A couple of years ago, I attended the English Qorbano at the local Chaldean parish. Oddly enough, it was shortly after the destruction of several monasteries and churches in Iraq.
It was recited, not sung, no incense (one prayer referring to “the sweet scent of Your holiness” seemed to demand its use; I’m sure there were other places), and I suspect there were other simplifications of the ceremonial. Of course, the priest celebrated versus populum. Communion was distributed from Latin hosts, and in one kind only, in the hand. As this seemed to be the accepted use, I went along with it, though I made sure I had consumed It before I budged from my place.
In fairness, I hope some day to attend a sung celebration with full ceremonial (even though Chaldean/Aramaic/Syriac may be used) in its native liturgical space (I didn’t know the veil was used until now).
bpbasilphx,
Are you a bishop? Just wondering, so I can address you as Your Grace.
Do you remember which parish you’ve attended?
You should attend the Chaldean Aramaic Holy Mystery/Offering (Raza/Qurbana Qadisha) just so you’ll experience the full ceremony. The English one is still rather a recent phenomenon in the Chaldean Church of the US. It’s gonna take some time before the English one can catch up with the way the Chaldean Aramaic one is celebrated.
There is a reformed liturgy that has taken place recently which should be implemented throughout the world in the future.
Kaldu.org refers to it. Some of the reforms include the priest now facing the east (ad orientem) versus the previous practice of facing the people (versus Populum).
The unleavened bread has still not yet been replaced with leavened bread (Assyrians use leavened). There are some other Latinizations that are slowly being addressed by our bishops. Bishop Sarhad is quiet good in trying to restore the Chaldean traditions.
As far as reception of communion in one kind only in the hand. Intinction is now being used in the western states eparchy. The traditional Chaldean practice is actually different from intinction and different from the Roman Catholic practice of reception in the hand. Bishop Sarhad once showed us how it was traditionally done, and it may be how it will be done in the future.
This is how it was done:
First, the person comes up to the front and places his hands on top of the incense bowl without touching the bowl, but just a little above the bowl so as to allow the smoke of the incense to purify the palms of one’s hands. Then the person goes to the priest with hands purified and the priest places the Eucharist/Qurbana in the person’s hands. Without picking up the Eucharist with the fingers or raising the Eucharist to one’s mouth, the person bows down before the Eucharist and picks up the Eucharist with his tongue.
I thought that was pretty cool.
God bless,
Rony
