www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Greek Gospel at Canonisations in Rome 17th Oct

Does anyone know who the Greek priest was who sang the gospel at the Canonisation Mass in St Peter's Square? I thought it odd the Gospel was done by a Latin deacon and then repeated in Greek by a priest and not a deacon.

At Canonizations now, the Gospel is usually read in both Latin and Greek to show the universality of the Church. It was done when I attended a Canonization in Rome in 1990

But it seems Pavel is confused by the fact that a Greek priest, not deacon, chanted the Gospel (whereas a Latin deacon, not priest, chanted the Gospel in Latin).

Alexis

Maybe they were the two best chanters in town.

The Gospel was chanted in Greek by a priest-monk at the opening Mass of the Synod of Bishops for the Middle East.

I have read [annalesecclesiaeucrainae.blogspot.com] that the Greek deacon of the Gospel for papal masses used to be provided by either the Pontifical Greek College or the ancient Monastery of Grottaferrata [abbaziagreca.it] outside Rome. If this is still the case, perhaps these communities are currently lacking deacons?

Archdale King appears to be at least one source for the claim that the Greek clergy for the papal liturgy ordinarily came from the Monastery at Grottaferata in the past, but I see that the Greek Deacon at the coronation of St. Pius X in 1903 was "Don Giorgio Xenopolis of Athens" who seems to have left no other trace on the internet so far besides that service, though perhaps someone who could search in greek or with greek forms of his name would have better luck.

The Latin subdeacon at the old Papal Mass was an auditor of the Roman Rota and the Latin Deacon of the Gospel was one of the Cardinal Deacons (2 Cardinal Deacons were Deacons of Honor as is still done today), so it's not unreasonable to think that a dignitary might be occasionally selected to take the role, even though this would seem to go against accepted Eastern practice. (It would be interesting to know what the practice was at Constantinople, but I don't even know where to start looking.)

Source: http://books.google.com/books?id=d8...g=PA66#v=onepage&q=GREEK&f=false

The Office of Papal Liturgical Celebrations doesn't provide any more information. The booklet for last Sunday just says "Il Diacono greco"

See: http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/libretti/2010/20101017.pdf

The list of all the info on the papal liturgical celebrations is here:

http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/calendar/ns_liturgy_calendar_en.html

Interestingly, next Sunday will be the third Sunday in a row with the Greek Gospel, which can't have happened very frequently. The opening and closing Masses of the Special Assembly for the Middle East of the Synod of Bishops with last Sunday's canonization Masses in the middle.

Dear Paul,

I was not sure, although I had an idea, who might it be, and today I confirmed it. So, the priest, who chanted the Greek Gospel, was Fr. Manel (or Manuel) Nin, OSB, rector of the Greek College in Rome. He also chanted the Gospel during the Pontifical Mass for the opening of the Synod.

Daniel

Thank you for this information. I was able to find a few photographs of Archimandrite Manuel on the college website and yes it was definately him alright.

JB,

Thought I had found him, but Bishop Georges Xenopoulos, SJ, of blessed memory, a Greek of the Latin Rite, was only 5 years at the time. Even allowing for his priestly ordination at the precocious (for a Jesuit) age of 27, I can't argue for it being him .

Many years,

Neil

Whoever it was he did a magnificent job.
And some of the people myself included joined in the reponses.
Stephanos I