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Are you a priest? (Sorry, I know I ought to be better at keeping track of such things.)

Unworthy, to be sure, but I have not endured Roman arrogance and aggression all these years to look benignly now on attempts to impose their view with the specious pretext of dialogue! I do like the 'two lung' image (which Pope John Paul II cribbed from Cardinal de Lubac who, in turn, appropriated it from Vyacheslav Ivanov). Just reflect on this: the lungs don't dialog one with another, nor does one seek to do the lion's share of breathing for the body to the detriment of the other. It is sufficient that both lungs breathe fully and freely in harmony; they need take no other notice of each other. By the way, read Dr. Sebastian Brock's masterful essay on the three lungs!

Yes, Peter, the Monsignor is a Melkite priest and a professor, and considered an eminent authority on anything Russian and Russian Catholicism in this country.

Thank you, Amadeus, for the info. I feel bad about my ignorance, though not as much as you might be thinking, since googling "Ot'ets Nastoiatel'" yielded only byzcath results. (I did a little more digging, just a few minutes ago, and learned his name, parish, that he's a Monsignor, etc.)

Actually, the 'monsignor' bit is the usual accommodation made among Greek Catholics in the West. The reality is even more embarrassing: I have the (wholly undeserved) honor of being the Grand Economos of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem! Not bad for someone who can't balance his own checkbook! (For that I depend on the Grand Economissa, Matushka Frances - Феосевия) The honorific was bestowed by Patriarch Maximos V Hakim for charitable work on behalf of Holy Land Christians. In the East one typically says, "Father Economos". I teach Biblical Languages in the collegiate seminary of NY, Brooklyn and Rockville Center and shepherd the little flock at St. Michael's Russian Catholic Chapel in Lower Manhattan. As you can tell from my blogs I belong to the school of curmudgeonly clerics whose atavar is the great liturgiologist Archimandrite Robert F. Taft, S.J.
I subscribe to the Zoghby Initiative as my ecclesiological reference point. Oh, and one more thing. I subscribe to the 'three lung' model as articulated by Dr. Sebastian Brock but think it just fine for the individual lungs to function freely and independently without 'help' from the others!

Christ is in our midst!!

May I echo Father's comment. It seems that there has been an over abundance of comparison with Latin practice, ecclesiology, and other matters lately on this forum.

I've asked, as a moderator, that people go to Town Hall and read the thread entitled "Who We Are" so as to maintain our focus.

Bob

I too unhesitatingly echo the portion that you quoted. It's just the rest of that post that I was reluctant to second (which may be clear already in my previous posts, but I thought I should clarify just in case):

Sorry, folks, but I have to go off-topic for a moment ...

Amado, old friend,

So good to see a post by you! Prayers that you are well.

You should post more often, my brother. You (and several other Chicagoans - Michael/Hesychios, Al/a pilgrim, Lawrence, among others) are heard from all too infrequently.

Many years,

Neil

Dear Amigo Amado!

How wonderful to see you post here! How have you been?

Alex

Have you looked into having the title changed to "archpriest"? I know of one Ruthenian priest who had that done.
Considering your strong opinions of the Latin Church, I am surprised you have kept the title.
A "Melkite monsignor" sounds like an oxymoron.

I guess I haven't explained clearly. First, no one, in any rite, is ever 'made a monsignor' any more than the Queen of England makes one a 'sir'. In the Roman Rite, the Pope may bestow the rank of Chaplain of Honor to His Holiness or Prelate of Honor to His Holiness, entitling the honoree to be addressed as 'monsignor'. The Sister Eastern Churches have their own honorifiics. In Western countries the honorees, too, by accommodation, may be addressed as 'monsignor'. Now as to the 'archpriest' suggestion: not to put too fine a point on it, the ranks are not equal. For example, a captain in the army is a fairly low-ranking officer, whereas a captain in the navy is right up there in the dizzying heights! The only problem I face is that the (exalted!) title, Grand Economos of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, has no equivalent in the Russian Sister church. When one says 'Velikyj Ekonom' (Великий Эконом) it conjures up images of unindicted co-conspirators in Wall Street boardrooms! The nearest equivalent honorific in the Russian Church for a married priest would be Protopresvyter (Протопресвитер). I'd be embarassed beyond words -- something that readers of my blogs will testify rarely occurs! -- to attempt to raise this issue with the Oriental Congregation! So I'm content to let sleeping honorifics lie. May we leave it there?

Absolutely, Reverend Father Monsignor!!

Alex

Your Economy! Please!!

Bless Father!

I don't know much about economy . . .

But you sound like an excellent person to know in hard times!

Kissing your right hand, I again implore your blessing,

Alex

The closest is a booklet published by Aid To The Church In Need [esvc000174.wic001ss.server-shop.com] which uses texts from the Divine Liturgy for each of the mysteries. It was published before the Luminous Mysteries were introduced. The images used for each mystery are not Byzantine icons but illustrations by Bradi Barth [bradi-barth.org].

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There is another booklet published by Our Sunday Visitor [osv.com] , which follows the format suggested by Pope Saint John Paul II in Apostolic Letter, Rosarium Virginis Mariae. Each of the 20 mysteries is illustrated with a Byzantine icon.

[Linked Image]