Here is a link to the Melkite translation of the Divine Liturgy: melkite.org/Dliturgy.htm. This is the Byzantine Liturgy, but not that used by the “Byzantine Catholic Church.” The Byzantine Catholic Church is actually the Ruthenian Catholic Church. They use the same Liturgy as the Melkites, Romanians, Ukrainians, Russians, etc., but have their own translation/recension. But the linked text and the PDF will give you a good idea of what’s going on. As far as when to sit, stand, cross oneself, etc. it varies from parish to parish and from person to person. Some people, depending on health and strength, will sit through the whole Liturgy, some will stand. Some people will cross themselves at almost every turn of the corner, and others won’t. The best thing to do is go to a parish, observe and imitate. As Constantine said, whenever a Trinitarian formulation is exclaimed it is most likely that everyone will make the sign of the Cross. Kneeling usually doesn’t occur except in Latinized parishes or by Latinized individuals. I remember attending a parish where an elderly lady used to kneel during the “Words of Institution.” No one else in the parish did so. There is a devout gentleman in my own parish who genuflects. Although this is not part of the Byzantine tradition it is a sign of his own personal devotion.
When going to a DL for the first time it is usually best to go and just stand there with your eyes glazed over. Read the DL beforehand if you must but DO NOT go to a DL and have your nose stuck in a book…you will miss out on so much.
When I visited the OCA, I asked for a guide book and I was given one!
There are various bows (with or without sign of the cross made either before or after the bow):
Why would you say this is only during the pre sanctified Liturgy? It is done quite often…just not on Sundays. After the Epiclisis, today when venerating the shroud of the Theotokos, when entering or leaving the church on weekdays…and many more…Bow to the ground…it’s not just for pre sanctified.
Not universally, and I am referring to Divine Liturgy rubrics, at least the Ruthenian recension (from before Nikon). Actual practice varies nowadays among Ruthenian as everything is mixed up. The bow to the ground is penitential so particularly appropriate for Lent.Why would you say this is only during the pre sanctified Liturgy? It is done quite often…just not on Sundays. After the Epiclisis, today when venerating the shroud of the Theotokos, when entering or leaving the church on weekdays…and many more…Bow to the ground…it’s not just for pre sanctified.
Go. Participate. There are guides there. It is the liturgy of John Chrysostom. You probably can find that on YouTube, although this is not the only liturgy used. It is most common.
Some resurces:When I visited the OCA, I asked for a guide book and I was given one!
Most of the liturgy was in English. Imagine me trying to sing along…softly.
But the music was so beautiful I had to try.
I figured out that the sign of the cross was made at each mention of the trinity, so I just followed along.
Is there a guide book for Great Vespers? I plan on attending one within the next two weeks.
There were chunks in Slavonic last night as usual which I didn’t know what was being prayed. 99% was in English there, OCA, and the 1% in Slavonic I adore hearing.For “Great bow: to the ground” do you mean a Full Reverence/prostration?
Thanks. Great resources and I’ll keep your advice about not using a service book in mind!Some resurces:
Wikipedia
Orthodoxwiki
St. Elias UGCC
OCA
The OCA is currently revamping their site, and it keeps changing. I can’t really find stuff I used to find easily, but I assume they do still have texts and music both there that you can download.
The Dept of Religious Ed of the OCA has a whole series of 4" X 6" booklets on various services, but I don’t think they have one for the routine Sat. night Vespers. You can see them here on the SVS Press site. Scroll down and see “The Bridegroom Services of Holy Week”. They all look like that, each service booklet is a different color on the body and a white strip at the top with the title printed there. The OCA parish you went to might have them in their bookstore.
I’ve already put out my prejudice here many times. If you want to look up the service ahead of time to get a general idea, great, and even look at the Troparia and Kontakia for the day. But I’m against using a service book in the DL or services. I think it is much richer to just listen, join in when you can on the many repetitions, and keep your eyes up, not on a printed page. I was in the Paraklisis service at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral here on Friday and more than 50% was in Greek, untranslated. They had printed out the text, English on the left , Greek on the right, on 8X10 paper. I picked up a copy and looked at it for about 30 seconds. This Cathedral has only a very “simple” iconostatis and then the traditional Christ Pantocrator on the ceiling and the 12 apostles circling him. So there isn’t much to look at in terms of iconography. Still I was happy to let the praying in Greek wash over me. Part of the time whenever I’m at that parish for these services, with the literally 5 other people who turn up… I just pull my chotki off my wrist and pray the Jesus Prayer for a while. I do know I missed a lot of really beautiful language by not checking out the English translation, tho sometimes the Greek’s translations leave something to be desired…
Yes, full to the ground, head touching the ground or pillow. I added another comment in another post also, about different rubrics.
I saw that happen over and over at the OCA Divine Liturgy I attended.