Attending Orthodox Easter Mass

[GaryTaylor]

Please go, enter the service with a spirit of prayer, and pray hard.
This may be a door that’s open just a crack. Do not slam it shut.
Try to speak positively about your experience to them afterward. Christ is present there, so is the Blessed Mother. If only they would be willing to take Them by the hand, they may begin a first step on a journey back to Christ. This may be a very strategic time, be crafty as a fox. Storm heaven! You don’t know where things will be in 5 years from now because of this event. Be smart.

Christ is Risen!
Indeed He is Risen!

 

[andrewstx]

My daughter, her husband and their son joined us for Easter services today at a church relatively close to their home and roughly 40 miles from our home. He’s nominally Orhodox - it’s an ethnic affiliation, he doesn’t attend services and apparently wasn’t brought up with any religious education.

Our daughter was raised Catholic and underwent 12 years of parochial school.

She lived with this man for several years before they wed in a civil ceremony. Initially we were able to get them to attend Catholic services on Christmas and Easter where we live. That ended shortly after our grandchild was born (more than a year after their marriage) several years ago.

After Mass today, when I wasn’t around, my daughter invited my wife and me to join them for Orthodox Easter services near their home. My wife, unaware of some of the distinctions between Catholics and Orthodox Catholics, said sure thing. Hours later, my wife mentioned it.

During the ensuing discussion, she cited our joint interest in our grandchild receiving a religious upbringing.

Joining the three of them at the Orthodox Easter Mass, she reasoned, might encourage our daughter and her husband to regularly attend (Orthodox) Mass with our grandson.

I cited a variety of reasons for not wanting to attend the Orthodox Mass that include not wanting to encourage the raising of our grandchild in a “sister church” that views Catholics as heretics.

Your perspective would be appreciated.

Actually it is more difficult for Orthodox to get a religious education than Catholics. that is because Orthodox have the sacraments (mysteries) of initiation shortly after birth. We are baptized, chrismated (confirmed) and given first communion all during the same service. The only thing not done then is first confession. Your son may be from one of the Orthodox jurisdictions with more of an ethnic orientation than others. I won’t name names however so as not to be uncharitable to any specific jurisdictions.

But anyway Catholics have greater opportunities to catachise there members with First Communion and Confirmation classes.

 

[Cavaradossi]

The Orthodox Churches in my neck of the woods don’t have a Divine Liturgy like on their Pascha like we have Easter. We had five masses Easter day plus the Easter Vigil. They have only one Liturgy at 12am - 2:30 Sunday. Last year I went to their church at the usual 10am expecting a great DL but found an empty parking lot, locked doors and nary a sign of life. I went to a different Church and found just people cleaning up. They said, “oh yeah, we did that a midnight.” I was bummed. So don’t make the same mistake I did if you go. Check their schedule first.

This is common really to most Orthodox parishes. The altar is only supposed to be used once per day, such that most parishes will only have one liturgy in a given day. Some parishes will do two, but this is uncommon, and it requires the bishop’s permission, a second altar, and a second priest.

 

[Qwikness]

This is common really to most Orthodox parishes. The altar is only supposed to be used once per day, such that most parishes will only have one liturgy in a given day. Some parishes will do two, but this is uncommon, and it requires the bishop’s permission, a second altar, and a second priest.

That is interesting. thank you. Is attending the Pascha service so late a hindrance from children attending? With a four and a 1 year old, I don’t know if I could get my family to go at such a late hour.

 

[PennyinCanada]

That is interesting. thank you. Is attending the Pascha service so late a hindrance from children attending? With a four and a 1 year old, I don’t know if I could get my family to go at such a late hour.

Our Pascha/Easter service was 9 am - 11:30 when our usual Sunday service starts at 10am. Just confirm the time where ever you are going.

 

[ComeHome2Rome]

That is interesting. thank you. Is attending the Pascha service so late a hindrance from children attending? With a four and a 1 year old, I don’t know if I could get my family to go at such a late hour.

No, it’s not a hinderance. It only comes once a year and is very special.

Children are always present. Most really enjoy the outdoor procession. Sometimes the babies sleep through part of it. It’s an amazingly joyous event and even the babies fight to stay awake to take it all in!

 

[Rawb]

That is interesting. thank you. Is attending the Pascha service so late a hindrance from children attending? With a four and a 1 year old, I don’t know if I could get my family to go at such a late hour.

I don’t think there’s a child at our parish who misses our Pascha liturgy, though we’ve had altar boys fall asleep in the altar.

 

[katherine2001]

Your church permits in cases of emergency.

We are not permitted to receive Communion from other than an Orthodox priest, even in an ER. That is why it is vital that we make sure that the hospital knows that you are an Orthodox, so that they can notify your priest in any ER.

 

[dennis01]

It is actually the OP that is questioning whether he should go because he might be ‘encouraging’ them to become Orthodox. Its one thing for him to not go because he isnt Orthodox, it is another if he doesnt want them to be Orthodox. That attitude isn’t a good one. It is irrelevant whether he wants to ‘encourage’ them. They are going to make their decision regardless of what he or anyone else thinks. If he is going to put barriers up in his family, he will have to live with them.

Very well put!