www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News Re: Pope Benedict XVI to lead Vespers in Melkite church in Holy L

Watching this Vespers makes one realize how well Arabs appreciate pre-planning.

I enjoyed the chanting overall, especially the Lamp-Lighting Psalms (which, I must say, could have been MUCH more rapidly). The one female singer during the Psalms had a lovely voice.

The Polychronion in Greek was a nice touch, too.

Dave

Yes, I too love the Arabic chant! It's wonderful, and very powerful.

My first impression of this service was very favourable. It may not have been exactly according to the rubrics, but what's good enough for Pope Benedict XVI and Patriarch Gregory III is good enough for me.

It was great to see the Holy Father blessing the congregation with the double and triple candles. It didn't seem to have been planned in advance, but his Holiness did it perfectly after a bit of hesitation

I noticed that the two celebrants wore dark red vestments. Is there a particular reason for this colour being used during Eastertide?

I think I recognized the Armenian Catholic, Chaldean, Syriac Catholic and Maronite patriarchs. But who was the rather imposing figure with a great beard sitting at the right hand of Maronite Patriarch Mar Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir?

EWTN has been posting its video coverage under the Video Archive section: http://www.ewtn.com/holyland2009/

Hopefully, the vespers service will be posted soon.

I watched this morning, and was brought to tears of happiness and also of anquish, my spirituality is in competition between East and West...

I believe the "rather imposing" bishop was Melkite Bishop Elias Chacour.

Dave

Rich red vestments for Eastertide is the practice of the Moscow Patriarchate and the Jerusalem Patriarchate (which has jurisdiction over the Orthodox in Jordan)

Papal ceremonies are famous (notorious?) for being unusually slow-paced. And as someone who has been regularly watching live coverage of papal Masses since c. 1993, I have this feeling that papal liturgies have considerably slowed down under Pope Benedict XVI and the new MC, Guido Marini (John Paul II and Piero Marini preferred a somewhat brisker pace)

I missed it because of graduation. Anyone know where to find it online?

Alexis

I must admit I was rather disappointed with "Vespers." Let me list my reasons, just to note all of these issues lie with those who planned the liturgy:
1. The Holy Father and His Beatitude sitting directly in front of the Icon Screen, preventing proper incensation.
2. The lack of a Deacon
3. Somebody should have instructed the Pope how to properly use the cadilla and the trikeria and dikeria
4. The Liturgical abuses of Vespers, particularly the Latin custom of Petitions and the introduction of all things foreign to the Byzantine Rite, including musical instruments
5. The commentator
6. The general lack of decorum and reverence of the faithful while in the Holy Temple, particularly the chanting.

I'm sure I could go on, but those were my gut reactions.

I think it would have been best if His Beatitude, Patriarch Gregory III, would have celebrated a true Hierarchical Vespers Service with the Holy Father in attendance or if they so chose, presiding.

For those who may not have understood the Arabic or French ...

The prayers started with the Hirmos of the 9th Ode of Pascha (Shine, Shine O New Jerusalem) being sung just after the Pope reached his throne. Not really Vespers, but still one of the chants that sets the tone of Paschaltide.

Really disappointing to hear that the commentator wasn't even prepared enough to recognise our Patriarch. And he seemed to make up a lot of rubbish about other things as well.

The English text of the Patriarch's welcome speech is rather rough; I thought it had come from an Arabic original. The actual speech (largely in French) was much more succinct and natural, however.

The Bible offered to him by the Bible Society looked bizarrely enough just like the Jerusalem Bible in Arabic--at least its cover is the same!

I just finished watching it; the experience was upsetting.

4. The Liturgical abuses of Vespers, particularly the Latin custom of Petitions and the introduction of all things foreign to the Byzantine Rite, including musical instruments

Liturgical intrusions, I should say. What in thunder were Maronite hymns, of all things, doing in a Melchite Vespers service?! Native Jordanian Maronites do not even exist, or if they do, their numbers are miniscule.

Also upsetting was not hearing the voice of Father Nabil Had'daad (whom the E.W.T.N. announcer mistakenly referred to as Father David during the welcome at the mosque), the priest who was carrying the Gospel Book and who probably has the best voice (a strong baritone) from amongst all the priests of the eparchy.

If anybody ever visits Amman, he should attend Father Nabil's celebration of the Divine Liturgy in his small but charmingly traditional parish church in Jabal il-Weibdeh (Weibdeh Mountain). He takes his time and chants well. Also, if he is still there, you will also find a young man who chants for Father Nabil and has a fine voice. The fellow is an Iraqi refugee, and so a Chaldaean. Nonetheless, he has a masterful command of Byzantine chant that you would not expect from somebody who doesn't come from that tradition.

A humorous note: If anyone has watched Where in the World is Osama Bin Ladin, he is the priest Morgan Spurlock interviews in Amman. Father probably thought this was for a serious documentary. In the film, he is again a victim of mistaken identity and identified as a Greek Orthodox priest.

Erie Byz,

As has been established on this thread, this was not a Byzantine Vespers service. It was an odd amalgam, to be sure, but since it never pretended to be Byzantine Vespers it shouldn't be held to that standard.

How did the Holy Father use the trikeria and dikeria improperly?

Can someone enlighten about the faithful's lack of decorum in the temple? Can this service be viewed online?

Alexis

Alexis the faithful all most mobed the Holy Father when he entered the Church.