www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Vespers and Divine Liturgy of Holy Thursday

I went to a Melkite parish last year for Holy Thursday Vespers and Divine Liturgy and was surprised that the priest celebrated the Liturgy of Saint John.All the correct propers were sung(Of Thy Mystical Supper...). I presume the priest did this because after this service came the Washing of The Feet and then the 12 Gospel Service(this is the first time that I attended this service that was not severely abbreviated to one degree or another) and perhaps felt the people were not up to celebrating the longer Liturgy of Saint Basil with 2 services after that. I was wondering if any of the forum members have seen the Liturgy of Saint John celebrated or if this parish is an anomaly in that regard. At the time I had little experience in attending Melkite services and was used to the Ruthenian traditions. Thanks, paul

Dear Paul,

No. I've never heard of the Liturgy of St John Chrysostom being celebrated on Holy Thursday rather than that of St Basil. Of the five Vesperal Liturgies appointed to be celebrated during the Liturgical Year, only that of the Annunciation has St John Chrysostom's Liturgy rather than St Basil's.

I assume that you knew it was St John Chrysostom's Liturgy because the priest said the mystical prayers aloud? That's not traditional Orthodox usage, though Greek Catholics may be doing that now, as are even some Orthodox.

Happy Easter!

Fr David Straut

Melkite usage is to pray the Divine Liturgy of St Basil--as we did this year--even if followed by the Washing of the Feet.

It's not really that much longer and it's only the prayers prayed by the priest at the anaphora, where you'd notice the difference. Perhaps it slipped you by, or the priest was confused?