Eastern Orthodox Opinion on Eucharistic Adoration

[Mannyfit75]

What do you think of Eucharistic Adoration?

 

[Isa_Almisry]

What do you think of Eucharistic Adoration?

Some ambivalence.

Part of the problem is we find it a bit excessive a separation from the Eucharist and communion.

Another thing is the attitude of many Latins that someone we and especially the uniates are deficient because we do not have a specific practice of Eucharistic Adoration.

The practice is rather late, and rather came into vogue with problems in the West of denying the Real Presence, and also as a substitute, I believe, for real communion (which was infrequent until recently).

On a erstwhile forum I posted that I walked in a Latin church recently, saw that a monstrance was on the altar, and so I prostrated. I found it the Orthodox thing to do.

 

[Mannyfit75]

Some ambivalence.

Part of the problem is we find it a bit excessive a separation from the Eucharist and communion.

Another thing is the attitude of many Latins that someone we and especially the uniates are deficient because we do not have a specific practice of Eucharistic Adoration.

The practice is rather late, and rather came into vogue with problems in the West of denying the Real Presence, and also as a substitute, I believe, for real communion (which was infrequent until recently).

On a erstwhile forum I posted that I walked in a Latin church recently, saw that a monstrance was on the altar, and so I prostrated. I found it the Orthodox thing to do.

Since when did the Catholic Church deny Real Presence? The adoration is due to the Real Presence. Since Jesus Christ is present amongst us.

 

[Isa_Almisry]

Since when did the Catholic Church deny Real Presence? The adoration is due to the Real Presence. Since Jesus Christ is present amongst us.

Sorry, I didn’t meant to imply you Latins did.

But you had a lot in your midst, before they were expelled, over the centuries who did. And then came the Reformation and the Calvinists, where the Real Presense became a real issue. So the Real Presence became a shibboleth between those who held to the Apostolic teaching, and those who left it.

In the East we never had a similar problem with dissendents and heretics on this issue, hence no impetus for the practice. Sort of the same reason why the East became obsessed with religious images whereas in the West it didn’t become burning until the Reformation.

 

[Mannyfit75]

Sorry, I didn’t meant to imply you Latins did.

But you had a lot in your midst, before they were expelled, over the centuries who did. And then came the Reformation and the Calvinists, where the Real Presense became a real issue. So the Real Presence became a shibboleth between those who held to the Apostolic teaching, and those who left it.

We can admit those who deny Real Presence is missing the most important thing in their life. Jesus Christ.

In the East we never had a similar problem with dissendents and heretics on this issue, hence no impetus for the practice. Sort of the same reason why the East became obsessed with religious images whereas in the West it didn’t become burning until the Reformation.

We can only pray for those who departed from the Truth.

 

[ForeverAdam]

What do you think of Eucharistic Adoration?

I’m not fond of personal Eucharistic Adoration (it is interesting to note that the practice of perpetual Adoration only arose in the Latin Church in the past half-century). However, I know of a Western Orthodox parish that occasionally serves Benediction. I think Benediction would be acceptable for Western Orthodox as it keeps the worship of the Holy Eucharist in a liturgical setting and avoids an over-attachment to the static presence of Christ in the Holy Gifts. I believe the Church is open to accepting Roman Catholic traditions in the Orthodox Western rite, granted that these traditions are capable of carrying an Orthodox ethos and don’t diminish the traditions of the past.

God bless,

Adam

 

[Mannyfit75]

I’m not fond of personal Eucharistic Adoration (it is interesting to note that the practice of perpetual Adoration only arose in the Latin Church in the past half-century). However, I know of a Western Orthodox parish that occasionally serves Benediction. I think Benediction would be acceptable for Western Orthodox as it keeps the worship of the Holy Eucharist in a liturgical setting and avoids an over-attachment to the static presence of Christ in the Holy Gifts. I believe the Church is open to accepting Roman Catholic traditions in the Orthodox Western rite, granted that these traditions are capable of carrying an Orthodox ethos and don’t diminish the traditions of the past.

God bless,

Adam

I been to several Benediction myself, and I find its beauty in Liturgy as inspiring.

 

[bpbasilphx]

The Elevation came about in the West when people so infrequently went to communion, but wished at least to see the Sacrament.

Benediction and Adoration were designed to help meet this spiritual need.

I think it would be safe to say that part of the need for using the sight in worship is found in the cultus of icons.

Also, some of the devotional need satisfied by Benediction and Adoration is fulfilled among the Orthodox by the Presanctified Liturgy, with its numerous incensations and prostrations before the Holy Gifts.

:twocents:

 

[Isa_Almisry]

I’m not fond of personal Eucharistic Adoration (it is interesting to note that the practice of perpetual Adoration only arose in the Latin Church in the past half-century). However, I know of a Western Orthodox parish that occasionally serves Benediction. I think Benediction would be acceptable for Western Orthodox as it keeps the worship of the Holy Eucharist in a liturgical setting and avoids an over-attachment to the static presence of Christ in the Holy Gifts. I believe the Church is open to accepting Roman Catholic traditions in the Orthodox Western rite, granted that these traditions are capable of carrying an Orthodox ethos and don’t diminish the traditions of the past.

God bless,

Adam

Perpetual adoration actually has been around longer, promoted at the end of the Albagensian crusade. I’ve seen medieval monstrances, which are used only for adoration. The emphasis that it receives now, that you can’t be Catholic without it, I’m not sure how long that’s been. I have noticed an increased emphasis in my lifetime.

I think you’re right about the propriety of Benediction, but then I don’t have anything hard against Adoration either.

 

[StMarina303ad]

It’s it something that was never done in the Roman Catholic Churches until the turn of the 20th Century?

What I wonder is with such a late innovation, why & how did it get started in the first place?

Jesus commanded us to *eat and drink *His Body and Blood in the Eucharist and to receive Him worthily, not to put the Bread and Wine out for display and for people to come and stare at Him.

I find it bizzare and contrary to what Jesus commanded us.

 

[Nicholas82]

It’s it something that was never done in the Roman Catholic Churches until the turn of the 20th Century?

What I wonder is with such a late innovation, why & how did it get started in the first place?

Jesus commanded us to *eat and drink *His Body and Blood in the Eucharist and to receive Him worthily, not to put the Bread and Wine out for display and for people to come and stare at Him.

I find it bizzare and contrary to what Jesus commanded us.

It started earlier than the turn of the 20th century actually. I have no real opinion on it. I don’t think I’d go so far as to say it is necessarily contrary to what Christ commanded… if they only adored it and didn’t commune it would be- but that’s not exactly the case, to be fair…

 

[StMarina303ad]

… if they only adored it and didn’t commune it would be- but that’s not exactly the case, to be fair…

I’ve been to Roman Catholic Adoration Chapels and adoring it without eating it is exactly what they do.

The Chapels are open 24/7 - never do the Catholics receive Holy Eucharist at any part during the Adoration Hour as it is eating the Eucharist is not an option - that is done in the Mass in the main part of the Church or at someone’s bedside if they are in the hospital.

I did inquire, as the Bread/Body is kept in a glass case with security camera and silent alarms around the case, and was advised that the “switch” out the Body on average of once a year - to keep Him “fresh”.

And by the way, they only adore the Bread/Body not the Wine/Blood.

 

[Nicholas82]

I’ve been to Roman Catholic Adoration Chapels and adoring it without eating it is exactly what they do.

The Chapels are open 24/7 - never do the Catholics receive Holy Eucharist at any part during the Adoration Hour as it is eating the Eucharist is not an option - that is done in the Mass in the main part of the Church or at someone’s bedside if they are in the hospital.

I did inquire, as the Bread/Body is kept in a glass case with security camera and silent alarms around the case, and was advised that the “switch” out the Body on average of once a year - to keep Him “fresh”.

And by the way, they only adore the Bread/Body not the Wine/Blood.

Oh well.

 

[StMarina303ad]

Perpetual adoration actually has been around longer, promoted at the end of the Albagensian crusade. I’ve seen medieval monstrances, which are used only for adoration. The emphasis that it receives now, that you can’t be Catholic without it, I’m not sure how long that’s been. I have noticed an increased emphasis in my lifetime.

I think you’re right about the propriety of Benediction, but then I don’t have anything hard against Adoration either.

Monstrances are now primarly only used for Adoration in Medieval times it was used to carry the host in parades on feast days where people would walk behind the priest to Church and then they had a Mass in honor of what ever Saint or Feast Day they were celebrating.

 

[Nicholas82]

Monstrances are now primarly only used for Adoration in Medieval times it was used to carry the host in parades on feast days where people would walk behind the priest to Church and then they had a Mass in honor of what ever Saint or Feast Day they were celebrating.

It still is sometimes…