Attending Eastern Catholic church for first time

[crownofroses]

I’m considering checking out a local Eastern Rite Catholic church. Can anyone give me some advice before going? It’s a super small parish and I’m afraid I’d stick out like a sore thumb.

For background, I was raised Lutheran and joined the Catholic Church in 2008 (I attend a Latin rite church at present).

Any advice/tips would be welcome!

EDIT- Sorry, I meant to post this in the Eastern Catholicism section! Can a mod please move it?

 

[Monica4316]

Hope you like it I’ve only been to a Ukrainian Catholic Church. They have Divine Liturgy… it’s a bit different from the Mass but the general structure is similar: Scripture readings, prayers, Consecration, Communion… people stand for much of it… no kneeling because it’s seen as a sign of penance in the East (in the West, it’s a sign of respect/humility). Instead, you bow. People cross themselves the other way: right to left; using 3 fingers (your thumb, and your first two fingers joined together). I don’t know if it’s like that in all Eastern Catholic parishes. There are icons that people can venerate, and light candles. Expect much incense! and chanting. When you go up for Communion (you can receive, since all Catholics are in communion with one another) - cross your arms on your chest. (see how others do it). You receive the Eucharist on a spoon from the priest. Then take some blessed bread and eat it afterwards (it’s just blessed bread though, not the Eucharist!).

God bless!

 

[ConstantineTG]

I always sit near the back and follow what everyone else does. What particular church are you attending? There are 5 Rites and 22 Churches in what is referred to as the Eastern Catholic Churches. Hard to give advice when we don’t know which one you’re attending

 

[crownofroses]

I always sit near the back and follow what everyone else does. What particular church are you attending? There are 5 Rites and 22 Churches in what is referred to as the Eastern Catholic Churches. Hard to give advice when we don’t know which one you’re attending

Sorry, I should’ve mentioned the rite. It is Byzantine.

 

[5Loaves]

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Sorry, I should’ve mentioned the rite. It is Byzantine.

Looks like you’re talking Ruthenian or Ukrainian

Monica4316 gave some useful specific info. I wouldn’t worry about sticking out. They are probably used to visitors.

The Church Etiquette section of St. Elis’ website is very useful. You might find 12 Things I Wish I’d Known…First Visit to an Orthodox Church helpful. Although the author is Orthodox, our Divine Liturgy is the same.

When we enter the temple and when we leave we usually venerate the Holy Icons which are placed for that purpose by crossing and bowing and kissing the hand or foot, never the face, so not wearing lipstick is important. I don’t know about the tradition in the Church you will visit but in our Church when the priest walks past during the Great Entrance many will grab the hem of his vestment and kiss it, again, a reason you won’t, hopefully, see lipstick on the women. If they have pews then nix that part of the Great Entrance.

If they have service books (a book with the Divine Liturgy text in it) I encourage you to avoid following in it, and instead just watch and listen, and join in when you can. The DL is very repetitive and there are lots of repetitions of such as “Lord have mercy”. The wikipedia page on the Divine Liturgy is very good, and links to many details of the Liturgy if you want to read up ahead of time. The two main components are the same for the DL as for the Roman Rite: Liturgy of the Word/Catechumens, and Liturgy of the Eucharist/Faithful.

If the Divine Liturgy is listed as 10:00AM know that by then the clergy have already been busy for about half an hour with their entrance, vesting prayers, and Liturgy of Preparation. Hopefully someone will be chanting the hours whilst the Liturgy of Preparation is going on. If the iconostatis is not solid then you will see the clergy engaged in the Preparation. In the churches I go to this isn’t visible and the clergy are only sometimes audible.

Sat. evening Vespers is really an integral part of the worship and would be good to attend. Being a small parish they may not have Vespers. The fasting practice is to not eat after dinner Sat. night, unless you have need for health reasons to eat or drink, other than water. Likely they will have a meal together after DL and you should plan to stay for that.

If you poke around in the Eastern Catholicism section you will see plenty of old posts there asking about visiting an EC parish for the first time. Hopefully the mods will move your thread over to the EC Section and then more people will see it there and respond.

 

[JW55]

Since most Eastern Catholic churches are small, you will be noticed and as recognized as a visitor. But that is a good thing. I think you will find almost universally that the many parishoners will offer assistance throughout the liturgy to assist you in following the proceedings. iIf you get there early, someone will probably come up to you and explain which books to use and what to expect. Aside from that, just sit toward the back and follow what others do. Most churches will try to make you as welcome and comfortable as possible if they think you are sincere in learning about thier church.

 

[techno]

Kelly,

Please let us all know how you got on, whether you were made welcome, and what your impressions were.

 

[Aramis]

Advice:
Comfortable shoes.
Layers of clothing.
No lip treatments (no chapstick, no carmex, no lipstick)

 

[Halyna]

Oh now, dont’ let all these technical people worry you.

First you will probably notice, people do not talk in church. That is in respect to the Presence in the Tabernacle.

First time in church, I’d sit in the middle (saw previous posts about sitting in the back, but then you can’t see what the priest is doing and you open yourself up to distractions, esp the collectors ).

No matter what church I go to (Catholic of course) I close my eyes and listen to every single word so I can fully grasp everything.

When you go to Communion do not bring out your tongue. The Precious Body AND Blood you will receive in your mouth.

Praise God and thank Him as you see fit. Just take in all you can. It is an experience I wouldn’t trade for the world.

 

[crownofroses]

Thanks to everyone for the advice.

I have not gone attended their Divine Liturgy yet - I’m still reading up on it. And, I haven’t worked up the courage yet.

Kelly,

Please let us all know how you got on, whether you were made welcome, and what your impressions were.

I will definitely let you all know how it goes.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Thanks to everyone for the advice.

I have not gone attended their Divine Liturgy yet - I’m still reading up on it. And, I haven’t worked up the courage yet.

I will definitely let you all know how it goes.

Just go