www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Yesterday after DL...

Hi, I have a question about something that occurred after DL yesterday. There was a blessing of an icon which was really nice, but then after that (or maybe a part of it) we were encouraged to line up to venerate the crucifix. Then the priest blessed us with oil on our foreheads. Next to him was an altar server with a basket of bread and another with a basket for monetary collection.

We were caught off guard b/c we thought the DL was over. We weren't sure what the bread was for and felt bad we had no more $$ with us. But we tried to go with the flow. Venerating the crucifix was nice and so was the blessing.

What was this called? Edited to add that we didn't have a chance to ask the priest...

Thanks, Andrea

Andrea,

This is called Mirovanje and it is is done afte Liturgy on major Feasts and usually the Sunday Liturgy following the Feast, in this case the Conception of the Mother of God by St. Ann, Dec 8 or 9 depending on the parish.

Fr. Deacon Lance

Thank you!

Andrea

I've not heard of the collection basket being present for the Mirovanje. Is it possible that it was a second collection for almsgiving during the Christmas season? Even if it wasn't, you are free to venerate the cross and be blessed with the oil and to have the antidoran without contributing.

The bread was antidoran. When the Prosphora (the communion bread) is cut into a square to make the Lamb, which is consecrated, the outside edges remain. This bread is blessed and shared with everyone present so that even those who don't partake of the Eucharist still share in the same loaf of bread with all.

The priest might have announced a second collection, but I didn't hear as I was busy wrestling my 4 year old.


Thank you for explaining the bread, as we weren't sure what to do, or if our children should take some. I ended up not taking any bread as I felt bad we had nothing more to contribute. Now we know what to do next time!

Thanks, Andrea

We had mirovanje yesterday, in our case it was for the Presentation which was last week. The Feast of the Conception will be later in the month. Normally Father holds the hand cross when there is not a blessing with the oil. Either way, people then go to one side or the other to go past the altar servers who hold trays with the antidoron, trays for extra collection and the bulletins. I've never heard of a specific purpose for the second collection. I usually give then for candles.

Wondering,

The bread given at Mirovanje is not antidoron but the bread blessed at Litija at Great Vespers for the particular Feast, at least theoretically.

Also the collection basket at Mirovanje was a common sight when married priests were around. It was another boost to their income. But nowadays most priests don't do it.

Fr. Deacon Lance

Thank you Father Deacon!

In this case, I doubt it was from Litija because Andrea said it happened immediately after the Sunday morning liturgy. Considering the current thread which lists the churches that have Great Vespers does not include a church in Washington, where Andrea is located, I am assuming it was antidoran. It does not negate your point of it being what is theoretically expected.

Andrea,
You can read more about Litija and Mirovanje here:
http://www.byzantines.net/moreinfo/anointing.htm

Wondering,

Thank you for the link,

Andrea

Interesting - you have actually sort of answered a question I hve had in the back of my mind for a long time. Occasionally we have annointing in Edinburgh [ IIRC the Feast of the Nativity and Pascha ] and there is always someone with a basket for donations , but with the language problems I have never been able to find out the reasoning for this.

Anhelyna - out of breath from all that has happened today

So are you saying that the collection basket at Mirovanje is for the priest personally, and not for the church?

It used to be, when married priests were the majority. I would suspect today it would be for the parish, as priest can't simply just take collection for themselves.

Dear Aunt B,

I cannot speak for any other parish, but for ours, the answer is yes.

In Christ,

Michael

Let me understand this. Are Michael and Fr. Deacon Lance stating that in Eastern Catholic churches, collections are taken specifically for the use of a parish priest?
This seems odd to me as an Orthodox Christian. Our priests get a salary. They may receive money given to them directly for "Treby" special services such as a pahakyda etc. Usually, people put money in an envelope and give it to the priest. But the collection plate is collected by lay people and the money counted and recorded by lay people.

As an Orthodox priest of almost 30 years,I rarely distribute the blessed oil after Liturgy.I do distribute it on the Sunday of the Cross during Lent and the Exaltation of the Cross,both after the Cross is brought out at Matins when the faithful come forward to venerate it for the first time AND also at the end of the Liturgy,since the people venerate the Cross again in the center of the church instead of the hand cross.On those days when Matins is served in the morning,I DON'T do the Litiya at Vespers the night before, although I understand thatis the practice among Greeks in general and also among Greek Catholics.I remember being in a Greek Old Calender church for the Feast of St.Spiridon where the priest did the Litiya towards the end of Liturgy,either before the Communion of the laity or just before the end of the Liturgy,I don't remember which.Probably, he did this because evening services were not that well attended.I had the same problem in my former parish, so usually I only did the Vigil with Litiya on the Eves of Nativity,Theophany,Pentecost, and Dormition(the parish feast).For the other Feasts, it would usually be Great Vespers on the eve,Matins before the Liturgy in the morning, and during Matins I would annoint people with reserve oil from previous Litiyas.