Advise before visiting a Byzantine Rite Catholic Church

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Mannyfit75

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Hello,

The Eastern Rite Catholic (Byzantine Rite Catholics) have instill a curiousity in me so much that I plan to go visit a Byzantine Catholic Church, (and how much it differs than the Latin Rite) after my deployment. I’m from the Latin Rite but lately my search and zeal for Jesus Christ has lead me in an Eastward direction.

What are some advises before attending Liturgy Mass done by Byzantine Rite Church?
 
This is my standard thing that I tell people:
  • The custom is to stand the whole time, but you can sit down if you need to
  • The priest faces east, toward the altar and God
  • There will be lots of incense
  • Cross yourself backwards (right to left). Put the first two fingers and thumb together in a point, and bend the last two fingers towards your palm. See this image
  • Communion is leavened bread mixed with wine, dropped into your mouth with a golden spoon
  • Everything is sung/chanted
  • If you don’t know what to say, chances are the correct response is “Lord, have mercy”
You might also want to read this page: 12 Things I Wish I’d Known Before My First Visit to an Orthodox Church. Orthodoxy and Byzantine Catholicism share the same worship and practices so it will still apply.

Also, one thing I would like to mention was that the first few times I attended a Divine Liturgy, I was lost. The Mass clearly delineates everything that is happening, with breaks and pauses between the “parts.” Comparatively, the Divine Liturgy will seem like just one continuous song, with litanies separating most of the “parts.”

May I ask which church you plan to attend?

Have fun 🙂
 
I would add:
  • Resist genuflecting when you enter. There is no reservation of the Blessed Sacrament.
  • There may, however, be an icon which you may reverence (kiss).
  • If you plan to receive communion, be prepared. Look up and open your mouth wide, the priest will place the sacred species in your mouth from a gold spoon. Do not reply “Amen” to his words. Do not lick the spoon.
tee
 
Mannyfit75 said:
Hello,

The Eastern Rite Catholic (Byzantine Rite Catholics) have instill a curiousity in me so much that I plan to go visit a Byzantine Catholic Church, (and how much it differs than the Latin Rite) after my deployment. I’m from the Latin Rite but lately my search and zeal for Jesus Christ has lead me in an Eastward direction.

What are some advises before attending Liturgy Mass done by Byzantine Rite Church?
Click to expand...
Before you leave Iraq, you might want to check out the Chaldeans, something different between us of the “Byzantine” Rite and you of the Latin Rite.
 
wynd said:
This is my standard thing that I tell people:
  • The custom is to stand the whole time, but you can sit down if you need to
Click to expand...
I believe you said you will attending a Byzantine Catholic church, well, if this is indeed the case, the above will NOT be true. There will be pews and you will be sitting and standing for the first half of the service. This will also be true if you plan on attending a Ukrainian Catholic church as well…
 
tee_eff_em said:
I would add:
  • Resist genuflecting when you enter. There is no reservation of the Blessed Sacrament.
tee
Click to expand...
Not always true!

Ruthenian churches often do keep reserved some of the blessed sacrament specifically for taking to the sick or infirm, and for the liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts in case of priestly incapacity (a deacon can do the Liturgy of the presanctified gifts, or typica). The Tabernacle is upon the Holy Table in the Altar. (For proof, see page 464 of the Ruthenian Pew Book PDF…)

Still, genuflection is not used, nor kneeling, for the symbolic meanings are different in the East.

Stand Aright, stand in awe, be attentive. And Bow your head to the Lord.

Also, know that the faithful generally stay out from behind the iconostas (icon screen).

If you can’t see the Tabernacle and Holy Table, look for the doors between the Icon of Christ and of the Theotokos (mother of God); behind there is the holy table, and upon it, the tabernacle.

Make the sign of the cross whenever the Trinity is mentioned, either as the three persons, or in the word of the Trinity.

Make the sign of the Cross and bow whenever being blessed, or when the book of the Gospels or the celebrant pass by.

You might be asked your name before receiving communion; give your chrismation (confirmation) name in that case. If you have a KofC (or other religious organization) name tag, wear it.

The Byzantine Eucharistic fast is longer; midnight for the morning Divine Litrugies; at least three hours, and preferably noon, for evening Divine Liturgies.

Don’t be surprised if the locals ask you who you are, and where you’re from… Byzantine parishes often are small enough that everyone does know everyone…
 
wynd said:
This is my standard thing that I tell people:
  • The custom is to stand the whole time, but you can sit down if you need to
  • The priest faces east, toward the altar and God
  • There will be lots of incense
  • Cross yourself backwards (right to left). Put the first two fingers and thumb together in a point, and bend the last two fingers towards your palm. See this image
  • Communion is leavened bread mixed with wine, dropped into your mouth with a golden spoon
  • Everything is sung/chanted
  • If you don’t know what to say, chances are the correct response is “Lord, have mercy”
You might also want to read this page: 12 Things I Wish I’d Known Before My First Visit to an Orthodox Church. Orthodoxy and Byzantine Catholicism share the same worship and practices so it will still apply.

Also, one thing I would like to mention was that the first few times I attended a Divine Liturgy, I was lost. The Mass clearly delineates everything that is happening, with breaks and pauses between the “parts.” Comparatively, the Divine Liturgy will seem like just one continuous song, with litanies separating most of the “parts.”
Click to expand...
May I ask which church you plan to attend?
Click to expand...
Have fun 🙂
Click to expand...
Probably, in PA or NYC when I am given time to go on leave. The base at Ft. Stewart doesn’t have any E. Catholic churches nearby.
 
Isa_Almisry said:
Before you leave Iraq, you might want to check out the Chaldeans, something different between us of the “Byzantine” Rite and you of the Latin Rite.
Click to expand...
If I were given an chance to go outside the base it would be possible. The security situation outside the base, where Chaldeans worship may make it difficult. It isn’t easy for the military to just go out.

However, I have meet some Iraqi Chaldeans who had attended our “Latin Mass” service on the camp…
 
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Not true. The Holy Gifts (as we call them in the Byzantine Tradition) are indeed reserved in the Tabernacle on the altar. It will look like a little church.

But we still don’t genuflect. A prostration is appropriate, however, on a weekday outside of Paschaltime.
 
To all members who took part on this forum,

Thank you for your advise. 😃
 
Mannyfit75 said:
If I were given an chance to go outside the base it would be possible. The security situation outside the base, where Chaldeans worship may make it difficult. It isn’t easy for the military to just go out.

However, I have meet some Iraqi Chaldeans who had attended our “Latin Mass” service on the camp…
Click to expand...
Even if you do get the chance to go out, I recommend NOT visiting a Chaldean church. The Chaldeans are experiencing very difficult times right now, and I doubt the appearance of an American G.I. visiting their churches would be helpful for them. I fear it might make them more of a target than they already are. 😦

Peace and God bless!
 
wynd said:
Comparatively, the Divine Liturgy will seem like just one continuous song, with litanies separating most of the "parts.
Click to expand...
Rather than separate, the litanies join together the various parts.
 
Aramis said:
Make the sign of the cross whenever the Trinity is mentioned, either as the three persons, or in the word of the Trinity.
Click to expand...
And also in some traditions for invocations of the Mother of God or the saints.
Make the sign of the Cross and bow whenever being blessed, or when the book of the Gospels or the celebrant pass by.
Click to expand...
It is also dependent on tradition whether you make the Sign of the Cross *and *bow or if you only bow when being blessed.
The Byzantine Eucharistic fast is longer; midnight for the morning Divine Litrugies; at least three hours, and preferably noon, for evening Divine Liturgies.
Click to expand...
The Ruthenian Church’s is only an hour. While visiting Latins (or devout Ruthenians) may keep the longer fast, they are not required to. Visiting Latins remain bound only to the Latin canons.
 
Aramis said:
The litanies mark the transitions, and make the transitions from one section to another.
Click to expand...
To the OP: You can always tell a litany by the beginning. The Deacon or Priest will say something along the lines of “Again, let us fervently make supplication to the LORD!” followed by something like “Blessed is our God always, now, and forever and unto the ages of ages. In peace let us pray to God…”

The first time I went I thought “why do we keep praying all these petitions over and over…didn’t He hear us already!!!”

That’s one major difference I’ve noticed in prayer style. The Eastern style is very repetitive and fervent, whereas our Western style is very concise and powerful. Western prayers are almost “proclaimed” like a law (the Roman style of making decrees), whereas the Eastern style is very poetic (because of the oral traditions in the East). Both are very beautiful and compliment each other well.
 
scapularkid8 said:
To the OP: You can always tell a litany by the beginning. The Deacon or Priest will say something along the lines of “Again, let us fervently make supplication to the LORD!” followed by something like “Blessed is our God always, now, and forever and unto the ages of ages. In peace let us pray to God…”

The first time I went I thought “why do we keep praying all these petitions over and over…didn’t He hear us already!!!”

That’s one major difference I’ve noticed in prayer style. The Eastern style is very repetitive and fervent, whereas our Western style is very concise and powerful. Western prayers are almost “proclaimed” like a law (the Roman style of making decrees), whereas the Eastern style is very poetic (because of the oral traditions in the East). Both are very beautiful and compliment each other well.
Click to expand...
Each litany refocuses us on the greater purposes.

Each also marks a transition point in the liturgy:
From Matins/Vespers/divine praises to the Liturgy proper, and into the liturgy of the Word;
from the liturgy of the word to the anaphora;
from the Anaphora to the reception of communion;
and the transition to the commemoratory prayers and/or the closing of the doors.

Each is different; each marks an important change in meaning of the symbolism of the liturgy.
 
Aramis said:
From Matins/Vespers/divine praises to the Liturgy proper, and into the liturgy of the Word
Click to expand...
I am not positive, but I think the only people who have “veperal liturgies” on Saturday are Ruthenians. The vesperal liturgy is an interesting specimen!
 
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