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

I would say no since I have only been recieving ashes the past few years. They were never available to me in the Eastern Rite. Now there are no Eastern Rite Churches near me that are Catholic. Many Orthodox but I just wanted some info. I feel like I have been adopted and looking for my birth parents. Being raised in the Eastern Rite where they only spoke Ukrainian and I only spoke English was probably much like those that didn't speak Latin. I think they taught Latin in the schools. I sat in a class with a bunch of 8th graders getting ready to be confirmed. I figured it to ba a waste of time at that point in my life. Now I have no one to ask questions of and am looking for a deeper study. Who does the Eastern Rite claim to be their greatest leaders in the church? From the Past....

so does anyone have any answers for me? Is there a place that only priest answer questions for those searching for answers? I want to know the purpose of the type of fasting done in the Eastern Rite. Is there a special name for it? Which Church Fathers are honored in the Eastern Rite? The procedure of confirmation. I have quite a few questions. Can any of you direct me?

Hi.
When I first started my journey I purchased a book. It is called:

A Voice from the Byzantine East
by
Archbishop Elias Zoghby

Educational Services
19 Dartmouth Street
West Newton, MA 02165

This gave me a place to start. But, the best way is to talk to a priest.

Also please remember that this is going to be a slow week. What with the fast, special services and prayers some of the regular more educated in the Eastern forms may not post as often as at other times.

Please don't think badly of us if we can't get back to you with the answers you seek as quickly as you want.

Kathleen Elsie

That makes sense Kathleen. I will wait. I am researching my roots in the Eastern Rite. I could call the priest at the church I went to in the Eastern Rite. I was unsure...what do I do? I asked my Pastor and he told me you belong to this community now and should follow our customs. My husband and children are of the Latin Rite. I don't really have a choice with no Eastern rite chures near by.
I don't think badly of anyone. I did feel invisible
Thanks for responding.

Cmoore:

Christ is in our midst!! He is and always will be!!

Welcome to the Byzantine forum. We have many membr here who will gladly help you understand the Eastern Church's distinct approach tot he Mystery of Christ--the Mystery of God becoming man in order that man might become like God.

It sounds like you were raised in the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. This particular Church has its roots in Byzantium, like most of the Orthodox Churches you may have around you--Greek, Russian, Serbian, Syrian, etc. You might google St. Elias Greek Catholic Church in Brampton, Ontario, Canada as a good starting point. Go over their extensive website and you'll come away with an encyclopedia of information about the UGCC.



Follow your instincts and call the priest from your former parish. Why would you hesitate? You have a rich heritage and even though your husband and children are of the Latin Church, your children also need to know that they have a rich heritage that is also theirs and is not Latin. It might help them understand your own family better and make them appreciate the diversity of the Catholic Church. Your current pastor sounds a bit insensitive to this need in your life, but he's not the only priest around. Call your former priest and keep up that contact.



Fasting in any Church has the same function: to strengthen the spiritual athlete. The Latin Church has greatly curbed her traditonal practices in that area and many people think it has been abolished. It hasn't.

Confirmation? Also called chrismation in the Byzantine Orthodox and Greek Catholic Churches. It's done immediately after Baptism as the completion of Baptism. It's the ordinary requirement for people to be admitted to Holy Communion. The Latin practice was changed in 1910 by Pope St. Pius X so that young people wouldn't have to wait so long to make their First Holy Communion. The UGCC and Orthodox Churches give the Lord's Holy Body and Most Precious Blood to anyone immediately after Baptism and Chrismation, incluidng infants.

There's lots more to answer your questions, but this "thumbnail" will get you started.

In Christ,

BOB

Erie Byz:

what is interesting is that the Gospel for Ash Wednesday is the same Gospel lessons we use for Saturday and Sunday of Cheesefare Week.

Here is another perspective on the use of ashes. Last night on EWTN Father Mitch Pacwa said the ashes were a sign of our human mortality as opposed to the attitude of being holier than thou by showing off fasting.

Thank you to all! Good information so far and yes I want more. I want to know so much but I need to realize it is going to take some time. I am currently in college finishing the prereq's to nursing. I am in the ministry formation program and in a church history class. That class requires a paper on a Church Father and my desire is to search my roots. My local Pastor is a wonderful man and although you may think it is insensitive it also fills the sence of belonging somewhere. He is saying "It is okay to search but you don't need to fast twice you don't need to feel lost you are safe here and accepted." I did feel comforted but it has not stoped the desire to search for more information. I love my parish family. He knows I would not leave and yet he is helping me to find the roots. He suggested Photius for my paper and I have done a little reading but need a deeper search to see where that leads. I compiled a prayer service using St. Basil the Great it it was beautiful! It also lead me to a deeper study. That was all thorough the power of the Holy Spirit.

Ashes........my children and I went to the 6:00 PM mass and went home after. When I see ashes on someone I don't think of fasting. I say there is a Christian. How difficult it is to walk in public with ashes on ones forehead. Growing up I saw everyone walking around with ashes in the North. Now I see no one until I go to Mass myself when we are all annointed (with ashes) together. It feels wierd and is uncomfortable. Honestly I must say that my soul rejoices but my humanity wants to keep Christ a secret and close. Hiding the fact that I am Christian by not wearing my ashes proudly. I just returned from a Lenten retreat and I wore a tee shirt that said adore Jesus. I stoped on the way home at a rest area. I could feel the stares. People looking at me and some immediately looked the other way. When asked I will tell anyone about my faith! Wearing it on the outside visibly is a little more difficult. Obviously something I am working on. I am a different person now after my conversion.

A thought just came to mind so I will post it here. I just thought it would have been nice to have someone run up to me and say " Do you know Jesus?" I would have said "Yes, Would you like me to introduce you he would love to know you too," That statement alone reminds me of who I once was. My conversion was much like St. Pauls. If our humanity didn't get in the way we would be so much stronger yet The Lord said " when I am weak that I am strong."

So here we are with similar beliefs and minor differences. I want to know what they are why they are and the answer to the ashes has been answered.
Why no dairy? Is there a name for this type of fasting? It must be the animal by products. The latin rite fasts some people fast practices are stricter than others.
I may have to start a new thread titled Church History and I hope to hear form anyone that can help direct me. I will search that other Canadian site. I have family in Canada.