Divine Liturgy Differences

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This is a question for Eastern Catholics, but Latin Catholics are free to chime in.

How is the Divine Liturgy in the Eastern Rites different from the Mass of the Latin Rites, if there are any?

What’s the difference between the 5 Eastern Rites?
 
I highly recommend you find a copy of Donald Attwater’s 1945 book “Eastern Catholic Worship”, which is a collection of translated Eastern and Oriental liturgies as used in the churches at that time, with short explanatory notes about their history or form, and (for comparative purposes) a translation of the Roman Mass at the end. The differences and similarities will become apparent through the texts themselves. There is a copy of this book on Amazon.com for under $5 at the moment, I believe. If you have an interest in the non-Roman liturgies, it is money very well spent.
 
They are using different liturgies.

Alexandrian
Liturgy of Saint Basil (Coptic)
Liturgy of Saint Mark (St. Cyril)
Liturgy of Saint Gregory of Naziansus

Antiocene
Liturgy of Saint James

Armenian
Liturgy of Saint Gregory (Armenian form of St. Basil)

Byzantine
Liturgy of Saint Basil
Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom
Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts

Chaldean
Liturgy of Mar Addai & Mar Mari
Liturgy of Mar Theodore of Mopsuestia
Liturgy of Mar Nestorius

Latin
Mass: ordinary and extraordinary forms, Ambrosian, Braga, Mozarabic, Carthusian,etc.

Antiocene → Chaldean
Antiocene → Byzantine → Armenian
Antiocene → Gallican
Antiocene → Latin, + Gallican → Latin
Antiocene → Alexandrian → Coptic
Antiocene → Alexandrian → Abyssinian

Alexandria and Antioch are the starting-points of the two original Eastern rites.

The earliest form of the Antiochene Rite is that of the “Apostolic Constitutions” written down in the early fifth century. From what we have said it seems that this rite has best preserved the type of the primitive use. From it is derived the Rite of Jerusalem (till the Council of Chalcedon, 451, Jerusalem was in the Antiochene Patriarchate), which then returned to Antioch and became that of the patriarchate.
 
They all share a basic outline

Prayers of Vesting
(Preparation of the Gifts)
Introductory, penitential, & preparatory prayers
Liturgy of the Word
(Preparation of the Gifts - Roman)
Entrance of the Gifts
Eucharistic Prayers/Anaphora
Communion
Post-communion prayers
Dismissal

Each rite generally uses a given set of prayers for each chunk, tho sub-rites may move various ones around, expand or contract the wordings. One of the now-defunct Roman Sub-rites had the Credo before the Readings, for example.

The 6 rites differ in what specific prayers are included. The Roman Gloria (Glory to God in the highest…) isn’t in the Byzantine rite, for example, but the similar position in the liturgy has similar glorification with different wordings.

Most of the rites (including most of the Roman Rite’s subrites) use only Epistle & Gospel, without an old testament reading. Some make occasional use of more than one.

The only universals are the Our Father and the Symbol, and technically, the Roman Credo replaces the Symbol, because the symbol is the Nicene-Constantinopolitan creed. (Most Roman rite faithful are unaware of the distinction. Likewise, the current Roman missal allows use of the Apostle’s creed or the baptismal promises instead.
 
ajpirc said:
This is a question for Eastern Catholics, but Latin Catholics are free to chime in.

How is the Divine Liturgy in the Eastern Rites different from the Mass of the Latin Rites, if there are any?

What’s the difference between the 5 Eastern Rites?
Click to expand...
For one thing, there are different Divine Liturgies, the most common one used by the Byzantine Rite is the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom. The Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great is the other one used by the Byzantine Churches but only about 10 times a year. I think the Coptic Church uses a Divine Liturgy written by another saint. Then the Syriac Rites have their own Holy Qurbana/Qurbono. The Armenians have their own Mass as well.
 
Aramis said:
The 6 rites differ in what specific prayers are included. The Roman Gloria (Glory to God in the highest…) isn’t in the Byzantine rite, for example, but the similar position in the liturgy has similar glorification with different wordings.
Click to expand...
Interestingly the Gloria is taken from the praises sung by the angels when Christ was born. In its place, the Divine Liturgy has the Hymn to the Incarnate Christ. So there is the same intention there, to praise the incarnation of Christ.
Aramis said:
Most of the rites (including most of the Roman Rite’s subrites) use only Epistle & Gospel, without an old testament reading. Some make occasional use of more than one.

The only universals are the Our Father and the Symbol, and technically, the Roman Credo replaces the Symbol, because the symbol is the Nicene-Constantinopolitan creed. (Most Roman rite faithful are unaware of the distinction. Likewise, the current Roman missal allows use of the Apostle’s creed or the baptismal promises instead.
Click to expand...
Not sure about the other Eastern Rites, but we also have the Sanctus.
 
ConstantineTG said:
Interestingly the Gloria is taken from the praises sung by the angels when Christ was born. In its place, the Divine Liturgy has the Hymn to the Incarnate Christ. So there is the same intention there, to praise the incarnation of Christ.

Not sure about the other Eastern Rites, but we also have the Sanctus.
Click to expand...
Reworded. One can see the common origin, but unlike the Creed and the Lord’s Prayer, it’s not the same wording in translation.

Note, however, that the common use creeds of the Roman and Armenian are not the Nicene-Constantinople.
 
Revised:
Vico said:
They are using different liturgies.

Alexandrian
Liturgy of Saint Basil (Coptic)
Liturgy of Saint Mark (St. Cyril)
Liturgy of Saint Gregory of Naziansus

Antiocene
Liturgy of Saint James

Armenian
Liturgy of Saint Gregory (Armenian form of St. Basil)

Byzantine
Liturgy of Saint Basil
Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom
Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts
Liturgy of Saint James (once a year by some)

Chaldean
Liturgy of Mar Addai & Mar Mari
Liturgy of Mar Theodore of Mopsuestia
Liturgy of Mar Nestorius

Latin
Mass: ordinary and extraordinary forms, Ambrosian, Braga, Mozarabic, Carthusian,etc.

Antiocene → Chaldean
Antiocene → Byzantine → Armenian
Antiocene → Gallican
Antiocene → Latin, + Gallican → Latin
Antiocene → Alexandrian → Coptic
Antiocene → Alexandrian → Abyssinian

Alexandria and Antioch are the starting-points of the two original Eastern rites.

The earliest form of the Antiochene Rite is that of the “Apostolic Constitutions” written down in the early fifth century. From what we have said it seems that this rite has best preserved the type of the primitive use. From it is derived the Rite of Jerusalem (till the Council of Chalcedon, 451, Jerusalem was in the Antiochene Patriarchate), which then returned to Antioch and became that of the patriarchate.
Click to expand...
 
Best way to discern the differences is to attend and see for yourself! 🙂
 
theistgal said:
Best way to discern the differences is to attend and see for yourself! 🙂
Click to expand...
I agree! 👍
Wikipedia: Divine Liturgy is good as are all the various linked pages in that regarding the parts of the DL.
St. Elias UGCC has a lot of helpful information as does 12 Things I Wish I’d Known…First Visit to an Orthodox Church . (Although Frederica is writing about an Orthodox DL the DL in a Byzantine rite ECC would be just the same.)

Wed. is the wonderful feast of Sts Peter and Paul, a great East West feast. If there is an Orthodox parish near you maybe you could go there Tu night for the Festal Great Vespers for this Feast as well. 🙂
 
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