Differences between eastern Catholic churches

[MarcusAndreas]

Is there any differences, aside from language and ethnicity, between the eastern Catholic Churches, considering they are basically all Byzantine. Do they have theological differences amongst themselves (for example, would I run into theological differences after conversing with a theologically literate Melkite, and then a Ruthenian, etc.) or do they all share the same theology basically, and the differences are more cultural then theological?

 

[RyanBlack]

Is there any differences, aside from language and ethnicity, between the eastern Catholic Churches, considering they are basically all Byzantine. Do they have theological differences amongst themselves (for example, would I run into theological differences after conversing with a theologically literate Melkite, and then a Ruthenian, etc.) or do they all share the same theology basically, and the differences are more cultural then theological?

I will leave answering the question to others, but not all of the Eastern Catholic Churches are Byzantine. The Maronites are not Byzantine, the Coptics Catholics are not Byzantine, the Armenian Catholics are not Byzantine, the Churches of the Syrian tradition are not Byzantine, and the Chaldeans are not Byzantine.

 

[MarcusAndreas]

I will leave answering the question to others, but not all of the Eastern Catholic Churches are Byzantine. The Maronites are not Byzantine, the Coptics Catholics are not Byzantine, the Armenian Catholics are not Byzantine, the Churches of the Syrian tradition are not Byzantine, and the Chaldeans are not Byzantine.

Yeah, I know, that was in the back of my head when I posted. I could have phrased things better.

 

[ConstantineTG]

There are minor traditions that differ between sui juris Churches. For example, Ukrainians would go up to kiss the Book of Gospels during the Little Entrance, and the children would hold candles by the priest while he reads the Gospel. The Prayer Before Communion is also different, I think the Ruthenians and the Ukrainians have the same prayer, while the Melkites have something else. The prayer is similar, but not exactly the same.

The musical sets for the hymns also would differ.

Then there are traditions outside the Liturgy, like the famed Ukrainian Christmas which has a 12-course meal during the Chirstmas Eve Great Fast.

Think of it this way, in the Roman Catholic Church, while the LIturgy is standard, there’s differences in how those Christianized by the Spanish as compared to the Italians and French are. These little traditions are missed because people would assume that the RC Church is the same everywhere.

 

[ciero]

There are minor traditions that differ between sui juris Churches. For example, Ukrainians would go up to kiss the Book of Gospels during the Little Entrance, and the children would hold candles by the priest while he reads the Gospel. The Prayer Before Communion is also different, I think the Ruthenians and the Ukrainians have the same prayer, while the Melkites have something else. The prayer is similar, but not exactly the same.

The musical sets for the hymns also would differ.

Then there are traditions outside the Liturgy, like the famed Ukrainian Christmas which has a 12-course meal during the Chirstmas Eve Great Fast.

Think of it this way, in the Roman Catholic Church, while the LIturgy is standard, there’s differences in how those Christianized by the Spanish as compared to the Italians and French are. These little traditions are missed because people would assume that the RC Church is the same everywhere.

Constantine…where does this kissing the Gospel during the Entrance and kids holding candles come from…I have been in countless Ukrainian churches both Catholic & Orthodox, in the US, Canada, Australia and UKRAINE and have never seen it…is it possible it is a custom of just your parish?

 

[Aramis]

Constantine…where does this kissing the Gospel during the Entrance and kids holding candles come from…I have been in countless Ukrainian churches both Catholic & Orthodox, in the US, Canada, Australia and UKRAINE and have never seen it…is it possible it is a custom of just your parish?

I’ve seen several Ruthenian parishes where the gospel is reverenced by the children following the Gospel reading, rather than the Entrance, and have read of the same being done in the Ukraine (complaints about it by Russians, specifically, from just before the Bolshevik Revolution).

 

[ciero]

I’ve seen several Ruthenian parishes where the gospel is reverenced by the children following the Gospel reading, rather than the Entrance, and have read of the same being done in the Ukraine (complaints about it by Russians, specifically, from just before the Bolshevik Revolution).

Yeah I have seen the children stand around the priest/deacon who reads the Gospel and then reverence the Gospel book…I’ve never seen it done during the entrance though…I’d think it would disrupt the flow of the entrance.

 

[Aramis]

Yeah I have seen the children stand around the priest/deacon who reads the Gospel and then reverence the Gospel book…I’ve never seen it done during the entrance though…I’d think it would disrupt the flow of the entrance.

I’ve seen it done once. Orthodox parish (village, televised). Those by whom it passed, kissed their fingers and touched the gospel book with them as it passed, both adults and children alike; those further back simply made a small metania.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Constantine…where does this kissing the Gospel during the Entrance and kids holding candles come from…I have been in countless Ukrainian churches both Catholic & Orthodox, in the US, Canada, Australia and UKRAINE and have never seen it…is it possible it is a custom of just your parish?

Go to the St. Elias youtube channel and search for Little Entrance. I find the last part funny when a mother of a young infant approached to kiss the Book and then the Deacon put the Book into the carrier to touch the child’s lips.

Definitely not only in our parish. Although I’ve been to another parish in our Eparchy and the priest comes down the aisle and presents the Book to each person in the DL and we bow towards the book. This too is during the Little Entrance. There are no kids when I went there and there were only like 10 people.

 

[ConstantineTG]

I’ve seen several Ruthenian parishes where the gospel is reverenced by the children following the Gospel reading, rather than the Entrance, and have read of the same being done in the Ukraine (complaints about it by Russians, specifically, from just before the Bolshevik Revolution).

I forgot to mention that after holding the candles, the kids of course will reverence the Book of Gospels again.

 

[ciero]

I’ve seen it done once. Orthodox parish (village, televised). Those by whom it passed, kissed their fingers and touched the gospel book with them as it passed, both adults and children alike; those further back simply made a small metania.

Yeah I’ve seen that plenty of times as well as people touching the priest/deacons vestments as they pass by…they didnt do it at St Elias the few times I have been there, I just thought it would be disruptive to the entrance.

 

[ConstantineTG]

I wish it was disruptive. In the sense that there would be a lot of kids taking a lot of time. We only have one family then my son for our parish.

 

[Little_Boy_Lost]

At the Melkite Parish I attend, the Children and infants are invited to reverence the Gospel. I’ve also seen parishioners touch the garments of the priests during the Entrances and the Priest will also touch the chalice briefly on some parishioners heads as well.

 

[OrdinaryMelkite]

At the Melkite Parish I attend, the Children and infants are invited to reverence the Gospel. I’ve also seen parishioners touch the garments of the priests during the Entrances and the Priest will also touch the chalice briefly on some parishioners heads as well.

That’s Strange Indeed----We Don’t Have Those Traditions At MY Melkite Church. And I’m An Acolyte. I DO Personally Get To Kiss The Book After The Deacon Reads It, Though.

Might Be A “Cultural Thing” Where You Are?

 

[Little_Boy_Lost]

St. George’s in Sacramento.

 

[OrdinaryMelkite]

St. George’s in Sacramento.

I’ve heard of that Church. I get to Pray for it on my Publican’s Group.

I’m sure you Guys pray for Us in Augusta, Ga’s St. Ignatius Of Antioch’s Greek Melkite Church.
Us Melkites have to stick together.

Interesting thing about your rituals.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

At the Melkite Parish I attend, the Children and infants are invited to reverence the Gospel. I’ve also seen parishioners touch the garments of the priests during the Entrances and the Priest will also touch the chalice briefly on some parishioners heads as well.

That’s Strange Indeed----We Don’t Have Those Traditions At MY Melkite Church. And I’m An Acolyte. I DO Personally Get To Kiss The Book After The Deacon Reads It, Though.

Might Be A “Cultural Thing” Where You Are?

My parish at home is St Nicholas Melkite Greek Catholic Church in Rochester, NY.

During Gospel reading all the children and parent’s with infants gather around the deacon for the reading and then reverence the Gospel book afterwards.