www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News EWTN to air Ukrainian/Ruthenian Celebration

Congratulations to you and the choir. I enjoyed being able to see the celebration. The only sadness was that I wish the choir had been miked better and the commentator would have allowed us to hear more instead of consistently speaking over the hymns and responses. I would appreciate any music you could make available including the opening processional.

Who was the commentator? He kept referring to the Patriarch as "major-archbishop" while I thought I heard that he was commemorated as patriarch during the liturgy.

It's a fine line between commenting on a piece of music being sung, or an action happening, and shutting up and just letting it unfold. I opt for the latter more often than the former.

I did enjoy the Rusyn prostopinije triple responses to the Litany of Fervent Supplication before the great entrance!

The commentator was Fr. John Seniw, pastor of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Berwick. During the Divine Liturgy the deacons commemorated "Major Archbishop", the priests commemorated "Patriarch"...All I can say is that many of my parishioners and non-parishioners (Roman Catholics) are very happy with the celebration.We have come a long way... To be on a Roman Catholic Network LIVE (nation wide)is a great accomplishment.

I watched the Divine Liturgy too on EWTN (even though it was aired 1:00 AM Manila time). I agree that it was magnificent, reverent and beautiful. However, it was, overall, not what I had expected, and a lot of things surprised me.

The broadcast opened with the hierarchs entering already fully vested in eucharistic vestments, with Patriarch Lubomyr / Cardinal Husar coming in last. I thought that in hierarchical DL's, the presiding or senior hierarch would first enter in mantle, then vest in the middle of the church. By the way, I think this latter practice makes for better television And, was there no Orthros / Utrenja prior to the DL?

I also noted that the congregation AND the hierarchs sat down during the opening litanies of the Divine Liturgy. I thought that people stood up for this part of the Divine Liturgy (in the Orthodox DL's I've attended, some people would sit down for the readings, but nobody sat down for the opening litanies all the way to the Little Entrance.)

Furthermore, during the opening litanies, the deacons who chanted the said litanies did so holding the end of their orarion aloft, but without making the sign of the cross and bowing after each petition -- unlike in video excerpts of OCA / MP hierarchical DLs that I've watched. Is this a point of difference between Ukrainian and Russian Divine Liturgies?

Honestly, the feeling that I got in watching this Divine Liturgy, on one hand, and the feelings stirred up in me by videos of Orthodox hierarchical Divine Liturgies that I've watched (as well as the ones I've attended)seemed worlds apart. I really don't know why; I could just feel the difference. I have the greatest respect and reverence for Patriarch Lubomyr, but I have always been more interiorly "overwhelmed" by watching videos of, say, Patriarch Alexy II or Patriarch Bartholomew celebrating the DL. I say this as a devout Catholic who knows full well the questionable details in the career of Patriarch Alexy II. There is just something... different! And I don't know what it is.

Finally, at the risk of angering some of the Ukrainian Greek Catholics on this forum.... the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception was just so western, so Latin in feel. Absent the iconostasis, it would have made a perfect setting for the Tridentine Mass, but to my admittedly inexperienced and ignorant eyes it just didn't seem "right" for the Divine Liturgy. Or perhaps I've just been looking at too many pictures of Russian churches and of St. Elias in Ontario...

I watched this wonderful Divine Liturgy yesterday morning. I even saw Bishop Skurla and Archbishop Schott.

I heard things that must have been offensive to the Ruthenian bishops.

I heard lots of litanies!

I heard "Glory BE"!

I heard "who for us men" in the Creed!

I heard "mankind"!

I heard "Orthodox Christians"!

Oh, how could our bishops stand such awful things!

CIX

Dear all,

Well, having had the honour and privilege to assist at the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy in Philadelphia, I can say that it was a wonderful day all around. It was good to see so many familiar faces, especially people I had met in various Ukrainian parishes. It was also a privilege to be among the shepherds of the Church, and I pray that the Holy Spirit might inspire them to lead the Church to ever-greater holiness and sanctity, guided by the Protection of the Theotokos (whose feast we have commemorated today).

Personally, I was slightly disappointed that more of the Liturgy wasn't in English. I figure this: if you're going to have EWTN come in and film it, one can only view this opportunity as good for further evangelisation and to inform our brethren who are not so aware of our Church. Anyway, I commended this to God, and realised that I had little faith in the awesome power of the Holy Trinity to inspire people, even in Ukrainian (before anyone jumps at me, I am half Ukrainian myself)!

Next, we seminarians are preparing for the arrival of the Synod of Bishops here in Washington D.C. Just to remind those who might be interested in coming, there is a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at the National Shrine of the Holy Family in Washington D.C., at which we hope to sing (if the parish choir lets us, and I am assuming they are based on what I've been told). Then comes the manual labour, for we are to prepare dinner for the entire synod. It'll be, I'm sure, a nice fraternal activity!!!

Friends, you're all in my prayers. Keep me in yours. I need them right now, since despite the synodal activities and the pilgrimage to Fox Chase, PA this weekend, we've been plunged into mid-terms both this week and next!

Never before has the prayer "Most Holy Mother of God, save us!" been more needed!

In Christ, Joseph.

As I watched the service last night, I was very proud that Metropolitan Basil was there, sitting two chairs over from Cardinal Husar. I could not help but regret the unecessary division (in my view) of the Ukrainian Greek from the Byzantine-Ruthenian Church. We should be one Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church, in my view. Bishop Soter was for all Ruthenians. How odd is it that Rome at the time did not let us have our married priests, but caved in to the ethnic strife in creating two jurisdictions. I think we in the Pittsburgh Metropolia would be in better shape if we were still united (I am committed to our church but fear for our future).

My dream come true would be for all the Ruthenians, Belarusans and Ukrainians united in one Ruthenian Church, with the Kievan Bishop as Patriarch for a world wide Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church- and we would still offer Slavonic liturgies at least as an alternative.

But to move on to the positive, it was a wonderful service, I loved watching it. It was good to hear "Orthodox Christians" in the liturgy. I am elated that this was shown, and look forward to viewing my taped copy many times in the future.

MJ and Fr. Deacon Randoplh

I stand corrected as to Bishops Soter's jurisdiction, I should have looked at my own resources more carefully. The Greek Catholic Exarchate was founded 1913. That does not however, change the fact that the first Carpatho-Rusyn Bishop in the US was Bishop Basil. (Although technically Bishop Alexander Dzubay was the first Carpatho-Rusyn bishop but since that was for the Russian Orthodox Metropolia, Greek Catholic aren't likley to count him)

Fr. Deacon Lance

P.S. I forgot to add the date and time of the Liturgy in Washington: Friday 5th October at 11am.

Also, Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice is scheduled to attend. I'm sure we'll all be screened. Cassocks off!

Will it be airing on EWTN?

I was only able to watch the Liturgy up until the start of the homily yesterday. Unfortunately I had another commitment in the house at 2:00. I viewed the Liturgy with two other sems, one of whom, like me, has UGCC ancestry.

I'd like to offer a few comments.

Commentator: I understand some peoples' dislike of a liturgical commentator. However, in the case of yesterday's celebration and the TV viewing audience I think that it was helpful because it explained what was going on in a ritual form drastically different from what Latin Catholics experience - and Latin Catholic being the supposed bulk amount of the viewing audience. The commentary was reminiscent to me of Fulton Sheen's narration of the 1940 Solemn High from Chicago.

The drastic difference in liturgical forms brings me to my next point: organic development. The men with whom I was watching this broadcast have all had official (not from reading blogs... ;-) liturgical training, as well as the history of liturgy - and we all noticed those elements present in the Divine Liturgy which were (at one time) present in what is now known as the Missal of Blessed John XXIII. As one of my friends said, "The Roman Rite was influenced by the Gallican Rite which was heavily influenced by the Eastern Rites" - gotta love those trading routes! The venerations of the episcopal insignia, etc. Even one of the commentaries offered was "...This opening litany (of peace) was said in an oratory, and the following antiphons were said when processing from the oratory into the church..." - which is exactly the case in the extraordinary form's prayers at the foot of the altar and Introit! It is amazing how though separated by mountains, cultures, and politics there was at one time one Church of God!

Let us pray for the time when all will be one in Him!

Additional, previously ommitted commentary:


Music: Having been involved with "Pilgrimage Masses" and such, is can be quite a production to get many different choirs together to sing as one choir - and I think that the choir for this past Sunday's Liturgy should be commended for the fine job they performed. I also know from my own experiences that the experience all those people gained - singing for such an important event - will be with them for years to come.

The Latin Vestments: Of course many would say that they looked drab - but remember that it is hard to compete with Byzantine styled vestments. I know from my years in Philadelphia that those vestments look striking, especially when the 700 Latin priests in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia wear them together - so that they all match. It's a nice presentation, and the colors go along perfectly in the Latin Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul. It was always nice to see when there was a big event in Philadelphia - most memorably Cardinal Rigali's enthronement (Yes, not the technical term nowadays, but we install air conditioners, we enthrone bishops) and the Eastern Catholic hierarchy concelebrated the Mass. Such a contrast shows the Universal/Catholic nature of our One Church!

Perhaps most of you know by now about the Pontifical Divine Liturgy celebrated by Cardinal Husar and the Ukrainian Synod of Bishops at Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Philadelphia, last September 30. It was aired on EWTN and so I was able to watch it even though it was aired 1:00 AM Manila time. I agree that it was magnificent, reverent and beautiful. However, it was, overall, not what I had expected, and a lot of things surprised me. I hope that people on this list could clarify some of my observations.

The broadcast opened with the hierarchs entering already fully vested in eucharistic vestments, with Patriarch Lubomyr / Cardinal Husar coming in last. I thought that in hierarchical DL's, the presiding or senior hierarch would first enter in mantle, then vest in the middle of the church. By the way, I think this latter practice makes for better television And, was there no Orthros / Utrenja prior to the DL?

I also noted that the congregation AND the hierarchs sat down during the opening litanies of the Divine Liturgy. I thought that people stood up for this part of the Divine Liturgy (in the Orthodox DL's I've attended, some people would sit down for the readings, but nobody sat down for the opening litanies all the way to the Little Entrance.)

Furthermore, during the opening litanies, the deacons who chanted the said litanies did so holding the end of their orarion aloft, but without making the sign of the cross and bowing after each petition -- unlike in video excerpts of OCA / MP hierarchical DLs that I've watched. Is this a point of difference between Ukrainian and Russian Divine Liturgies?

Honestly, the feeling that I got in watching this Divine Liturgy, on one hand, and the feelings stirred up in me by videos of Orthodox hierarchical Divine Liturgies that I've watched (as well as the Orthodox DL's -- none of them hierarchical -- I've attended) seemed worlds apart. I really don't know why; I could just feel the difference. I have the greatest respect and reverence for Patriarch Lubomyr, but I have always been more interiorly "overwhelmed" by watching videos of, say, Patriarch Alexy II or Patriarch Bartholomew celebrating the DL. I say this as a devout Catholic who knows full well the questionable details in the career of Patriarch Alexy II. There is just something... different! And I don't know what it is.

Finally, at the risk of angering some of the Ukrainian Greek Catholics on this forum.... the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception was just so western, so Latin in feel. Absent the iconostasis, it would have made a perfect setting for the Tridentine Mass, but to my admittedly inexperienced and ignorant eyes it just didn't seem "right" for the Divine Liturgy. Or perhaps I've just been looking at too many pictures of Russian churches and of St. Elias in Ontario...

The choir was wonderful in my opinion and a beautiful liturgy.

Hey JM,

I'll be at the liturgy on Friday.

Andre Joseph