www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West I think I want to be Melkite Catholic

I'm Roman (Latin) Catholic, but I just LOVE the beauty found in the Liturgies of the Eastern Churches. I hope to attend a Melkite Divine Liturgy next month.

I've been thinking lately that I want to be Melkite Catholic. I know I could always just attend the Divine Liturgy every Sunday, but that would be weird for me. It would seem like I'm faking it.

What are some beliefs or theologies that the Melkites have that differ from the Latin Rite? I know infant communion is one. Can someone explain that to me? I guess I'm just curious about Melkite Catholicism...

Tom,

Here are a few websites that may help. Lots of info here!

www.melkite.org [melkite.org]

http://www.mliles.com/melkite/index.shtml

At this point there are no Melkite parishes in Colorado. You might consider contacting the Eparchy to see if there are any mission efforts that exist nearby that are not listed on the website. Of course, you can always try to start one!

The first order of the day, though, is to learn how to pray as a Melkite. There are a number of resources available to you through the Eparchy's website for purchase, including the Horologion (prayers of the hours) and the Menaion for each month. You will also want to get a liturgical calendar from the parish to follow the liturgical readings for the year. I would recommend speaking to the pastor of the Church you will be visiting next month.

The one book I always recommend is Archbishop Joseph Raya's "The Face of God". Actually, ANYTHING by the holy archbishop of blessed memory is worth reading. That can be purchased by contacting the Eparchy of Newton as well as ordering from Madonna House Publications. (At this point it is not on their website, but they may still have a few copies available. If you scroll to the end of this link, http://www.madonnahouse.org/publications/categories/russian.htm
you will see many books by him.)

Finally, depending on where you live, you may also want to visit Fr. Chrysosotom Frank's parish in Denver, CO. It is Russian Catholic, and he is a former Orthodox clergyman well versed in the Eastern traditions.

I have some additional information that I do not wish to make public that I can pass along to you if you PM me at your convenience.

Yours in Christ,

Gordo

Tom,

I'm technically a Byzantine Ruthenian Catholic who is in the process (I trust) of being officially received into the Roman Latin Church.

As one who, also, genuinely enjoys the Divine Liturgies of Chrysostom and Basil, I would respectfully ask you to give a degree of reconsideration to your proposed move and some thought as to what your religious identity as a Catholic entails.

In theory at least, my understanding has always been that all Catholics of all stripes are called upon to affirm all solemnly defined Catholic elements of faith and morals as part of their Catholic faith. That is something, as I understand it, that is distinct from disciplinary practices, such as infant communion.

What does it mean to you to be a Catholic? For me, while I genuinely relish Byzantine Catholic worship and certainly have my disappointments with the travails of what Roman Latin worship has endured during the past 40 years, for me, an affirmation of Catholicism has been centered on what the Church teaches and stands for, its witness to the world, and the venue it affords me to lead a life devoted to the good, true, and beautiful in mind, spirit, and body.

Unfortunately, my experience as a Byzantine Catholic has been one of real disappointment and my increasing understanding and awareness of the levels of lack of assent to Church teaching that appear to presently exist in much or most of the Eastern Catholicisms is something that I find troubling.

Based on what I know and have read and been informed about, it appears that Byzantine Melkite Catholicism, in particular, is a brand of Eastern Catholicism that is particularly virulent in these troubling areas.

What does it mean to you to be a Catholic? I would respectfully call upon you to please ponder that question extensively in all of its implications before you finalize a decision to make such a move.

Best,
Robster

Dear Tom,

Ahlan wa sahlan! And welcome aboard the good ship Melkitia!

Let's see. From Dublin, it would be a bit difficult to offer you much advice (other than the advice to prepared to cope with a sometimes-confusing world-view and a whole complex of behavior patters which can seem strange until you catch on to them). Relax, roll with the punches, and enjoy!

I have the double honor to be a spiritual son of Archbishop Joseph of most holy memory and a friend of Father Chrysostom, so I should like to second Gordo's suggestions - read the Archbishop's books (bearing in mind that he never claimed to be a systematic theologian) and by all means become acquainted with Father Chrysostom.

There is usually an annual Melkite Convention in the USA, which you would be welcome to attend and where you would be apt to meet like-minded people. The location shifts every year.

The Patriarch, may he live long and do well, tends to give particular attention to the American Eparchy. When you have the opportunity to meet him, I think you will find His Holiness to be a great joy.

One potential problem - some priests take the view that the Greek-Catholic Church accepts whomever she pleases, and prefer not go get involved with "changes of rite" - on the practical basis that the Latins have poached huge numbers of our faithful in America, so there is no particular reason to respect their rules as to who may come to us. This normally only becomes an issue if someone wants to be ordained.

with every blessing,

Fr. Serge

A friend of mine went to the most recent Melkite convention, and he enjoyed it greatly.

I believe that the next convention will take place in San Diego, and if my health has improved sufficiently, I -- a lowly Ruthenian -- hope to attend.

Robster,

You know that I care for you like a brother, so please don't take this personally.

But I think, despite your best intentions, you have gone too far here. The Melkite Greek-Catholic Church of Antioch has lost nothing which defines it as authentically Catholic and authentically Eastern. Just because you have had issues reconciling certain views as expressed to you by others with the Catholic faith does not mean the rest of us have. It also does not mean that all of us hold to everything that you have been told, or at least not in the same way.

As to your advice to Tom, I do think it is wise to continue to apply it to yourself as you engage in your pilgrimage to the Latins. What does it mean to be Catholic?

In ICXC,

Gordo

Todd,

I think that is great advice. What better way to experience a Church than to see many of the members of its flock gathered around its bishops and patriarch?

Gordo

PS: I forgot to add - prayers for your continuing recover.

My kids are already saving money for next years Melkite Convention. They are in MAYA and totally enjoy the retreat. Each time, they come back with a greater scence of maturity about who they are in Christ.

Well, San Diego, here we come!

Tom, the was once a Melkite Church in Colorado...a long time ago. Sadly, the attempts to re-establish a mission there seems to have failed. Everyone has already given you great advice.
Check out Madonna House publications for Archbishop Joseph Raya's books. A real deal if you ask me!
As Todd said, go to a Melkite convention, they are alot of fun!

Serge,

What does Ahlan wa Sahlan mean?...Peace be with you, I'm guessing?

Peace be with you is "a salaam aleikum."

Ahlan wa Sahlan is a common greeting. Like our asking, "How are you?" when we don't really intend to get an answer, the words aren't thought of as their literal translation but more in the context of this greeting. It somewhat translates like "when you're here, you're family." It more literally translates as a blessing to be treated as part of the family and to walk an easy path. The response to Father Serge would be Ahlan Beek, which means something like, I am home with you or because of you.

As I was corrected: Father Serge (sorry Father I didn't realize you were a priest!)

Ahlan Beek!

I really like that...what language is it? Arabic? Quick question: why do Melkites pray in Arabic sometimes?

Us Latin Catholics don't use greetings like that so it's really special to be receiving that kind of greeting and I'm not even a Melkite!

Tom - excellent choice. Avail yourself of the profound and inspiring works of Archbishops Joseph (Raya) and Elias (Zoghby) on your journey Eastward. You won't be disappointed.

The phrase "ahlan wa sahlan" is used today exactly as Archimandrite Serge used it and merely means: "Welcome!". The full phrase as given is slighly formal or polite. In the street or at church you will here people who know one another say just "ahlan", which is more like "hi!" or "good to see you".

Wondering is correct as to the literal meaning. It was used by the bedouin when someone arrived at their camp from the desert and meant something like: you have found family and flat/easy ground. This sense is not used at all today in speech or in writing and many otherwise well-educated Arabic-speakers would not know the origin of the term.

The Melkites' main liturgical language is Arabic. In the US, though, English is used more often. We also use Greek on either very formal occasions (complete liturgy) or interspersed with Arabic (and possibly another language like English). Arabic is used because the three ancient patriarchates represented by the Melkite patriarch (Antioch, Alexandria, Jerusalem) are Arabic-speaking, and since the patriarch of Antioch formally expressed communion with Rome (1724), the liturgy has been in the language of the people.

At St. George in Birmingham we use a combination of Arabic, Greek, and English in the Divine Liturgy.