www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology increased love of the Mass

Good morning everyone .... I am newly Orthodox, having been Chrismated just prior to Easter. Each Sunday that I attend Matins and Mass I am increasingly impressed and humbled by the overwhelming reverence for God and the Eucharist. This is exactly one of the reasons I left my previous church ... this is indeed a treasure for us all ... the ritual, the singing, the just completely overwhelming sense of worship ... well, dear friends, as a "newbie" ... I pray I never, ever lose that sense of humbleness before the Almighty. You all are, as am I now, supremely blessed.
In Christ,
abby
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Yes, the 'Russians in Hagia Sophia' experience (part of the history/legend of Russia choosing to become Orthodox more than 1,000 years ago). At its best, even just praying the hours at home, it's a mystical, supercharged version of the Tridentine and Anglo-Catholic experiences.

Abby,

This sounds exactly like how I felt when I was received into the Catholic Church some years ago. The sense of awe and mystery can be very powerful, and from my experience I can say it never leaves you, even though you may feel it more or less strongly at different times.

Abby, that's beautiful. Thank you for reminding us all. I'm a cradle Catholic and I don't always appreciate the beauty of the Divine Liturgy or the Mass, but sometimes it comes back to me in waves. I never know why it comes back or why it fades, but I'm always so grateful and so in awe when it is here. I'm so glad that you have finally found a home and experience true worship.

Elizabeth

I'm confused. Since Abby is an Orthodox who worships according to a (traditionally) Protestant form of worship, isn't that basically an "Anglo-Catholic" ritual experience?

Could you explain a little more what you mean?

Alexis

Obviously I didn't read elsewhere that Abby's Western Rite Orthodox. Well, in that case it's not a 'Russians in Hagia Sophia' experience of being dazzled by the Byzantine Rite! And you're right; it is a sort of Anglo-Catholic experience but not literally as her church is not Anglican. (Western Rite Orthodoxy essentially has nicely recreated American Anglo-Catholic parishes from the 1950s.) The Orthodox might say it has a mystical kick thanks to grace that the others don't have but I won't go there. I'm happy for her.

Logos .... I'm not a Protestant any longer. I was since 1968, but I am now a member of the Antiochian Orthodox Church - Western Rite. The service is fully Orthodox, obviously.
abby
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I think that having a Western Orthodox Christian on the forum is a valuable addition. While there may be others, Abby is the only one I am aware of.

LC,

As memory serves, there have been a couple of others in the past, but no one who currently is an active poster. I agree that Abby's presence is a wonderful addition, both for the opportunity it presents her to become familiar with the Eastern origins of Orthodoxy and the opportunity it presents us to better understand this other side of Orthodoxy, not from text but from the experience and perspective of one who is herself 'new' to it.

Many years,

Neil

I was curious...is there a video anywhere of the Western Rite service?

have you tried Youtube, or EWTN?

I did. I was not able to locate anything...

I, too, agree that Abby's presence is a great addition.

Father Deacon,

If you type in "western rite orthodox" into the YouTube search box a few things do pop up.

Alexis