www.byzcath.org Forums Mysteries: The Life of Worship Vespers, Matins & the Divine Liturgy The Revised Divine Liturgy New Edition of the Divine Liturgy

"If the Bishop forbids something, the priest's choice is rather moot!"

True but if the bishop allows it then falls to the priest whether it will be used in the parish.

"I said it before and I'll say it again, the BCA hierarchs have issued statements that preclude Slavonic, period."

You can say it till your blue in the face it isn't going to make it true. Slavonic is allowed period, at least in 3 of 4 Eparchies. If having a Slavonic Liturgy at Otpust, where all the bishops are present, isn't proof of the veracity of Professor's statement then I don't know what is.

It seems to me you and others want this alleged prohibition to be true so you have another log to throw on the fire of why the RDL should torched. Which in my opinion is confusing issues. Those who want to be able to do the full Liturgy will win the request, I believe. I am not so sure what translation they will be allowed to use to do that however.

Fr. Deacon,

The Uniontown Otpust one token Slavonic liturgy (with NO bishop presiding or concelebrating) does not mean there is wide-spread Slavonic usage. The last bishop the actually recited liturgical parts in Church Slavonic was probably Bishop Bilock and/or Archbishop Kocisko some 15-16 years ago.

Ungcsertezs

How true.

At least four parishes in the Parma eparchy that I know of use no Slavonic at all. It's actually frowned upon and strongly discouraged at my former parish. The priests hair stands up if the cantor sings "Svjaty Bozhe".

Why do you think that is?

What seems like a strong desire by those in charge to kill any ties to our Slavic heritage. I'll go to my grave defending my Rusyn heritage and Slavonic Byzantine liturgical tradition!!!

At Fr. Marcus' ordianation, Bishop William described the Byzantine Catholic Church as "Addicted to the Divine Liturgy, addicted to singing, and addicted to pirogies" . . .

Somehow, I don't see him as likely be unsympathetic to a bit of tradition . . .

hawk

Fr. Nils indicated that it was $15 on the initial order, and $20 for later replacements.

hawk

The Slavonic liturgy booklets that tjm was talking about can probably be prepared at a copy shop for about $1.50 apiece, including cover and stapling.

Copies of the hardbound "green book" for the Byzantine Catholic Church (the new 2007 service book) are sold by the Byzantine Seminary Press for $15 a copy.

Yours in Christ,
Jeff

Chances that he will allow Slavonic? About the same as winning the Mega Millions or other multi state lottery.

It is disconcerting to hear that the odds are worse than slim to none for a parish to use Slavonic in the Eparchy of Passaic. I can see why it would not be pragmatic in a church where no one understands it, but if a situation exists (I don't know all of the Passaic Eparchy well) where there are immigrants and/or those who understand and are comfortable with Slavonic, why in the world would it not be not only permitted, but encouraged in order for that parish to thrive?

Sadly, Steve, I think that your assessment is right on.

Monomakh

I still don't know why anyone would not allow Slavonic. I would think they would encourage it, at least the basic greetings and prayers--Svatje Boze, Christos Voskrese, etc. And the Otce Nas is just too beautiful in Slavonic. Why on earth would any priest not want to use it, let alone an Eparch try to stifle it's use? Maybe I'm naive, but I find it hard to believe. How does it benefit the entire Church to abandon our roots? All it does is give people one more reason to attend an RC church. Our differences make us who we are and make us more than just another Catholic Church! If the Eparchs truly do want to do away with Slavonic and our heritage, then they are basically trying to destroy the church and do away with their own jobs. What advantage is there in doing away with Slavonic?

Tim

It's probably a consequence of a generational phenomenon often found in immigrant ethnic communities - the bishops and priests trying to dump the old language are of the generation which is determined to be "100% American". The following generation usually realizes that something precious has been lost as a result, and starts striving to recover it.

Fr. Serge

Glory to Jesus Christ!

As a member of a parish in the Eparchy of Passaic, I will only add that Slavonic is used in just about every liturgy -- typically, Holy God, the Cherubic Hymn, Holy, holy, holy, It is truly proper, or the Our Father. And this is post-RDL.

In Christ,
Theophilos

Glad to hear that, especially since there are no Slavonic settings in the new RDL book.

Ungcsertezs