www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West Struggle to find a spiritual home

I visited an EC parish this weekend. Afterwards met another 1st time visitor. We both recounted our spiritual travels. I'm guessing he was mid 30's, I'm early 40's. We both struggled to find a reverent service and a church "community". Our travels involve Anglican, Anglican-use RC, orthodox, many RC's, various protestant.
The DL was 50% Ukrainian which felt difficult to fully participate since I don't know an iota of it. Wife didn't go and I think she would hate the non-English and the incense
It was nice, if even for only an hour, to find someone else my general age group struggling as I am. I wonder how many more of us are out there....
I will say that it felt very nice to feel welcomed and have some conversation with the community. The church is very small 20 to 30 people.
Communion via spoon was cool -- not sure if I did it right... spoon hit my teeth, maybe I didn't open wide enough?
Several people kept asking me about what I thought about DL being so different than Mass... I really didn't think it was all that different... they're both liturgical and centered around the Eucharist.
Anyone else have similar experiences to share and what path they've traveled?

Have you ever attended St. Basil's in Irving? I believe the liturgies there are in English.

Not yet... they're 50 - 60 minutes from the house...

Dave,

That's an interesting observation; it indicates that you're looking to the essence of the Liturgy, rather than the externals. I don't think there are many people who do that.


Some people adapt very quickly to worshiping in a foreign language, while others take longer and some never really manage to adapt. I started out learning a few of the responses, such as "Hospody, pomylui," "Tobi, Hospody," "Podai, Hospody," etc. Then, little by little I picked up the more difficult ones. It took me nearly two years to learn all the responses, and even then I only knew how the phrase translates, not word-by-word.

May God direct you in your continued search!


Peace,
Deacon Richard

IMHO, worth it. Worth every minute of it. I would drive much farther than that to worship there. Though the six hours it actually is for me is a bit much, and I'm limited to a few times a year.

That's correct; the Liturgies @ St. Basil's in Irving (Texas) are in English.

I believe we are amongst the least-latinised parishes in the Metropolitan Byzantine Catholic Church of Pittsburgh.

Wow! I attended St. Basil's yesterday with my wife. Still trying to process it all, but here are a few thoughts...
-- They were having a Baptism ceremony, truly beautiful. Love the exorcism part, the fully dunking, and the time and effort in the sacrament.
-- Kids everywhere: a truly young diverse parish
-- Father Daniel is a man who appears to be truly happy. He's great homilist and teacher. We stayed after DL and he gave many people a tour of the church building.
-- People were friendly.
-- Father and sat and chatted with us a little afterwards in the parish hall.
-- Beautiful church!

I was almost too overwhelmed afterwards to say much to my wife. LOL. She liked it, but... and I told her thought I could see myself becoming byzantine. The liturgy was beautiful and rich. I felt "at home" and nearly wept a couple of times -- especially during the baptism and chrismation.

I know how you feel-my first child's baptism had me bawling like a baby after he received Communion. That was a great day-baptism, Sunday and the Nativity of St John the Baptist-DL was over three hours, and we didn't feel it...

In Christ,
Adam

It sounds like your experience at St. Basil's was similar to my first one at a Melkite Church: I walked out knowing I had prayed and worshiped to the best of my ability. I'm glad you were able to make the long drive, and I hope you are able to do so many times in the future.