Can a Hebrew Catholic be comfortable in a Melkite Church?

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Melchior

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Obviously, I do not want this to be a thread about Israelis vs. Palestinians blah blah blah. I am just interested in the opinions of Eastern (or Latin) Catholics.

I am admittedly sympathetic to Israel, but also to our Palestinian Christian brothers. But I probably would, as a Hebrew whose family was directly impacted by the holocaust and much other anti-semitism etc. be somewhat sensitive to a church culture that is vocally less sympathetic to my ethnic/cultural people than I am. I am by no means in the same camp as Evangelical dispensationalists, but I am certain I am likely more prone to believe that most of the problems in Israel/Palestine have to do with the Islamic terrorism of Hamas, Islamic Jihad etc. and the muslim stranglehold on the Palestinian Christians lives and ability to access alternative information - is what is putting the Israelis in an impossible situation with an unfaithful peace partner in the muslim Palestinians - while freely admitting evil have been done by all sides. I point this out, not to debate or to be convinced otherwise. I just want to know if someone with my sympathies who is very attracted to the Byzantine rite and the Melkites, who are the only game in town for us as far as Byzantine Catholics go, along with a genuine love for Arab Christians plus a wife who grew up a Byzantine Christian, will be able to have this not be an issue or an elephant in the room?

So in your opinion can a fairly pro-Israel (in the political/right to exist sense), who is mostly of Hebrew extraction be a happy and integrated Melkite? Or am I better of bringing my family up in the Latin rite?

Thanks,

Mel
 
If all Melkite parishes in the USA are like St. John of the Desert here in Phoenix, you’ll be welcomed with open arms.

Many of the parishioners are all too aware of how Christians are treated in the Middle East. Three parishioners (who are brothers) had an uncle who was killed by Mahometans because he would not renounce Christ and convert.

I suggest you read about the now Archbishop Elias Chacour, Melkite Abp. of Nazareth, on Wikipedia, and see what all he has said, and get his book BLOOD BROTHERS–then see what he has done for ALL residents of that troubled country by founding the Mar Elias Schools.
 
In our local Melkite community you would be accepted completely, I think. In my experience I’m more likely to hear about problems with Muslims than problems with Jews, though the nation of Israel isn’t necessarily well-loved by most (which is understandable, IMO).

One of my good friends in our community is actually an Israeli Arab, and he doesn’t hide the fact that he’s from Haifa, and he doesn’t refer to himself as a Palestinian from Israel either. He simply says he’s Israeli, and nobody gives him trouble. Sometimes he even jokes about what he should call himself so as not to confuse new people to the community (many of whom are Palestinian).

One thing to keep in mind is that the Melkite Church, while predominantly Arab, is actually quite diverse. We have Syrians and Lebanese, for example, and their two nations have had many difficulties over the years. Although the situation of Palestine is of special importance, you’re dealing with a community that is built up from many different nations and local cultures, albeit mostly from within the larger sphere of Arab culture.

Finally, I really don’t think that being of Jewish blood will mean much to them since you are Catholic. Remember that many Melkites are descended from the local Jewish population that became Catholic in the early years of the Church; the dividing line is the Faith, not necessarily ethnicity. 🙂

Peace and God bless!
 
I have hebrew ancestry too and have some background in Judaism. I would probably enjoy going to a Melkite liturgy if it reminds me of being at a synagogue service, with all the hebrew chanting.
 
I would probably enjoy going to a Melkite liturgy if it reminds me of being at a synagogue service, with all the hebrew chanting.

The Melkites would be using Arabic, some Greek, and in this country English.
 
bpbasilphx said:
I would probably enjoy going to a Melkite liturgy if it reminds me of being at a synagogue service, with all the hebrew chanting.

The Melkites would be using Arabic, some Greek, and in this country English.
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Ive heard quranic chanting before, in Aarabic of course, and let me tell you, it sounds a lot like Hebrew chanting in Synagogue services, both the language and the intonation sound similar.
 
jfoges said:
Ive heard quranic chanting before, in Aarabic of course, and let me tell you, it sounds a lot like Hebrew chanting in Synagogue services, both the language and the intonation sound similar.
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Islamic chant is based off of melkite and syriac chant, which is in turn based off of hebrew chant.
 
The Syriac and the Chaldean/Assyrian Churches are likely the most “Semitic” traditions, and their Liturgies are handed down from the time when they really WERE Hebrew Catholics! If you want to see the Liturgy that “Temple Jewish Catholics” made, check out those two groups.

The Melkite Church, while based in the same history as the Syriac Church, became highly Grecofied in the second millenium, and that still holds today. They do have some hold-overs from the more Semitic tradition, however, such as the tones and style of the chants. I think you guys would be quite comfortable with the Melkite setting. 🙂

Peace and God bless!
 
Melchior said:
Obviously, I do not want this to be a thread about Israelis vs. Palestinians blah blah blah. I am just interested in the opinions of Eastern (or Latin) Catholics.

I am admittedly sympathetic to Israel, but also to our Palestinian Christian brothers. But I probably would, as a Hebrew whose family was directly impacted by the holocaust and much other anti-semitism etc. be somewhat sensitive to a church culture that is vocally less sympathetic to my ethnic/cultural people than I am. I am by no means in the same camp as Evangelical dispensationalists, but I am certain I am likely more prone to believe that most of the problems in Israel/Palestine have to do with the Islamic terrorism of Hamas, Islamic Jihad etc. and the muslim stranglehold on the Palestinian Christians lives and ability to access alternative information - is what is putting the Israelis in an impossible situation with an unfaithful peace partner in the muslim Palestinians - while freely admitting evil have been done by all sides. I point this out, not to debate or to be convinced otherwise. I just want to know if someone with my sympathies who is very attracted to the Byzantine rite and the Melkites, who are the only game in town for us as far as Byzantine Catholics go, along with a genuine love for Arab Christians plus a wife who grew up a Byzantine Christian, will be able to have this not be an issue or an elephant in the room?

So in your opinion can a fairly pro-Israel (in the political/right to exist sense), who is mostly of Hebrew extraction be a happy and integrated Melkite? Or am I better of bringing my family up in the Latin rite?

Thanks,

Mel
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I don’t know about the Melkite Catholics, but if they’re anything like some of the Palestinian Greek Orthodox people I know, they tend to side with Muslims, even against their fellow Christians, and are vocally anti-Israel. Unfortunately you will find throughout the Church’s history ethnocentric nationalism has generally taken precedence over religion where loyalties are concerned. The Orthodox tend to be extremely nationalistic and I have even heard some of them say that they would rather live under Moslem domination than that of the Catholic Church; some Melkites might feel this way, too. I’ve been told that Melkites are the most “anti-Roman” of the Eastern churches.

You might want to search for a Chaldean or Maronite church to belong to; they are Eastern Catholics but not Byzantine like the Melkites are–so they are not as anti-Western–I think their liturgy has traditionally been in Aramaic too, which is of course the language spoken by Jesus.
 
Psalter said:
I don’t know about the Melkite Catholics, but if they’re anything like some of the Palestinian Greek Orthodox people I know, they tend to side with Muslims, even against their fellow Christians, and are vocally anti-Israel. Unfortunately you will find throughout the Church’s history ethnocentric nationalism has generally taken precedence over religion where loyalties are concerned. The Orthodox tend to be extremely nationalistic and I have even heard some of them say that they would rather live under Moslem domination than that of the Catholic Church; some Melkites might feel this way, too. I’ve been told that Melkites are the most “anti-Roman” of the Eastern churches.

You might want to search for a Chaldean or Maronite church to belong to; they are Eastern Catholics but not Byzantine like the Melkites are–so they are not as anti-Western–I think their liturgy has traditionally been in Aramaic too, which is of course the language spoken by Jesus.
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You shouldn’t make generalizations, especially ones in which you have no personal experiance. The Melkites are not “anti-western” unless you consider dropping latinizations and being vocally Byzantine to be “anti-western” . Politics in the middle east is a very complex issue and any generalizations about Orthodox, Melkites, etc is not going to be accurate.
 
I am Jewish and go to a Melkite church. On one hand, I find people there to be extremely welcoming, and those who grew up in Israel will sometimes speak Hebrew to me. I have not had to make a secret of my identity. On the other hand, definitely many of them are very negative about Israel - I had an interesting discussion about it with someone in the church whose family is Arab from Palestine, but who is actually fairly pro-Israel.

I’ve written about my experience briefly here: thegroomsfamily.wordpress.com/2011/09/05/a-jewish-arab-mission/

I’ve mostly avoided bringing up the topic of Israel, and enjoyed the Semitic fellowship. For someone more interested than I am in having the discussion, I would guess that many of the Arab parishioners at our church would be friendly and willing to hear a different point of view.
 
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