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Mar 25th, 2025
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 45
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 45 |
Originally posted by sam:
As for why we have churches on every block in Cleveland and none in Cincinnati, I have no idea. Basic maintenance of the old rather than forward thinking? The main reason there are so many E. Orth./ByzCath. churches in the Cleveland area and other parts of NE Ohio is a simple matter of ethnic demographics. That part of Ohio had a lot more Slavic settlers, and the area around Cincy had lots more German.
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Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 474
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Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 474 |
Thank you Turpius.
I guess my point was that that was over 100 years ago. It might be time to start to re-evaluate the areas where we originally settled and start to look to new places for evangelization purposes.
I'm sure many Cleveland, etc. parishes which were once packed to standing-room-only are now much smaller in size. The church buildings remain long after their people have moved on. We didn't adapt with the changing demographics and because of that may well face extinction in another generation.
Sam
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 187
Orthodoxy or Death
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Orthodoxy or Death
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 187 |
I agree with Sam. I'm not for closing churches, and I understand the demographics of Cleveland. However, too many people are interested in saving a building, than saving their faith. They are the same ones who complain that when someone new comes in, "they're sitting in my seat."
The good thing is, Slavs are terribly stubborn and I don't think we would let our church die. And, I think it's part generational, and something the rest of us need to be keenly aware of when newcomers celebrate Liturgy with us. We are after all more than a building!
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,191 Likes: 3
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,191 Likes: 3 |
Originally posted by Turpius: Originally posted by sam:
As for why we have churches on every block in Cleveland and none in Cincinnati, I have no idea. Basic maintenance of the old rather than forward thinking? I guess we have to realize that we are actually a Church and not simply an ethnic club if we are to survive into the future. CDL
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,191 Likes: 3
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,191 Likes: 3 |
Originally posted by Cathy:
I agree with Sam. I'm not for closing churches, and I understand the demographics of Cleveland. However, too many people are interested in saving a building, than saving their faith. They are the same ones who complain that when someone new comes in, "they're sitting in my seat."
The good thing is, Slavs are terribly stubborn and I don't think we would let our church die. And, I think it's part generational, and something the rest of us need to be keenly aware of when newcomers celebrate Liturgy with us. We are after all more than a building! If we recaptured our heritage the "seat" problem would disappear. We will all be standing, or most of us anyway and there will be alot more of us and many of us who are younger doing it as well. CDL
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 187
Orthodoxy or Death
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Orthodoxy or Death
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 187 |
If we recaptured our heritage the "seat" problem would disappear. We will all be standing, or most of us anyway and there will be alot more of us and many of us who are younger doing it as well. Yes, and that would make me very happy too! It appears that the younger parishioners are looking to reestablish the liturgical traditions of the church, while the story I heard from the 55+ crowd is, "we didn't do that when I was growing up." They don't even realize the jewel we have. I know of many Roman Catholics who are looking for an alternative, we just need to get all the churches on the same page liturgically, then get more churches on the map. Coming from a sales & marketing approach, it really isn't brain surgery. We definietly have the cash-flow from some of the wealthier parishes. And, in the mean time, maybe the way around the seating issue is to sell PSLs! That could be a new church fundraiser!!!
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