www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West Ash Wednesday Question

Question. Is Ash Wednesday celebrated in the Eastern Rites?

No it isn't. Lent starts two days before in the Byzantine Catholic churches.

My grandsons will be servers for the Wednesday & Friday 6 pm pre-sanctified services. We had server practice and also went over the service for us home-schooling adults that will be there.

Etnick's answer is generally true - although, the Maronite Church does celebrate Ash Monday.

Well ...

The Maronite rite isn't a Byzantine rite.

and the Maronites call today (23 February) "Ash Monday", because they begin the Fast today.

As a former Roman Catholic I was not completely comfortable with Ash Wednesday, even as a Theology major with a focus in Liturgy I question it because as our Gospel from this past Sunday clearly stated:


Although scripture mentions anointing it also mentions washing ones' face so that they appear not to be fasting. It seems rather contradictory to put ashes on one's forehead which clearly states "Hey look at me, I got ashes so I must be fasting." Rather it makes sense as in many Eastern Traditions to anoint one with oil.

I was raised in the Eastern Rite. All of my sacraments were received in the Eastern rite including marraige to my Latin Rite husband. My Father was Eastern Rite and now I am raising my children in the Latin Rite. My mother was of the Latin Rite. I know more about the Latin rite and am just now researchin the Eastern Rite. I have questions. I never remember our mother brining us to get ashes but I do remember fasting with no dairy products. The Eastern Rite Church was not close to our home so we did have religious education in the Latin Rite. Now I am curious and am researching the differences and similarities. I am currently in the ministry formation program and studying the church Fathers. Who can I research in the Eastern Rite that will provide answers to my questions. My Pastor said Photius. Maybe it would be St. Basil the great? Who else should I read about to provide me with answers.
I will check back to see if you have any infor for me.
Cmoore

EB,

I really don't see that as a problem, since it is a corporate act whereas Our Lord is clearly speaking of individual behavior. (By way of perspective, the RCC has never promoted the practice of people continuing to wear ashes throughout Lent as a way of indicating that they hadn't broken the fast.)

My problem, rather, is with the phrase "remember that you are dust, and unto dust you shall return." This phrase does not help to strengthen our faith in the Resurrection, and I don't find it particularly edifying.

The RCC approved an alternative phrase after Vatican II: "repent, believe in the Gospel." This is something we are called to do on an on-going basis, so it makes sense to me.

Does anyone know is this is still being used in the RCC?


Peace,
Deacon Richard

Both phrases are used by person administering the ashes; from my experience it is at the preference of the individual.

Selective readings of scripture can give the wrong emphasis. Jesus also said," "Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes." (Luke 10:13; also Matthew 11:21).

The one who understands ashes on the head as "Hey look at me, I got ashes so I must be fasting," has missed the point, which is unfortunately possible. The Church, however, is clear and correct in its ancient and venerable rites -- its liturgical theology -- in the actions and words and symbols, that point us in the proper direction. That direction in its perennial, traditional form here is appropriately biblical, returning us to the beginning, to Genesis and the fall, and the very focus of the problem that Eastern/Byzantine Theology itself holds as the great enemy, death (the priest saying while giving the ashes):



["Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel." —Mark 1:15 and "Repent, and hear the good news." —Mark 1:15 are Novus Ordo alternates]

When giving Ashes while I was an EMHC in School [ Staff not pupil ] the phrase we used was indeed

"Turn away from sin , and be faithful to the Gospel "

I think that seeing the Roman Catholic faithful walk around with ashes on Ash Wednesday is a very nice thing. I think that it encourages humilility in a pluralistic society where you are a minority walking around like that, I think that it tells others that you are proud to be a Catholic Christian, and that it reminds you of death and the insignificance of this passing and fleeting life. Infact, death is considered a very good thing to constantly remember by some Eastern fathers. I have even heard that some Eastern monastics have been known to even sleep with a coffin in their cells to constantly remind them where we are headed... and in remembering where we are headed and that we will all be judged, it helps us live our lives in a way more pleasing to the Lord.

Alice

Very true alice,
Elder Cleopa [youtube.com]

Our RC priest uses both.

The Byzantine priest that I talked to today siad that if he as Byzantine priest were to put pashes on someone they would be covered in the ashes. I love it.