www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Not all Vespers attached to Sat. night liturgy

Indeed it does, and I have been to a number of evening divine liturgies in the AOA. I can't remember the exact differences, but the evening divine liturgy does differ from the traditional vesperal liturgy in at least a few ways.

One thing that definitely surprises me about the Byzantine Catholics having regular Saturday night liturgies is that they are able to get people to fast all day in order to receive. This would be very hard for me to do on Saturdays, at least on a regular basis.

Aye, though I thought that we fasted from 12 noon on a day with an evening liturgy? So much to learn.

Joe

"One thing that definitely surprises me about the Byzantine Catholics having regular Saturday night liturgies is that they are able to get people to fast all day in order to receive."

They don't. The Metropolia has adopted the minimum one hour fast that the Latin Church introduced. Of course there is nothing stopping one from fasting from noon or longer.

Fr. Deacon Lance

Wow! That's great news! It sounds like the Eastern Catholic lung of the two lung theory is starting to wheeze!

Yes, that's what I meant. Sorry for the confusion. I would think it would be difficult to do this on a regular basis on Saturdays.

I would find it difficult, unless I took a looong nap in the afternoon

Dear Friends in the Pittsburgh area!

Please join us at St. George Ukrainian Catholic Church (3455 California Avenue, PGH) for Great Vespers on Saturdays at 5:00 P.M. On Sunday morning we have the Third Hour at 9:40 a.m., Divine Liturgy starts at 10:00 a.m. For the Major Feasts we do have a Vesperal Divine Liturgy the evening before at 7:00 p.m. I have to be honest that even my own parishioners do not take advantage of having Vespers in the parish. For to long they have been accustomed of having Saturday night Mass. The practice of celebrating Great Vespers in our parishes has been lost for decades. I applaud the parishes and the priests that are trying hard to restore this venerable tradition. I have to say that having the Third Hour before the Divine Liturgy picked up very well in our parish. It is a good way how to replace the Rosary in many Greek Catholic parishes. It also helps bring in more Readers to the parish family (young and old).
In XC,
Fr. Valerian

Father Valerian, I applaud you! Your parish is doing what every EC parish should be doing! Please, Please, tell me that you don't have recited liturgies. Otherwise your parish is a model that all EC parishes should emulate!

Dear Etnick:

Glory to IC XC!

No, we do not have recited Divine Liturgy. For over a year we have been trying to form a chant group. We do have 3-4 parishioners who are trying to do their best on Sundays and Feast Days. During the week I try to do both the priest parts and the peoples. (Not fun!!!) Since our parish is in the city (Northside PGH) we only have 10 % of our people living here. The rest live outside in the suburbs and they come to Church mostly on Sundays. We are doing well on Sundays, young families, children, good catechetical programs, Bethany ministry, activities, etc. The chant group is much in need of a leader who can pull them as they sing. We still have to catch up with the troparions, kontakions and prokeimenons. If there is someone in the PGH area who is interested in joining our chant group, please contact St. George's on the Norhtside of PGH. I will be more then happy to sit down and teach them the Galician and Kyivan tones. Wishing you all a Happy and Blessed Pentecost!