Does the Eastern Church pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet?

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Is no official way to pray using chotki. Various kind chotki come with just 10, 100 or 100’s of businki (knots or small spheres)

My practice: I Pray on large businka beginning of psalter 140.

Господи, воззвах к Тебе, услыши мя: вонми гласу моления моего, внегда воззвати ми к Тебе. ** Да исправится молитва моя, яко кадило пред Тобою,
**

(Lord, I call to your, hear me and heed the voice of my prayer at this time I raise to you. Make correct my prayer so is as an incenser before you)

Follow after Large, 10 small businki: On such 10 small businki I pray the Our Pater.

Some chotki businki are all same size - so I must to count which is 11th for psalm 140 prayer.

Common other practice:

On large businka prayer Our Pater and on small prayer the Isusova Molitva or simply, Lord have mercy.
Beautiful! Any “mysteries” to meditate on while praying these? I guess as in our Rosary?
I never knew that the prayer of “Lord, Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, a sinner” was Eastern!
It’s one of my favorites, along with: [from Divine Mercy Chaplet]
“Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have Mercy on Us and on the Whole World.”
I say this one over and over when I’m at the Adoration Chapel in front of the Blessed Sacrament…and I don’t even notice time…
 
Do Roman Catholics pray the Agpeya, (Coptic Book of Hours) or the Jesus Prayer (with prayer rope)?. Different Rite and different practices. Most don’t. These are Roman Rite traditions, not Eastern.
If you teach me, I will! I can’t get enough of learning how to worship God! I just don’t know how it is done in other places, and want to learn.

How do you do the Jesus Prayer? I have no idea what a prayer rope is.

Peace be with you.
 
If you teach me, I will! I can’t get enough of learning how to worship God! I just don’t know how it is done in other places, and want to learn.

How do you do the Jesus Prayer? I have no idea what a prayer rope is.

Peace be with you.
The prayer rope is a rope made from cording, usually woolen or silk, with 33, 50, 100, or 150 knots tied in it. it can be all the same size, or with larger ones. Often, the cord is substantial, and when worn looks much like the Domincans with their rosaries.

The smaller Chotkis are made with smaller cord, and usually form a loop,with a cross at the join, one end to either side , or both joined at the top. Those with the cross joining at the top often have a tassel hanging below.
 
The most common prayer for the prayer rope is the Jesus Prayer:

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.
or
Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me.
or
Through the prayers of the Most Holy Theotokos and all the Saints, Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.

others used are:

Most Holy Theotokos save us. (often said on the divider beads but also an entire rope may be said this way)

Holy Guardian Angel (or All Saints or Saint N.) pray to God for me a sinner.

Lord Jesus Chirst give rest to the soul of the servant N. (for the faithful reposed)

The Cell Rule of Optina calls for 300 Jesus Prayers, 100 Most Holy Theotokos save us prayers, 50 Holy Gaurdian Angel prayers and 50 All Saints prayers.

Fr. Deacon Lance
 
Beautiful! Any “mysteries” to meditate on while praying these? I guess as in our Rosary?
I never knew that the prayer of “Lord, Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, a sinner” was Eastern!
It’s one of my favorites, along with: [from Divine Mercy Chaplet]
“Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have Mercy on Us and on the Whole World.”
I say this one over and over when I’m at the Adoration Chapel in front of the Blessed Sacrament…and I don’t even notice time…
“Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us” was actually borrowed by the Divine Mercy Chaplet from the Byzantine Liturgy.

Fr. Deacon Lance
 
“Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us” was actually borrowed by the Divine Mercy Chaplet from the Byzantine Liturgy.

Fr. Deacon Lance
So, I just learned by posting this thread that 2 of my very favorite prayers are Eastern! [This one and the Jesus Prayer, for which I didn’t know the name…]👍

My favorite Marian prayer is the Salve Regina…I’m wondering if that is also Eastern?
 
There are several different rules.

I use the same opening prayers as the prayers before liturgy, then 150 “Lord Have Mercies” or 33 or 150 “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner” or “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me a sinner.”

St Anne’s in New Port Richey (Been there! Nice place and people) has the Russian Rule of the Mother of God up; it’s another Chotki usage and a Jesus Chotki
stanne-byzcath.org/eastern%20rosary.htm
stanne-byzcath.org/eastern_jesus_prayer__chotki.htm

so it varies… a LOT.

Coder:
To the byzantine sensibilities and theology, Adoration of the blessed sacrament is almost (some orthodox drop the almost) disrespectful; that which we honor we veil, not display nakedly. Roman style adoration is counter to the liturgical and theological norms of the Byzantine Rite in its many forms.

While Adoration’s been part of Ukrainian praxis for about 100 years, and also Ruthenian, the majority complaining about its absence are displaced Roman Traditionalists who wouldn’t go SSPX, but can’t stand the Roman OF…

And one is welcome to adore Christ in Byzantine parishes in the byzantine way: To know his flesh is in the tabernacle, and to gaze upon the Icon of Him, and to listen to the sounds of the parish, and smell the residual incense, and absorb the sense of his presence… to spend quiet time in prayer before the iconostas. To, with others, lift your voice in Akathist or the Hours.

As for the Rosary… my home parish has a weekly rosary… right before sunday 3rd hour. 9:15 Rosary, 9:30 3rd Hour, and 10:00 sharp, Rev. Father begins Proskomedia.
Thank you very much, Aramis.
I also had to look up an “iconostas” [have never seen one] regarding the confessions…which frankly, I find a little “intimidating” but I find all manner of confessions intimidating [LOL]
I am trying to understand your tradition. You were Roman before?
Yes, I also pray facing the tabernacle, when in Church, [before or after Mass], when it is quiet. I am not sure why, but I truly feel more “connected” when it is quiet. And, I like the smell/sight of incense very much [easier to imagine the prayers going up to Heaven].

Thanks for the links above. I finally saw the correct translation of the Jesus prayer to Spanish. I’m Spanish and always wondered how to translate it correctly.
Thank you again!🙂
 
Thank you very much, Aramis.
I also had to look up an “iconostas” [have never seen one] regarding the confessions…which frankly, I find a little “intimidating” but I find all manner of confessions intimidating [LOL]
I am trying to understand your tradition. You were Roman before?
Yes, I also pray facing the tabernacle, when in Church, [before or after Mass], when it is quiet. I am not sure why, but I truly feel more “connected” when it is quiet. And, I like the smell/sight of incense very much [easier to imagine the prayers going up to Heaven].

Thanks for the links above. I finally saw the correct translation of the Jesus prayer to Spanish. I’m Spanish and always wondered how to translate it correctly.
Thank you again!🙂
Raised roman, left the faith for about 2 years, started considering Russian Orthodoxy, found my way back to Mother Church via the Ruthenian Parish in town.

My dad’s family was ostensibly Polish… but the name isn’t, the Icons they emigrated with aren’t, and the family photos were annotated in something Not-Polish…

Confession before the iconostas is powerful… but people stay back. The priest hears you, most others can’t, and often, other devotions are going on during.
 
This thread has been both enlightening and confusing !

Good to read the explanation of how the Eastern Churches have been asked to ’ go back ’ to the traditions; therein comes the confusion too ; as a flock that is also tended by the office of St.Peter , can they also not follow The Shepherd into the green pastures and restful waters !

Hope too that the invitation to ‘go back’ has not been in respone to any excessive demands /complaints from the troops -such as for inculturation ; we have examples of such as in the case of the Lord telling prophet Samuel - ’ " it is Me they are rejecting "

It is also my understanding that a major tradition in The East is to listen to the voice of the people (unless it is sinful ) ; Pope John Paul11also has asked lay people to be more involved and may be what he had in mind is how some of these devotions that are very dear to more persons would be accepted at the request of the laity more than by total initiatives from the top whose struggles and responsibilites as such have to be daunting !

This esp. so since these devotions are only a fuller expression of the prevailing Eastern devotions - Divine Mercy chaplet - ’ have mercy on us and the whole world ’ -a fuller expression of our intercessory role .

The Icon of the Vilnius Image is said to be the only one ever done at the request of the Lord Himself and comes with promise of protection and graces .

In these days of much visual pollution in all cultures ( now , here is something that for those so minded, can be disregareded as of Western origin ) , can we afford to ignore such powerful means of grace !

thedivinemercy.org/mercysunday/dms.php

The Feast of Mercy , for the Easterners of St.Thomas tradition has to be the fulfillment of his own prophetic mission - celebrated as a double Feast of both St.Thomas Sunday and Divine Mercy Sunday, it would be a fulfilling of his mysterious name ’ the twin’ and in line with his double profession of faith - " my Lord and my God " ; certainly hope it is not illicit to do so !

Seems our Lord was gracious enough to have chosen Poland , may be even as a connecting point of East and West so that those from the east would not have to quibble !

Even the other well known sacramentals - miraculous medal, again called the medal from heaven and the only one of its type and the Dogma of Immaculate Conception that it highlights , scapulars - living in the midst of pagan cultures / Islam /communsim /secularism , does the east need to ignore all these !

’ He has seen the lowliness of His handmaid ’ - may the those handmaids whose traditions were somewhat lost or has always been sparse can rejoice in His mercy !
 
Dear Marymol,

I was thinking something similar, in particular to the Divine Mercy.
It seems to me that if it includes an Eastern prayer [that we Westerners pray without fear of de-latinazing ourselves], was asked [though in private and of a Western nun] by Jesus Himself, at least in Poland…[somewhere in the middle].
And, maybe it’s just me, but His right hand…seems more in an Eastern gesture than Western…maybe I’m wrong.
The left hand is more in a Sacred Heart gesture…now I’m wondering whether Easterners have a devotion to the Sacred Heart…

I’m thinking there might be cultural, ethnic, political reasons that we in our country are clueless about…for those reasons, I will try to be more careful about how I ask, though…His mercy is His mercy ANYwhere!

Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

I just came back from the Adoration Chapel and feel wonderful! 😃
 
There are many possible “rules” for private prayer for the Chotki. These are often given by the spiritual father based on the spiritual state or growth of the person. The Rule of St. Pachomius is a very common way of using the Chotki:

By the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ our God have mercy on us. Amen.

Glory be to You, our God, glory be to You.

Heavenly King, Advocate, Spirit of Truth, Who are everywhere present and fill all things, Treasury of blessings and Bestower of Life, come and dwell within us; cleanse of all that defiles us, and O Good One save our souls!

Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy and Immortal, have mercy on us. Thrice.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and for ages of ages. Amen.

Trinity most holy, have mercy on us. Cleanse us of our sins, O Lord; pardon our transgressions, O Master; look upon our weaknesses and heal them, O Holy One, for the sake of Your name!
Lord, have mercy. Thrice

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and for ages of ages. Amen.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

By the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ our God have mercy on us. Amen.

Lord have mercy (X12).

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and for ages of ages. Amen.

Come, let us bow in worship before the King, our God!
Come, let us bow in worship before Christ, our King and God!
Come, let us bow in worship and fall down before the very Lord Jesus Christ, our King and God!

Have mercy on me O God, in the greatness of Your compassion; according to the multitude of Your mercies blot out my offence. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my iniquity, and my sin is always before me. Against You alone have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, that You may be justified when You speak and win when You are judged. Behold, in wickedness I was conceived and in sin my mother bore me. For see, You have loved truth; You have shown me the hidden and secret things of Your wisdom. Sprinkle me with hyssop and I shall be clean. Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me hear joy and gladness; the bones that were crushed shall rejoice. Turn Your face from my sins and blot out all my lawlessness. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not from Your presence, nor deprive me of Your Holy Spirit. Give me again the joy of Your salvation, and sustain me with Your sovereign Spirit. I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will return to You. Deliver me from bloodguilt, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue shall ring out Your justice. Lord, You will open my lips, and my tongue shall ring out Your justice. Lord, You will open my lips, and my mouth shall declare Your praise. For if You had wanted sacrifice, I would have given it; You will not take pleasure in burnt offerings. A sacrifice to God is a contrite spirit. A humbled and contrite heart God will not spurn. Deal favorably, O Lord, with Sion in Your good pleasure and let the walls of Jerusalem be rebuilt. Then You will be well pleased with a sacrifice of justice, oblations and holocausts; then they will lay calves upon Your altar.

I believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty,* maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen.* I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God,* eternally begotten of the Father.* Light from Light, true God from true God,* begot¬ten, not made, one in being with the Father.* Through Him all things were made.* For us men and for our salvation He came down from heaven:* by the power of the Holy Spirit He was born of the Virgin Mary,* and became man.* For our sake He was cru¬cified under Pontius Pilate;* He suffered, died, and was buried.* On the third day He rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures;* He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.* He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,* and His kingdom will have no end.* I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,* who proceeds from the Father.* With the Father and the Son He is worshiped and glorified.* He has spoken through the Prophets.* I believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.* I acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.* I look for the resurrection of the dead,* and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Jesus Prayer (100 times), O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

It is truly right to bless you, O God-bearing One, as the ever-blessed and immaculate Mother of our God! More honorable than the Cherubim, and by far more glorious than the seraphim; ever a virgin you, gave birth to God the Word, O true Mother of God we magnify you!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and for ages of ages. Amen. Lord have mercy (X3). O Lord, bless us.

O Lord Jesus Christ our God, through the prayers of Your immaculate Mother, of our holy and God-bearing Fathers, and of all the saints, have mercy on us and save us for You are good and love mankind.

Note: Another common practice is to also intersperse the Jesus Prayer with a prayer to the Mother of God: “Most Holy Mother of God, save us.”
FDRLB
 
To answer the opening post, the more traditional paraliturgical observances of Greek Catholics (Catholics of the Constantinopolitan tradition sometimes called “Byzantine”) that would very roughly parallel this devotion are the Akathist/Akafyst and the Moleben. These are services of supplication that are derived from traditional sources within the liturgical corpus and are taken outside of the Divine Liturgy and often also outside of the Divine Praises (the frequent Eastern Catholic term for the Divine Office, parts of which are commonly served congregationally in Eastern Catholic parishes and missions).
FDRLB
 
Dear Diak,

Thank you so much for the wonderful prayers!

I so speak with God, but I have to admit, I have never been able to come up with ANYthing as beautiful as traditional prayers…that is why I keep asking to learn others! 😉

The longer prayers in the middle sound like the Psalms to me…very similar. Maybe inspired in them?

On another post I asked whether the Sacred Heart was a devotion in the East and is was explained to me that particular “parts” or “aspects” of God are not separated in the Eastern devotions. I guess the same would apply to His mercy…I can understand that.

Today, when I went to my adoration hour at the Chapel, besides my usual Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet, I also prayed [to the best of my ability] a simple Chotki…with the Our Father for the large beads and the Jesus Prayer for the small beads. I just didn’t know whether I was supposed to meditate on “mysteries” as we do with the Rosary…

Thanks for teaching me!👍
 
By the way, I knew of the Ukrainian and the Greek Churches…I had NO idea there was also an Ukrainian-Greek one…
It would be interesting to find out how did that happen?
 
It’s just that since we are used to having it 24/7, we would feel “deprived” but of course, just as in Latin Catholic parishes where this is not available, if it hasn’t been offered, then it’s not missed.
Hi, Sunflower - -

I just wanted to add, it’s my understanding that the 24/7 Eucharistic Adoration is something that primarily started after the reforms after Vatican II, when so many churches were moving the Tabernacle away from the altar. Devout lay people were naturally disturbed by this, so they started this wonderful “grass roots” movement of Eucharistic Adoration chapels, so that the Tabernacle would not just be ignored off in a dusty corner somewhere.

And that’s a wonderful thing!

However, the Eastern churches never moved the Tabernacle off the altar to begin with. So there was never any need to develop this Eucharistic Adoration movement, because the Eucharist was still right there on the altar.

Perhaps that will help you understand why the East looks at this in a different way. 👍
 
Hi, Sunflower - -

I just wanted to add, it’s my understanding that the 24/7 Eucharistic Adoration is something that primarily started after the reforms after Vatican II, when so many churches were moving the Tabernacle away from the altar. Devout lay people were naturally disturbed by this, so they started this wonderful “grass roots” movement of Eucharistic Adoration chapels, so that the Tabernacle would not just be ignored off in a dusty corner somewhere.

And that’s a wonderful thing!

However, the Eastern churches never moved the Tabernacle off the altar to begin with. So there was never any need to develop this Eucharistic Adoration movement, because the Eucharist was still right there on the altar.

Perhaps that will help you understand why the East looks at this in a different way. 👍
Yes, but it is not Exposed, right? Someone explained that the leavened bread wouldn’t fit inside a monstrance, and the idea of “unveiling” the Host is not desirable in the East. I can understand both.

I also wonder, if the Churches are open longer in the East. See, for us, the Churches are usually closed. The Adoration Chapels have the security measure of a code in the lock on the doors, so we can go in 24/7 if we know the code [freely available to all in the parish]. Say, you have feel a sudden urge to go at 3am…to pray, you can.

My committed hours are at noon on Saturday and at 11pm-midnight on Thursdays…the “holy” hour of the agony, as well as the Sacred Heart tradition, though I go every morning approx. 8-9am as well. I usually go for an hour, and I have to pay attention or I’ll stay for 3! I get into these “time loops” where I am not aware of anything! [time, people, nothing…I don’t understand why!]

Others seem to go for a few minutes, say a prayer and leave.
 
One thing that I think needs to be pointed out regarding de-Latinization, is that the people who are opposed to it, are for the most part, Eastern Catholics themselves. A few Roman Catholics like myself may think there’s nothing at all wrong with a statue or two, the rosary, stations of the cross, Sacred Heart devotions etc in an Eastern Church, but at the end of the day, most of us are too busy with the Latin Rite parishes we attend, and so our opinions remain exactly that, just opinions, having for all intents and purposes, zero effect on what eventually happens in the Eastern churches.
Personally, I think de-Latinization has already gone too far. Popes have called certain devotions universal, and so I can't understand why anyone would think they're some how inappropriate to have in an Eastern Catholic Church. One can only wonder where it will all end. Should sacred art considered to be a Latinization, be removed from a Church, even if it goes back to the 19th century ? Should church names like Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of Purgatory be changed ? But don't bother asking me. Instead, ask a Maronite or a Ukrainian Catholic over 50.
 
Yes, but it is not Exposed, right? Someone explained that the leavened bread wouldn’t fit inside a monstrance, and the idea of “unveiling” the Host is not desirable in the East. I can understand both.
No, and if you think about it, it’s really not necessary to expose it in the West either. What are you seeing when the Host is exposed in the monstrance that’s different from when It’s in the tabernacle? It’s still the Real Presence of Christ, right?
I also wonder, if the Churches are open longer in the East. See, for us, the Churches are usually closed. The Adoration Chapels have the security measure of a code in the lock on the doors, so we can go in 24/7 if we know the code [freely available to all in the parish]. Say, you have feel a sudden urge to go at 3am…to pray, you can.
OK, but what if you are in an area where you can’t get inside a church building, for some reason? Does that mean you can’t pray? If you think about it, the whole Church building where Christ is housed is a Tabernacle. You could just as easily sit in your car in the parking lot and pray, and He’d hear you just the same. 👍 The 24/7 chapels are a great convenience, but they’re not essential to the 3 a.m. prayer - right?
My committed hours are at noon on Saturday and at 11pm-midnight on Thursdays…the “holy” hour of the agony, as well as the Sacred Heart tradition, though I go every morning approx. 8-9am as well. I usually go for an hour, and I have to pay attention or I’ll stay for 3! I get into these “time loops” where I am not aware of anything! [time, people, nothing…I don’t understand why!]

Others seem to go for a few minutes, say a prayer and leave.
That’s great! 🙂 But please don’t think less of your Eastern brothers and sisters because we don’t practice this devotion in the same way. We certainly pray to Christ in the Eucharist - just not in the same way or at the same times.

I know it’s hard to understand but may I suggest you visit an Eastern church sometime? It might be easier if you see how we actually pray.
 
No, and if you think about it, it’s really not necessary to expose it in the West either. What are you seeing when the Host is exposed in the monstrance that’s different from when It’s in the tabernacle? It’s still the Real Presence of Christ, right?

OF COURSE! No difference in reality. I guess we are just more “visual” in the West. I relish seeing the Host in the monstrance…like the Sun shining its energy [sunlight] upon us praying…we have a “thing” with light in the West…noticed the stained glass windows? So that the light shines through the images? As opposed to the gorgeous and “dark” Eastern icons…which I guess “veil” the mysteries…maybe that’s not what it means…it’s only the impression I get… VERY beautiful as well!

OK, but what if you are in an area where you can’t get inside a church building, for some reason? Does that mean you can’t pray? If you think about it, the whole Church building where Christ is housed is a Tabernacle. You could just as easily sit in your car in the parking lot and pray, and He’d hear you just the same. 👍 The 24/7 chapels are a great convenience, but they’re not essential to the 3 a.m. prayer - right?

Right now, I have on “youtube” an Eastern prayer in several languages that I don’t understand…the Jesus Prayer with Eastern [can’t tell if Orthodox or Catholics due to my ignorance] Yes, God is omnipresent! Have you been to a Chapel where people pray contemplating the Lord in the Eucharist? It’s “enchanting” to say the least! The peacefulness of the Chapel. The reverence and quiet…sometimes I can still smell the incense…I guess the reality of God comes through the senses as well…

That’s great! 🙂 But please don’t think less of your Eastern brothers and sisters because we don’t practice this devotion in the same way. We certainly pray to Christ in the Eucharist - just not in the same way or at the same times.

I know it’s hard to understand but may I suggest you visit an Eastern church sometime? It might be easier if you see how we actually pray.
I looked at Eastern churches online because I had no idea what an iconostas is, and I almost had tears in my eyes…SO beautiful! Though it seems I wouldn’t be allowed near…I’m female…which is ok.

Brings me to another question. Without ANY contention whatsoever! 🙂 Do males and females sit together/separate? Can women participate in the Liturgy in any way? In the West, altar boys & girls help at the Altar, women can be Eucharistic ministers [help distribute the Eucharist], readers of the Scriptures, but not priests/deacons, etc. We even have Doctors of the Church, though few, and most of the Stigmatists are women. How is it in the East?

My Protestant friends think Catholics are misogynistic…I disagree for an ancient Church at least…usually women weren’t allowed anywhere near the Altar or even near the men [Judaism, Islam, are still like this].

If I were a man, I would probably be either a priest or a deacon. Since God had other plans for me, He made sure I couldn’t 😉

I suppose there is a long history of “difficulty” between East & West…but for me…both are just as beautiful…and I want to learn more.

Thanks!
 
OF COURSE! No difference in reality. I guess we are just more “visual” in the West.
Well, perhaps in some ways. But I was raised in the Latin Rite churches during the great “wreckovation” era of the '60s and '70s, and it was the visual - the floor-to-ceiling icons in churches like this beautiful Byzantine Catholic church in San Diego (my husband made this video :)) which brought me into the Eastern church.
I looked at Eastern churches online because I had no idea what an iconostas is, and I almost had tears in my eyes…SO beautiful! Though it seems I wouldn’t be allowed near…I’m female…which is ok.
Well, you’re not allowed behind the Iconostas because that’s the altar - the sanctuary. But you’re certainly allowed to be on the front side. People go up and reverence the icons on the iconostas all the time. A couple of weeks ago I took my ECF (Eastern Christian Formation - Sunday School) class on a “field trip” into our church (this was after Liturgy was over, of course! ;)) and had them sit on the steps in front of the iconostas and draw pictures of their favorite saints. It gave them a chance to really look closely at the icons and understand a little better what they’re all about!
Brings me to another question. Without ANY contention whatsoever! 🙂 Do males and females sit together/separate? Can women participate in the Liturgy in any way? In the West, altar boys & girls help at the Altar, women can be Eucharistic ministers [help distribute the Eucharist], readers of the Scriptures, but not priests/deacons, etc. We even have Doctors of the Church, though few, and most of the Stigmatists are women. How is it in the East?
Well, it depends on the church, and the rite. I would say that in most of the Eastern Catholic churches (in union with Rome) women and men sit together. And in most Orthodox churches too. Though I’ve heard there are some where they don’t. I think that’s more of a cultural thing than theological though.

And we don’t have Eucharistic ministers (women or men) - only priests and deacons may distribute the Eucharist. However, I myself am both a cantor and a reader! And everyone participates in the Liturgy - it’s chanted/sung all the way through, and lots of standing. You’d have to work really, really hard not to “actively participate” in some way! 👍
My Protestant friends think Catholics are misogynistic…
LOL! Well, there are misogynistic Protestants too! Tell them to look at it this way: we Catholics believe that women have to do too much work during the week - so on Sundays we relax and let the men do everything! 😃
I suppose there is a long history of “difficulty” between East & West…but for me…both are just as beautiful…and I want to learn more.

Thanks!
Great! Well, if there is an Eastern Catholic parish near you (and you may be surprised to find that there is - I had no idea they even existed till a few years ago, and now I see them everywhere - but they were there all along!), definitely pay them a visit - and stay afterwards for coffee & donuts! You may make some new friends! 🙂
 
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