www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Things Latins Shouldn't Say In A Byzantine Church

There is another group within the Ruthenian worship community that has had a hard time understanding where we are headed- cradle Byzantines, some of whom came from eastern Europe. They've seen traditions dismantled under American Latin influences, and now have lived long enough to see those traditions reappear with encouragement from Rome itself. For some it is very frustrating, but their faith has gotten them this far, and will carry them forward. I don't think many RC laity, and many other Orthodox for that matter, know this before stopping by. I know more than one Orthodox Christian who has been surprised to discover the Byzantine Church. As for me, it was like a return home. Glory to Jesus Christ!

Dear Cajun Rick,

There is a Ruthenian Mission in New Orleans! It's at 2435 South Carrollton AV. They have a 10 a.m. liturgy every Sunday morning. that's only a little over an hour away from you. One of the deacons there is Deacon Gregory Haddad -- one of my Melkite brothers!

Edward, deacon and sinner

Hello Friends!
I am new to this message board-- so forgive me if I do this wrong!

I had to laugh at this "thread" I think you call it-- because I am the ignorant Roman Catholic who would probably say some of those things!!! So although you wrote in jest, this topic was a bit of an education for me!

We are running out the door-- I will try to write more soon... and get ready, because I have so many questions!!!

Your friend in Jesus,
Donna

Welcome Donna. We look forward to getting acquainted.

Dan Lauffer

Ok guys here's one that some kids on my class said after they visited my church: "So you're catholic but you dont follow the pope right?"
or here was another everyone was baffled about"how come you guys use incense at every liturgy?"
oh there are so many that we could make a really good Top Ten list for David Letterman.

-Katie g

I read that fast and instead of seeing "American Latin" I saw "Latin American" and imagined an army of raging Hispanics attacking our Byzantine Catholic Church lol

I am tired--sorry! lol

anastasios

Last year I was travelling with some R.C. friends and as we passed an Orthodox church one fellow offered this thought: "The Orthodox people are just like us except that they don't have the Virgin Mary or Confession". I hopefully set them straight.
Silouan, monk

Dear friends,

PLEASE forgive my long intro, but just so you'll understand where I'm coming from...

Although my parents weren't Catholic, I was baptized as an infant (long story) and received the other Sacraments in the Roman Catholic Church while I was growing up back in Pennsylvania, USA... As a teenager, I fell away from the Church... After years as an agnostic, I was blessed with a DRAMATIC "born-again" conversion experience in a little apartment in Los Angeles, CA-- ten years ago this month. Praise be to God, I was blessed with so many miracles during this time, that my hardcore-atheist husband instantly became a believer!.. Unfortunately, it never even occurred to me to return to the Church, and we inadvertantly fell into a choppy sea of fundamental evangelicalism.

To make a very long story short, last month I had my marriage convalidated and I began to receive the Sacraments again. However, I was sorely disappointed by the many changes in the Church.

Now to backtrack a bit: during my years away, and at a time when I was disgusted with the church we were currently attending, I had actually looked into Orthodoxy and even began attending a Greek Orthodox Church. I liked their theology (at least, the little I understood!), and thoroughly enjoyed their liturgy. Of course, my fundamentalist friends and even my dear husband thought I was going to Hell-in-a-handbasket!

Although I grew to love the Divine Liturgy, and it nearly killed me that I could not receive the Mysteries-- oddly enough I did not feel the Lord leading me to convert. So I just stopped going, but the experience never left my heart.

So now I'm officially and "legally" back in the Church, and-- lo and behold-- I recently discovered that the Roman Rite is NOT the ONLY Rite of the Catholic Church! I was FLOORED. I just learned about the Byzantine Catholic Church a couple weeks ago, and I was so thrilled I would have done cartwheels if I could! (I did cry tears of joy, though!) I really was one of those Roman Catholics thinking, "Are they REALLY in communion with Rome?!??" But in my case followed by, "This is too good to be true!!!!!"

Well friends, yesterday I had my first experience in a Byzantine Catholic Church-- and it was like a little slice of Heaven here on earth! Not only that, but-- miracle of miracles-- my sweet Protestant husband (and our little children, AND my Lutheran mom!) went with me, and everybody loved it (though I had to take our fidgety 2 yr. old out to cry in the entrance area a few times ...

My husband responded MUCH better to the Eastern liturgy than the Roman. We got to speak with the Priest after the Divine Liturgy, who was wonderful and welcoming and easy to talk to, and my hubby really liked him a lot. We even asked him about Baptism, and he was SO warm and encouraging!

So now we are praying about having our little ones baptized into the Byzantine Catholic Church. You have NO IDEA what a miracle this is-- especially concerning my dear hubby. I'm no Church history scholar, but from my limited knowledge, I believe this is much like Calvin, Luther AND Zwingli deciding to have THEIR kids baptized Catholic!!!!!!!!!!

Well, I don't understand much, and I have a lot of undoing of my evangelical mindset ahead of me, but I haven't had this much PEACE in my heart in years.

So now hopefully you will know why I will be asking you guys so many "dumb" questions in the coming days and weeks!!! (Please bear with me!)

Your new friend,
Donna Ellis ><>

Dear Donna,

First of all, welcome home!!!

Second, I happen to be looking for "Why I Am Catholic" essays to put on my webpage... I was wondering if I may copy yours and include it?

Well, I'm honored-- only, I don't feel that I've quite answered that question in my post above! However, once I've firmed up my thinking, I would be happy to contribute to your website. Please understand, this is all so new to me!

Your friend in Jesus,
Donna ><>

This is a great place to learn and ask "dumb" questions. :-) There's a lot to learn.

When I discovered the Byzantine Rite, I felt just like you do-- really excited! I still am, actually. :-)

I wish more Romans would learn about the "other lung" of the Catholic Church..."

I'm going to warn you about one thing, though.. most Roman Catholics don't know the Eatern Rites exist, and when you try to explain you're going to a Byzantine church, don't be surprised if they ask you all kinds of questions-- "what's that?" "Is it Catholic?" "You're not Catholic anymore?"

I've found I have a hard time convincing RC's that I'm still Catholic. Some of them think I've gone Orthodox. Sigh...

Donna,

Welcome back to the Church! That's truly an awesome story. We're blessed to have you with us.

In Christus Rex,
Logos Teen

Just wanted to thank you for the warm welcome! I just discovered the "search" feature on the board, and I'm gleaning TONS! What a great resource!

Dear Teen of the Incarnate Logos,

It's "In Christo Rege" instead of "In Christus Rex" since "in" requires an ablative and not a nominative. Just for your edification.

Arturo

Thanks for the info. I know exactly where that is, and I hope to be visiting there next month along with a couple of kids from our RC parish. I work at church on the weekends so it's a little harder for me to arrange the time off, etc., but I know the Lord is calling us so it will happen.