www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News Enthronement of Bishop William of Passaic

Dear Fr. Serge,

I stand corrected. I was one of several "assisentia" (at least that is what they told me I was-or is it assistentia?). I had two years of Latin in high school (ages ago), and I honestly do not remember if that is actually a Latin word. Two (newly ordained) deacons served at the Liturgy in the traditional diaconal roles for the Divine Liturgy. Several deacons (more senior in rank by date of ordination) who were asked to serve as the aforementioned "assisentia/assistentia-(whatever!)". In essence, we served like altar servers. I bore the trikerion while another deacon (who posts here) bore the dikerion. A rather senior deacon (ordained considerably longer than myself-I was ordained in 1998) bore the kadylo, and one who was ordained the year before me bore the processional cross. The most senior deacon (ordained, I believe, in 1980) bore the jesyl(equivalent of crosier). All other deacons who attended sat in the nave (fully vested in diaconal stichars and orars). Priests who were not concelebrating wore either riassa or cassock (podriasnik)with epitrachil.

Assisentia or assistentia? Hope this paints the picture!

Dn. Robert

Reverend Father,
Bless.

I also served as assistentia along with Father Deacon Robert.

The assistentia to the celebrant, Metropolitan Basil, held the trikerion, dikerion, crown and staff for the Archbishop.

The celebration was magnificant. There were 10 Eastern bishops on the altar (along with 2 deacons, and 4 other deacons serving as assistantia). 14 bishops/archbishops/cardinals from the Latin Church were seated just outside the iconostas. My guess is that there were 100 priests and another 20 deacons seated in the nave.

The actual enthronment was first. Bishop William was enthroned by Metropolitan Basil, and the Nuncio read the formal letter from the Holy Father. The "Axios" was very strong.

Then the Hierarchial Divine Liturgy was celebrated, with Metropolitan Basil celebrating and Bishop William on his right. As I noted, there were a total of 10 Eastern Bishops at the Holy Table.

Bishop William was the homilist, and gave a talk that had elements of calm assurance, friendship and peace, along with some very reflective spiritual themes.

The event was by ticket only, due to the limited space of the Passaic Cathedral. All who attended had tickets to the dinner afterward. Although the dinner seating was a bit crowded, the food was very good and plentiful. The Ruthenian bishops had their dinner with the people, and there was time for personal greetings through the evening.

We are fortunate to have Bishop William as our eparch. May he have many years, in peace, health and happiness.

Deacon El

Good post, Deacon El. This gives a much fuller description of the event.

Dn. Robert

This from the Dictionary of Ecclesial Latin, Leo F. Stelten, (Hendrickson, 1997):

assist�ntia -ae: f.; assistance, help, attendance

ass�strix -�cis: f.; attendant, assistant

Much thanks to our in-house deacon/linguist.

Dn. Robert

Many Thanks Deacon El.

Sam

The correct spelling makes it clearer - thank you!

Fr. Serge

The Blessing of the Lord!

My thanks to Father Deacon El for his description of what the Deacons "assistentia" were doing. The use of a Latin word is itself a give-away.

If there are a sufficient number of Deacons, it is quite proper for Deacons to hold and carry the trikerion, dikerion, and ripidia (that's four Deacons so far) - but I do hope that at such a magnificent celebration, whoever was running it knew exactly what the Deacons are supposed to do with these items. It is more elaborate than what happens if servers or acolytes are carrying the same items.

I'm trying to imagine why a Deacon would be carrying the Crown, and what he would do with it. There are a few moments when he might properly assist the Hierarch in removing the Crown and then donning it again. The only moments that come to mind for a ceremonial carrying of the Crown are:

a) presenting the Crown to the Hierarch at the solemn Vesting, and
b) carrying the Crown on top of the folded Omophorion, itself on top of a suitable salver, during the Great Entrance.

I gladly join you in praying that the new Bishop of Passaic may have a fruitful, joyful, and productive episcopate for the upbuilding of the Church for many years!

Fr. Serge

Wonderful!

I'm interested to see what will happen now.

So, who's taking over Van Nuys?

Father Gerald Dino will be ordained as Bishop of Van Nuys on the Bright Thursday.
http://www.eparchy-of-van-nuys.org/2007-12-Dino.htm
Deacon El

Bishop William deserved a better enthronement day then he got. Zareva did his best but he is not a miracle worker with that music in the green book. No one - cantors, priests or the people - can sing the Thompson music well and people were endlessly looking up at the loft to see. Partly in disgust and partly in sympathy. Among the clergy everyone kept trying to sing and found out they couldn't. Then they'd open the green book and then throw it down in disgust. And it took Archbishop Basil to start the singing during Communion. I won't even talk about the rubrics. It was a revised RDL!

Many years to Bishop William! May he quickly undo the damage the RDL has done to this once beautiful Ruthenian Church.

Write your letters to Rome!

"I won't even talk about the rubrics. It was a revised RDL!"

A revised revised DL? Oh my...

Perhaps its the fact that it was an eparchial enthronement which likely has particular rubrics differeing from what you are familiar with.

And not to distract from the thread, but the dead horse of "no one can sing the Thompson music" has been literally been beaten to a pulp. I must not be a "nobody (no one)" because I can sing the music.

Don't hold your breath on Bishop William undoing the RDL though just because he is in Passaic now.

Is this becoming a tradition amongst Byzantine Catholics. Is there a movement to introduce a distance between the churches? No one talks about *sister* churches or *two lungs* anymore as with your last Pope. From what I learned here, the Orthodox were not even involved with the RDL hymnal publication. Even the term *orthodox* is rejected. I wish youns luck.

Ed

In this case, space was extremely limited. Only Bishops from other Catholic jurisdictions could be invited. Priests and Deacons invited were only of our jurisdiction, as was the case with chosen lay people from the various parishes. It was a question of practicality.

DN. ROBERT

For such a big occasion, why such a cramped space with ticket only? This seems more like a small private wedding than a church community celebration.

Ed