn't make sense to me.
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Ilian:
"My question was about the Rosary. First, why an Eastern church would be using a western devotion in place of an Eastern service, and secondly why an Eastern church would be using a private devotion in corporate worship. It doesn't make sense to me."
I suspect its a "Latinization". As for its use before a Liturgy, if memory serves me right, it was quite common for Catholics to say the rosary as a group either before or after a Mass in the "old days" and I distinctly remember large groups of Catholics saying the rosary together in a reponsorial way with a priest or monastic leading them (I grew up and live in a Catholic town; it was on the radio at least once a week).
On a personal note, and not at all apropos of an EC Liturgy, let alone an Orthodox Divine Liturgy, I find the rosary a wonderful devotion, sort of a Marian version of the Jesus Prayer.
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