Byzantine Catholic Church

[5Loaves]

But in the Chicago cathedral of Holy Trinity (OCA) of which I am now a member we always have holy water to drink, and as far as I know when the Theophany water runs out the Dean blesses more. We always have some and people help themselves to a cupful during liturgy.

Interesting. (This has probably come up before and I’ve forgotten about it.)

Is it there all the time or only during Divine Liturgy? I ask because I am pretty rarely at the Divine Liturgy in the OCA Parish and have never been at DL in the Russian Orthodox Cathedrals, OCA and ROCOR. I’m usually there for Vespers or Vigils. I could have missed where they have it at the cathedrals, but not the OCA parish which is small enough I’d see it during Vigils and Vespers when there are not that many of us there. There is definitely water to drink, and take home, at Theophany.

 

[Alveus_Lacuna]

We always have some and people help themselves to a cupful during liturgy.

Aren’t people supposed to be fasting before the liturgy?

 

[Aramis]

Aren’t people supposed to be fasting before the liturgy?

Water doesn’t break fast. Especially Holy Water.

And I’ve only seen holy water in OCA parishes following Theophany. But Alaska is very Russian.

 

[Alveus_Lacuna]

Water doesn’t break fast. Especially Holy Water.

My priest has told me differently. Perhaps Ruthenian Byzantine Catholic praxis is simply laxer in this matter?

 

[Aramis]

My priest has told me differently. Perhaps Ruthenian Byzantine Catholic praxis is simply laxer in this matter?

I’ve heard water doesn’t break fast from OCA Bishop Nikolai, as well. So, no, not really. It varies by particular church, but it’s pretty universal in the Catholic Church that water and essential medicines don’t break fast.

 

[ciero]

Water doesn’t break fast. Especially Holy Water.

And I’ve only seen holy water in OCA parishes following Theophany. But Alaska is very Russian.

Strictly speaking water does break the fast. Even in pre Vatican II Roman Catholic church water broke the fast…and strict Orthodox will fast before drinking Holy Water or receiving antidoron.

 

[Hesychios]

These are all good points.

What I have stated is that there is always holy water to drink all year long, at least as far as I can recall. Communion fasting is another issue.

Typically the Belorussian Catholics at Christ the Redeemer had a drink after communion, perhaps in lieu of zapivka.

In the cathedral where I attend children and others help themselves at any time, most people who do want the water do so after antidoran (which is always available directly after communion, without exception), although in fact nearly everyone prefers the wine.

We must not forget that those who are not prepared to commune (usually a significant percentage: 40% or more) are probably not fasting, so this is not an issue regardless of the pastors’ position on the subject of fasting. My priest has no problem with sipping water during fast AFAIK, especially holy water, but some individual parishioners might take a more stringent position upon themselves.

Now if the water is gone during Great Lent or any other fasting period, I am sorry to say I don’t really notice since it is not high on my radar.