Church architecture for Byzantine Catholics

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A question now got me a few days ago about Byzantine-rite Catholics: Are their churches built in the Byzantine-style architecture with domes, heavenly gates and iconostatis like the Eastern Orthodox types or are they built in the style of Roman Rite Catholic churches?
 
Kitsune633 said:
A question now got me a few days ago about Byzantine-rite Catholics: Are their churches built in the Byzantine-style architecture with domes, heavenly gates and iconostatis like the Eastern Orthodox types or are they built in the style of Roman Rite Catholic churches?
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In the “mother-lands”, the churches had the iconostas and depending on where you were, domes of one sort or another.

As the Eastern Catholics came to this country, they often built churches like they had back “home”; although many times these churches often resembled Latin Rite churches without the iconostas. This is being or has been rectified in most parishes with an iconostas being installed.

Hope this helps…
 
Many have an iconostas; Some Ruthenian parishes removed them during the height of latinization.

Most of the Ukrainian and Melkite have an Iconostas.

Many have confessionals, which are a Latinization.

Some were converted from older Roman parishes; often, by simply converting the rail to an iconostas.

Many have pews (again, a latinization); many are replacing fixed pews with chairs (also a latinization, but not as obvious a one).
 
Did not Ukrainian and Ruthenian churches in the old country have pews?

Our services do make more sense in a pewless church (even though I have to sit.)
 
Cluny said:
Did not Ukrainian and Ruthenian churches in the old country have pews?

Our services do make more sense in a pewless church (even though I have to sit.)
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As a follow-up series of questions -
  1. Why are there not traditionally confessionals in Eastern Catholic churches? How is the sacrament celebrated?
  2. Why are there no pews (traditionally)? How is the divine Liturgy celebrated? Standing the whole time? Or standing and kneeling, but no sitting?
I’ve never been to one, so I don’t know.

3)Also, what is the purpose for the heavenly gates - is the entire communion rite/consecration carried out behind “closed doors”?

I know this may not be the right thread to post these questions on, so if you want to, can you direct me to a thread that deals with these questions?

Thanks!
Will
 
pickguard1 said:
As a follow-up series of questions -
  1. Why are there not traditionally confessionals in Eastern Catholic churches? How is the sacrament celebrated?
  2. Why are there no pews (traditionally)? How is the divine Liturgy celebrated? Standing the whole time? Or standing and kneeling, but no sitting?
I’ve never been to one, so I don’t know.

3)Also, what is the purpose for the heavenly gates - is the entire communion rite/consecration carried out behind “closed doors”?

I know this may not be the right thread to post these questions on, so if you want to, can you direct me to a thread that deals with these questions?

Thanks!
Will
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  1. Confessions in Byazntine Churches are traditionally heard before the iconostas. There should be an analogion on which the Gospel book is placed.
  2. Standing is the usual posture. Prostrations are made during Grent Lent. In some uses the are also made on weekdays outside of Paschaltide and other festal periods. Pews would just get in the way.
  3. The Royal Doors, of course, are usually closed out of service time, except during Bright Week (or maybe the entire 40 days until Ascension). The customs of opening and closing them vary from place to place. Sometimes they are simply opened at the beginning of a service and closed at the end. In the Muscovite practice, they are opened only for the Entrances, Gospel, and Communion of the faithful.
This is exactly the right place to ask about Eastern Christian (Catholic or otherwise) practices.
 
Cluny said:
  1. Confessions in Byazntine Churches are traditionally heard before the iconostas. There should be an analogion on which the Gospel book is placed.
  2. Standing is the usual posture. Prostrations are made during Grent Lent. In some uses the are also made on weekdays outside of Paschaltide and other festal periods. Pews would just get in the way.
  3. The Royal Doors, of course, are usually closed out of service time, except during Bright Week (or maybe the entire 40 days until Ascension). The customs of opening and closing them vary from place to place. Sometimes they are simply opened at the beginning of a service and closed at the end. In the Muscovite practice, they are opened only for the Entrances, Gospel, and Communion of the faithful.
This is exactly the right place to ask about Eastern Christian (Catholic or otherwise) practices.
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Thanks for the info. 🙂 So are confessions face to face, or is there some sort of screen, like in the Latin Rite? I’m also not all that familiar with some of the terminology/calendar still. What are Grent Lent and Bright Week? Also, does this mean that outside those times the standard posture is standing throughout the entire service? (specifically, when are the prostrations - consecration/elevation? - or just on specific feasts/times?

Thanks again
 
Can somebody post a picture of the Church architecture or interiors.
 
The St. Elias website has some excellent information about Church architecture, specifically as it applies to the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church:
saintelias.com/ca/church/

The new student chapel at Ukrainian Catholic University dedicated to the New Martyrs is also a good example of a traditional Western Ukrainian (Hutsul) architecture:
(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)
Did not Ukrainian and Ruthenian churches in the old country have pews?
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Our services do make more sense in a pewless church (even though I have to sit.)
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Usually only perimeter benches next to the walls. The center nave is almost always open in village Churches and cathedrals. Even the more western “Ukrainian Baroque” churches such as St. George’s in L’viv do not have pews.
 
Diak said:
The St. Elias website has some excellent information about Church architecture, specifically as it applies to the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church:
saintelias.com/ca/church/

The new student chapel at Ukrainian Catholic University dedicated to the New Martyrs is also a good example of a traditional Western Ukrainian (Hutsul) architecture:
http://www.byzcath.org/forums/gallery/19/full/1156.jpg

Usually only perimeter benches next to the walls. The center nave is almost always open in village Churches and cathedrals. Even the more western “Ukrainian Baroque” churches such as St. George’s in L’viv do not have pews.
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Thanks Diak. The church architecture looks cute.
 
pickguard1 said:
Thanks for the info. 🙂 So are confessions face to face, or is there some sort of screen, like in the Latin Rite? I’m also not all that familiar with some of the terminology/calendar still. What are Grent Lent and Bright Week? Also, does this mean that outside those times the standard posture is standing throughout the entire service? (specifically, when are the prostrations - consecration/elevation? - or just on specific feasts/times?

Thanks again
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Confessions are face to face.

Great Lent is Lent (to distinguish it from other fasting periods).

Bright Week is the week after Pascha (Easter).

Yes, the standard posture is standing.

To say when prostrations are done would involve reproducing almost the entire Typicon (rubrics).

In any case, they are NEVER made on Sundays or from Pascha until the Vespers on Pentecost itself, when special Litanies and Prayers are added called the Kneeling Prayers.
 
http://www.ak-byz-cath.org/images/St. Nicholas Interior SM.jpg
This is the inside of St. Nicholas (from the website)
http://www.ak-byz-cath.org/images/StNicksExteriorASm.jpg and the outside. (also from the website)

Confession is done (properly) standing to the right of the center doors, facing the icon of Christ. the Priest stnds on the step, the penitent on the floor. a lectern with the Gospel book would traditionally be handy. Confession is spoken softly or even whispered into the priest’s ear, and the absolution by the tail of the stole being placed upon the head of the penitent, the priest’s hands upon that, and then the absolution given.

Our pastor, however, hears confessions in the altar; entry through the “south door”,with the Gospel book in view on the altar, a crucifix visible, and the icon of the trinity in view.

All the seats are chairs. No fixed seats.
 
(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

Greek Catholic church of St. Michael the Archangel, Smetkovce, Slovakia, built in 1751 with pews… still in use today:thumbsup:
 
Cluny said:
Confessions are face to face.

Great Lent is Lent (to distinguish it from other fasting periods).

Bright Week is the week after Pascha (Easter).

Yes, the standard posture is standing.

To say when prostrations are done would involve reproducing almost the entire Typicon (rubrics).

In any case, they are NEVER made on Sundays or from Pascha until the Vespers on Pentecost itself, when special Litanies and Prayers are added called the Kneeling Prayers.
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40.png
pickguard1:
Thanks again!

Are there specific images that are called for on the iconostasis, or is it based upon the patron of the specific Church/Parish?
 
pickguard1 said:
Thanks again!

Are there specific images that are called for on the iconostasis, or is it based upon the patron of the specific Church
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Yes, the iconostas in Ukrainian and Russian churches and somewhat different in Greek has a particular form. Ukrainian churches often have multiple level ikonostas*

This classic iconostasis consist of five levels or rows: Ancestors of Christ, Prophets, Holiday, Deisus level and Local level.

The most superior level is Ancester level above this often is a Cross. This level symbolizes the Old Testament ancestors of Christ and are including from Adam and ending with Iakov. In center may be old testament Trinity (like Rublev ikon). Depending on size church may be Adam, Avel, Sif, Ynos, Kain, Avraam, Isaak and Iakov.

After ancestral is prophetic level in which are placed 30 prophets if possible: moisei, Tsar David, GTsar Solomon, Elisei, Daniil, Zakharia, Azarij, Anin. *In center is often the Znamenije of Mother of God which is prefiguring birth of Jesus Christ.

The Holy Day or Festival level is dedicated to the basic holidays of New Testament beginning with the annunciation. Then is coming Birth of Christ, Encounter of Lord, Baptism in Jordan, Transfiguration, Arising of Lazarus, entrance into Jerusalem, Crucifixion, Taking from Cross, Placing in tomb, Paskha, Ascending of Christ, Desending of Holy Spirit and the Assuming of mother of God Falling asleep.

Next is Deisus level: two meanings: prayer to Christ and his glorification as the Allpowerful. In this level is found at center Christ on throne, to the left his prayerful Mother of God, to the Right, Ioann the Previous Coming, also prayihng. Then are other apostls: Petr, Pavel, Ioann Theologian, Matfei Evangelist, Luka Evangelist.

The lowest level and at times only level of small church is local level. In the center are the Tsar gates or Heavenly gates. On gates are usually Annunciation and images of four Evangelists. On left from Doors is located icon of Mother of God and on right the ikon of Jesus Christ. Beyond are icons relating to the particular temple. Usually candles can be lit in front of these ikons. in special holders in front of these ikoni.

http://www.philos.msu.ru/vestnik/philos/art/1997/yakovlev_icon.files/image002.jpg
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Are there specific images that are called for on the iconostasis, or is it based upon the patron of the specific Church/Parish?
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Yes to both parts.

To describe the local Melkite Church, the Royal Doors depict the Annunciation.

Going from the south–Our Lord, St. John the Baptist, Door with St. Romanos the Deaon, and then the Archangel Michael.

Going from the north–Our Lady, Nativity of St. John (the Parish feast day), Door with St. Stephen the Protodeacon and Protomartyr, St. Joseph.

The upper tier shows the Mystical Supper. On either side are the Apostles.

This is fairly typical. The main thing is that Our Lord is to the immediate south of the Royal Doors, Our Lady to the north, St. John the Baptist and the Patron of the Church there somewhere.

The rest is up to taste, custom, and local preference. Usually there are angels on the side doors.
 
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