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I have read that some Latin bishops have tried to get EC bishops in the US to use lay women readers, extra ordinary ministers of the eucharist and altar girls in the divine liturgy. Are they used? and if so your opinion please.

I don't know about any associations with Latin bishops. I wouldn't mind if our hierarchs stayed away from the Latins. After what the Latin bishops have allowed in their own churches, they could possibly be a bad influence on our bishops. In my Byzantine Church there are no altar girls and there is no provision for extraordinary ministers of the eucharist.

In both Eastern Catholic (Byzantine) and Orthodox parishes, I have seen women readers (chanters) of the Epistle and girls helping to hold the communion cloth for the reception of the Mysteries. I don't believe this is from any Latin "pressure" but just ordinary lay participation in the Church. The Eastern Church was always less "clerical" then the West in that way.

There is a great difference in the communion rite of the Orthodox Divine Liturgy and the Roman Norvus Ordo.

Just to mention one is that the communicant in the Orthodox churches receive the Holy Mysteries through a golden spoon from one cup while in the later it is through the unleaven bread which they can communicate by disperesing the Holy Sacrament.

And the girl altar servers: I don't think so because of the tradition that only males could enter or go beyong the Iconastasis. But female readers or chanters and other services done within the nave are open for females especially when they are the majority worshipers.

God bless!

I did not know that about female readers. I've learned something. Thanks.

Unfortunately, Extraordinary Eurcharistic Ministers and Altar Girls still exist in the Ruthenian Metropolia. These abuses should cease!

Ungcsertesz

I am amazed that a EC Church would use EMHC's and altar girls, a definite Latinized act.

I am truly bothered by the non ordained touching, opening the Holy Tabernacle and altar which happens quite often before the Mass/Liturgy begins.

james

U-C,

Altar Girls are definately an abuse and not allowed under current law. Distribution of the Holy Gifts by minor clerics or laity is provided for in our particular law and therefore cannot be termed an abuse although one is free to disagree with allowing it.

"Canon 709 �2

�l. In cases of true necessity, deacons may distribute the Divine Eucharist.

�2. In the same cases, even minor clerics and members of the laity can be designated to distribute the Divine Eucharist.

1o. A parish may have one person designated for this purpose plus another for each 75 communicants at the Liturgy.

2o. The metropolitan Liturgical Commission is to prepare a program of training that includes theological and spiritual formation, the selection process for candidates and a practicum.

3o. Those persons may take communion to those who, by reason of illness, infirmity or age, cannot attend the Divine Liturgy regularly.

4o. If any priest or deacon is present at the Liturgy, in any capacity whatever, he is to make himself known to the principal celebrant and shall distribute the divine Eucharist, vested insofar as possible, and taking precedence over any minor cleric or lay person present."

Fr. Deacon Lance

Dear Deacon Lance,

I am attemting to send you a PM and your mailbox is full.

Tony

I can accept female readers or cantors, but if I wanted to have a priestess I would convert to neo-pagan witchcraft as their clergy are mostly women.
As should be obvious to anyone past puberty women and men are chemically different. There are some functions that should not be peformed by women. One time I visited another church. There were female teens doing altar service. It seemed to be erotic. This is why we don't have priestesses.
The western political powers that be want women and men to be exactly the same. It's biologically impossible. They want to pressure the Vatican and Islam to change centurys old policys. Thier purpose/reasons are to control population growth.
The result they are getting is abortions and population reductions in some parts of Europe while the populations of Islamic peoples are increasing rapidly. So next they choose to influence the Islamic world as we drift toward WW3.