www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Called to the Byzantine Rite - now what?

Dear friends,

I was baptized into the Roman Rite some 34 years ago. I left the Church at the age of 17 after experiencing the usual teenage angst. I thought I would never return - but the scales seem to have fallen from my eyes in a most unexpected manner.

I have lived as a veritable spiritual hermit for years -- hence my username -- but in the wrong way from what Theophan did. Now it seems that I am being called to walk a different path.

I have several friends in the Orthodox Church and have experienced their mysterious and wonderful services a few times, and have read much about Orthodox spirituality. Only recently did I fully understand what the Byzantine Rite was about and that there existed, in communion with Rome, a Rite just as mysterious and fulfilling.

I went to Catholic school for 12 years and never, ever heard a word breathed about the Byzantine Rite, even though (as I only found out last year) my hometown had a Byzantine Rite church. It was as if the Rite didn't exist at all. Only last year, after a chance encounter with a festival at the Byzantine Rite church in my hometown, did I begin to explore and understand the Rite!

In any event, after much contemplation, I have discerned that I seem to have been called back into the Church via the Byzantine Rite. But I really have no idea what to do now! If you put me into a Roman Rite Mass right now, I would be able to almost say it from memory, since I went to Mass several times a week with my parents almost from birth to the age of 17. And although the Byzantine Rite seems "right" to me for many reasons, I don't know what I should do in church - where to stand, when to sit, what to say, etc., etc.!

This is an extremely interesting time for me, as I come to reject the atheism and pan-spiritualism which marked much of my life and develop a deeper sense of myself. I would greatly value any insight which anyone might be willing to share with me on this subject. I suppose what I really need to find is a priest to speak to...

Thank you in advance for your assistance!

Glory to Jesus Christ, (former) "Recluse"! -- there are a lot more smarter people than me on the board and I'm sure you will be welcomed by them. But may I be the first to say "welcome" and "thank you" for coming back to your faith! Might I suggest calling the priest at the local BC church and letting him know you are "there." And come to liturgy and any of the other services the church offers and your schedule allows. Get a pew book and the pages (if they're offered) for the changeable portions of the liturgy and just dive right in. I guarantee long before Holy Eucharist you will be chanting the "Lord Have Mercy's" and singing right along with everyone else. And don't worry about messing up -- we all do it all the time. You just grin at your neighbor and shrug your shoulders and pick up where everyone else is! If the BC church has morning Praises, that's easy too -- the Psalms will pluck your heartstrings!

And get involved in your church -- become part of the community. If there are classes ... attend! If there are ECF classes for children, ask if you can assist. We can always use an extra hand to work on crafts, monitor snacks, etc. and it's a great way to "eavesdrop" on theology! Ask Father what other ministries there are -- outreach, teens, landscaping, cleaning, etc. If they have socials at that church -- attend! We have an Oktoberfest, Italian Night, Family Game Night, etc. Volunteer at the fundraisers (festivals, bingo, etc.) At our church some of the men and women gather to socialize about every six weeks -- we rotate restaurants or gather at people's homes.

Remember, "church" is people! Gather with them, pray with them, LIVE with them! Good luck and let us know how you are getting on!

Continue to pray somehow this got missed. Don't give up on us you will soon get more answers.

You are actually quite lucky--there is no Eastern Catholic church here in sight. The nearest is an Orthodox parish (actually the only one in Metro Manila, so I am told by the assistant parish priest), and that's bad (since I do not intend to leave the Catholic Church). And like you, I do feel as well a strong pull towards the Eastern Catholic rite (particularly Melkite).

Thank you for your replies. Hopefully I'll get some more insights - there appear to be some active clergy on this site.

I am fortunate to have multiple Eastern Catholic and Orthodox churches nearby. Within less than a 2-hour drive of my home, there are the following: 3 Ukrainian Catholic (including a Ukrainian Cathedral), two Ukrainian Orthodox, 13 Russian Orthodox (seven OCA, five ROCOR, one Moscow Patriarchate), three Byzantine Catholic, one Antiochian Orthodox, one Coptic Orthodox, two Maronite Catholic, one Romanian Catholic, and one Romanian Orthodox.

(Alas, I have to go much, much further if I want to attend a Melkite or Chaldean church...)

Theophan-

If you could easily sit through an Orthodox liturgy you should have no problems.

To get used to the Byzantine Rite, all I did was attend the liturgy. For a while I stuck with the books, but found them more trouble than they're worth and stopped bothering with them after about my second english liturgy. Now I'll even go to a Slavonic liturgy and not even bother with a book. Remembering "Hospodi pomiluj!" or "Sviati Boze..." isn't too hard after a few week's attendence (to say nothing if the liturgy's in English!). If you're worried about what posture to take, just watch the people around you (sitting in the back always helps!).

As far as joining the parish, I'd simply recommend attendance at the liturgy. Also attend at other functions, as you have time. If you feel called, after a bit of attendance, once everyone at least knows your face, volunteer to sing or serve at the altar.

Now, it seems you have a wealth of nearby parishes (you must live in the Old Country - i.e. Pennsylvania). Seven Byzantine rite, two Maronite, and a Ukie cathedral. Pick one. Discriminators I'd choose (in this order) are whether or not the parish has the full Vespers/Orthros/Divine Liturgy each weekend (the key thing I looked for), the degree to which the parish welcomes you over a period of several weeks (judge this one only after several weeks attendance), the degree to which the parish has people your age, the degree to which it's an ethnic club, and distance/ease to get to. If you're single the number of members of the opposite sex roughly your age might be important, too (though most "Eastern Christian" parishes of any sort - Orthodox, Cathlolic, Byzantine, Syro-Malabar, Ethiopian, Chaldean, Italo-greek or whatever aren't too good in this department).

And don't forget to carefully discern whether or not you like pirogies and stuffed cabbage.


Any faith, doctrine, or personal-spirituality questions I think would be best left for the priest.

Please let us know you have more questions.

Marc


[Interstingly enough, the first Byzantine Liturgy I attended was a Ukranian liturgy. I decided one day that I'd like to attend a Byzantine liturgy, looked it up in the phone book, and chose the Ukrainian liturgy. I wanted to hear that Slavic music! I don't read a letter of the Cyrillic alphabet but somehow I managed to follow the book]

Wow, you are quite lucky to have so many eastern churches in your area! I only have one Maronite church, one Greek Orthodox, a Bulgarian Patriarchate mission a Coptic Orthodox, and one OCA somewhere in town. The nearest Byzantine Rite Catholics are a 7 hour drive and the nearest Melkite is a 4 hour drive. The Greek Liturgy is such a beautiful thing to behold.

Theophan,

I second the suggestions that you simply go to the local Byzantine parish, talk to the priest, and get involved.

Welcome home!

Fr. Deacon Edward

AMEN!

AS JOHN PAUL II SAID DON'T BE AFRAID!

I love the 23 Psalm


1
1 A psalm of David. 2 The LORD is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack.
2
In green pastures you let me graze; to safe waters you lead me;
3
3 you restore my strength. You guide me along the right path for the sake of your name.
4
4 Even when I walk through a dark valley, I fear no harm for you are at my side; your rod and staff give me courage.
5
5 You set a table before me as my enemies watch; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6
6 Only goodness and love will pursue me all the days of my life; I will dwell in the house of the LORD for years to come.
http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/psalms/psalm23.htm

Brother Theophan the Recluse:

There are many things to consider as you continue your process of discernment. What prompted you to return to the Church? What prompted the return via the Eastern Church? Where does your spouse and family fit into this pilgrimmage--this new awakening? (This is not to say that your own journey may not include them, but it is to say that they may react differently than you and you should be prepared for this possibility.)

May the Lord be your Guide and Guardian as He calls you back into living relationship with Him.

In Christ,

BOB

Well if it makes you feel any better, here in Canada with a publically funded Catholic school board, you'd be lucky to hear much anything Catholic let alone anything getting down to those specifics. (Unless of course those specifics pertain to something non-Christian or secular.)

Theophan - you must live in Pennsylvania or Northeast Ohio. It is likely there are no other states with such a number of Eastern Christians.

Follow the advice given. Should the East be calling you, answer.

Yes, Pennsylvania -- although there are a good number of Eastern churches down the road in Maryland.

Pennsylvania really is the "Old Kountri" when it comes to Eastern Christians... with NE Ohio a close second.

Glory to Jesus Christ, Theophan! Wanted to stop back in here to see how you were doing in your quest? Have you visited any of the EC churches and if so, how is it going? Tell us more, tell us more ....

Theophan,

Glory to Jesus Christ!

You said �Pennsylvania really is the "Old Kountri" when it comes to Eastern Christians... with NE Ohio a close second�.

I am reminded of a cute story. You will recall that the territory used to form the Eparchy of Van Nuys was originally part of the Eparchy of Parma. When Bishop Basil was Eparch of the Parma Eparchy, he visited the Eparchy of Van Nuys. In his welcoming talk to the people, he said �I bring you greetings from the old country�Ohio�!

Have a blessed day,

Deacon El