Eastern Rite Liturgies

[In_Hoc_Signo312]

I once attended a Byzantine Catholic Liturgy as part of a school assignment, and would think it would be nice to attend Liturgies of a few other Eastern Rites, too (Maronite, Melkite, Chaldean, etc.).

For my fellow Latin-rites, have you ever attended an Eastern Rite Mass before? Which ones? What was it like?

For members of Eastern-Rite Churches, just to get an idea of what it’s like if I can attend an Eastern Liturgy at some point, is it normal to have visiting attendees from other Rites, by any chance? Are they significantly different from the Roman Mass?

 

[otjm]

I have been working, off and on, for about 20 years teaching RCIA, and I have always tried to get the class to go to both our local Maronite and local Ruthenian rite liturgies. They are fascinating, wonderful, and awesome.

 

[Vico]

I once attended a Byzantine Catholic Liturgy as part of a school assignment, and would think it would be nice to attend Liturgies of a few other Eastern Rites, too (Maronite, Melkite, Chaldean, etc.).

For my fellow Latin-rites, have you ever attended an Eastern Rite Mass before? Which ones? What was it like?

For members of Eastern-Rite Churches, just to get an idea of what it’s like if I can attend an Eastern Liturgy at some point, is it normal to have visiting attendees from other Rites, by any chance? Are they significantly different from the Roman Mass?

I am Byzantine Catholic. In our parish we have many Latin Catholics and a few other eastern Catholic and some other Christians too, regularly. Some live in the neighborhood and others like the Divine Liturgy. Also we have groups the attend from the Latin Church, to learn about the Divine Liturgy and eastern Catholic traditions.

 

[Lily_Bernans]

Macedonian. Awesomely beautiful!

 

[Seamus_L]

Numerous times. Ukrainian Catholic, Byzantine Rite, Maronite. And I’ve met several Latin Rite Catholics who normally attend Latin Mass.

 

[peter26]

I haven’t, but I have a strong desire to do so and would if I got the chance. I think there’s a syro-malabar somewhere around here but its not very well publicised when it happens.

 

[otjm]

I haven’t, but I have a strong desire to do so and would if I got the chance. I think there’s a syro-malabar somewhere around here but its not very well publicised when it happens.

The diocese should have information which would be helpful.

 

[babochka]

I once attended a Byzantine Catholic Liturgy as part of a school assignment, and would think it would be nice to attend Liturgies of a few other Eastern Rites, too (Maronite, Melkite, Chaldean, etc.).

For my fellow Latin-rites, have you ever attended an Eastern Rite Mass before? Which ones? What was it like?

For members of Eastern-Rite Churches, just to get an idea of what it’s like if I can attend an Eastern Liturgy at some point, is it normal to have visiting attendees from other Rites, by any chance? Are they significantly different from the Roman Mass?

We have visitors from the Latin rite most every Sunday at my Byzantine parish. We also have a frequent visitor/parishioner who is Chaldean.

I have visited Chaldean, Melkite and Maronite churches, and have been warmly welcomed in all.

 

[peter26]

The diocese should have information which would be helpful.

Thanks, but there doesn’t seem to be a lot on their website. If anyone knows of any Eastern Rite Liturgies in England, especially in the south, please do let me know.

 

[malphono]

Thanks, but there doesn’t seem to be a lot on their website. If anyone knows of any Eastern Rite Liturgies in England, especially in the south, please do let me know.

For starters, the London area has Chaldean (Holy Family), Maronite (Our Lady of Lebanon), Syriac CC (Holy Trinity), as well as Syro-Malankara and Syro-Malabar, and Ukrainian GCC parishes. There may well be others. Try google.

 

[otjm]

For starters, the London area has Chaldean (Holy Family), Maronite (Our Lady of Lebanon), Syriac CC (Holy Trinity), as well as Syro-Malankara and Syro-Malabar, and Ukrainian GCC parishes. There may well be others. Try google.

Wow.

 

[In_Hoc_Signo312]

I’d like to thank whoever moved this thread to Eastern Catholicism. Does anyone know if members are allowed to move threads?

 

[jschwartz]

I’m a Roman Catholic who favors the Anglican Use and Extraordinary Form, but I made it a point to try to visit all the Eastern Rite liturgies I can.

London has a treasure trove of such churches to visit, including the only Belarusian Rite church outside of Belarus.

orientale-lumen.blogspot.com/p/uk-eastern-catholics.html

Belarusian Greek Catholic Church (Byzantine Slavonic Rite)
Church of SS Peter & Paul, Sunday Liturgy 10-30am, Vespers 5-30pm
Mitred Archpriest Alexander Nadson, Apostolic Visitator for Belarusian Greek Catholics
Fr Siarhiej Stasievich
Marian House, Holden Road, London N12 8HY
020 8445 5358

Chaldean Catholic Church (Iraq & Syria, East Syrian Rite)
The Holy Family Catholic Church, Vale Lane, West Acton W3 0DY, Sunday Liturgy 12-30 pm
Fr Habib Jaujo
38 Cavendish Avenue, London W13 0JQ
020 8997 6370
fr_habib@yahoo.com

Eritrean Catholic Church (Alexandrian Ghe’ez Rite)
St Francis of Assisi Church, Pottery Lane, Notting Hill, London W11 4NQ, Sunday Liturgy 1pm
Abba Ephrem Andon
Presbytery, Commonwealth Avenue, London W12 7QR
020 8743 8315
abbaephrem@catholicgheez.org
Also: Abba Kidane Lebasi
020 7025 1594
saturdayschool@catholicgheez.org

Ethiopian Catholic Church (Alexandrian Ghe’ez Rite)
Our Lady Queen of Heaven Church, Queensway, Bayswater, London W2 3JF. Sunday Liturgy, 1pm
Fr Petros Kochito Gebremichael CM
07506 233125

Maronite Church (Lebanon & Cyprus; West Syrian Maronite Rite)
Our Lady of Sorrows Church, 17 Cirencester Street, Paddington, London W2 5SR. Sunday Litrugy, 12-30 pm & 7 pm, Saturday Vigil 7pm
Holy Family Convent, 52 London Road, Enfield, EN2 6EN. Sunday Liturgy in English, 10-30 am
Fr Charbel Azzi
6 Dobson Close, London NW6 4RS
020 7586 1801
maronitechurch@hotmail.com

Melkite Greek Catholic Church (Byzantine Rite in Arabic)
Parish of St John Chrysostom, St Barnabas’ Church, Pimlico Road, London SW1. Sunday Liturgy, 11-30 am
Fr Shafiq Abouzayd
46 Sunderland Avenue, Oxford OX2 8DU
01865 514041
shafiq.abouzayd@orinst.ox.ac.uk

Romanian Greek Catholic Church (Byzantine Rite in Romanian)
Saint Margaret’s Convent, Bethell Avenue, London, E16 4JU. Sunday Liturgy, 12 noon
Fr Eduard-William Fartan
The Presbytery, 41 Linton Road,
Barking, Essex, IG11 8HG
07405 035129
eduard.fartan@yahoo.com

Syriac Catholic Church (Syria & Iraq; West Syrian Rite)
Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Brook Green, London W6 7BL. Holy Qurbana in Arabic & Aramaic, 1pm
Fr Nizar Semaan
Parish House, More House Road, London W2 5DJ
07876 424662

Syro-Malabar Catholic Church (India, Kerala; East Syrian Rite)
Sunday Liturgies: numerous locations - follow weblink to Mass Centres
Fr Thomas Paryadyil , Synodal Co-ordinator
373 Bowes Road, London NII IAA
020 8368 3016
fr.coordinator@syromalabarchurchuk.org

Syro-Malankara Catholic Church (India, Kerala; West Syrian Rite in Malayalam)
Fr Daniel Kulungaram, Special Pastor and UK Mission Coordinator
St Antony’s Church
56 St Antony’s Road, Forest Gate, London E7 9QB
07947563066
vicar@malankaracatholicchurchuk.com or danikul@yahoo.com

Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (Eparchy of the Holy Family of London; Byzantine-Slavonic Rite in Ukrainian)
Cathedral of the Holy Family, Duke Street, London W1. Sunday Liturgy 10 am & 12 noon
English Divine Liturgy: Second Saturday of every month 4 pm (anticipation of Sunday)
HE Bishop Hlib Lonchyna MSU, Eparch
Archpriest Andrew Choma, Protosyncellos & parish priest
Fr Mykola Matwijiwskyj, Economos
Fr Irineu Kraiczyi, OSBM
21-22 Binney Street, London W1K 5BQ
020 7659 1534

Also:

Ukrainian Catholic Church of St Theodore
Pomeroy Street, Cardiff, CF10 5GS. Sunday Liturgy 11 am.
Fr James Siemens - sttheoscardiff@gmail.com

Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Dormition of Our Lady
Bury Old Road, Manchester, M7 4PX
Sunday Liturgy 9 am & 10-30 am
Fr. Volodymyr Sampara - ovsampara@gmail.com

 

[peter26]

Thanks for the info. I look forward to visiting some of them.

 

[Augustine]

In the past, I attended mass at a melkite parish for a couple of years. More recently, after attending daily mass at a Maronite parish for some 3 or 4 years, I became a parishioner. I just fell in love with the liturgy, its particular emphasis on the Trinity and mercy, and couldn’t ignore the enrichment that it brought to my spiritual life. After a few months, my pastor recently suggested me to formally transfer to the Maronite Church (please, pray for this discernment).

Now, I know people who were nonplussed at Eastern liturgies, others who appreciated it but didn’t feel compelled to come back, others who were overwhelmed by the differences, etc. So, your mileage may vary.

Christ is born!

 

[Vico]

In the past, I attended mass at a melkite parish for a couple of years. More recently, after attending daily mass at a Maronite parish for some 3 or 4 years, I became a parishioner. I just fell in love with the liturgy, its particular emphasis on the Trinity and mercy, and couldn’t ignore the enrichment that it brought to my spiritual life. After a few months, my pastor recently suggested me to formally transfer to the Maronite Church (please, pray for this discernment).

Now, I know people who were nonplussed at Eastern liturgies, others who appreciated it but didn’t feel compelled to come back, others who were overwhelmed by the differences, etc. So, your mileage may vary.

Christ is born!

The Church is careful to preserve that sacramental discipline and heritage of its members, while at the same time allows for inter communion and exceptions for families in inter-church marriages.

Item 10 from Applying The Liturgical Prescriptions of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches from the Congregation for the Eastern Churches:
10. The duty to protect the Eastern heritage

Desiring that these treasures flourish and contribute ever more efficiently to the evangelization of the world, Orientalium Ecclesiarum affirms, as do successive documents, that the members of Eastern Churches have the right and the duty to preserve them, to know them, and to live them.[14] Such affirmation contains a clear condemnation of any attempt to distance the Eastern faithful from their Churches, whether in an explicit and irreversible manner, with its juridical consequences, inducing them to pass from one Church sui iuris to another,[15] or whether in a less explicit manner, favoring the acquisition of forms of thought, spirituality, and devotions that are not coherent with their own ecclesial heritage, and thus contrary to the indications so often emphasized by Roman Pontiffs and expressed, with particular force, already in the Apostolic Letter Orientalium Dignitas of Leo XIII.

The danger of losing the Eastern identity manifests itself particularly in a time like the present, characterized by great migrations from the East toward lands believed to be more hospitable, which are prevalently of Latin tradition. These host countries are enriched by the heritage of the Eastern faithful who establish themselves there, and the preservation of such heritage is to be sustained and encouraged not only by the Eastern pastors but also by the Latin ones of the immigration territories, because it wonderfully expresses the multicolored richness of the Church of Christ.​

[14] Cf. Vatican Council II, Decr. on the Catholic Eastern Churches Orientalium Ecclesiarum, 6.
[15] Cf. CCEO can. 31 and 1465.

ewtn.com/library/curia/eastinst.htm#02

References:

Latin Canon Law:

CIC Can. 1248 §1. A person who assists at a Mass celebrated anywhere in a Catholic rite either on the feast day itself or in the evening of the preceding day satisfies the obligation of participating in the Mass.

CIC Can. 112 §1 After the reception of baptism, the following become members of another autonomous ritual Church:
1° those who have obtained permission from the Apostolic See;
2° a spouse who, on entering marriage or during its course, has declared that he or she is transferring to the autonomous ritual Church of the other spouse; on the dissolution of the marriage, however, that person may freely return to the latin Church;
3° the children of those mentioned in nn. 1 and 2 who have not completed their fourteenth year, and likewise in a mixed marriage the children of a catholic party who has lawfully transferred to another ritual Church; on completion of their fourteenth year, however, they may return to the latin Church.
§2 The practice, however long standing, of receiving the sacraments according to the rite of an autonomous ritual Church, does not bring with it membership of that Church.

Note that in 1992 a change was made to be like the CCEO, giving presumed approval form the Apostolic See for transfer of a Latin Catholics, where both bishops are in agreement.

Eastern Canon Law:

CCEO Canon 1465:
A person who, ascribed to any Church sui iuris, including the Latin Church, and exercising an office, a ministry or another function in the Church, has presumed to induce any member of the Christian faithful whatsoever to transfer to another Church sui iuris contrary to can. 31, is to be punished with an appropriate penalty.

CCEO Canon 17:
The Christian faithful have the right to worship God according to the prescriptions of their own Church sui iuris, and to follow their own form of spiritual life consonant with the teaching of the Church.

 

[Casilda]

I was born into a Latin-rite family. When my husband wanted to convert he opted for Byzantine but there are none within 3-4 hours drive. So he converted via Maronite Catholic. I transferred by being his spouse. At our parish there are quite few Latin Catholics, many who are permanent.

 

[Augustine]

It’s rather presumptuous to quote the law to condemn someone without knowing anything about the specifics of a situation, relying merely on a comment on the internet.

I firstly inquired about transferring to the Maronite Church and my pastor suggested it, as in invited me to discern it further with him.

Christ is born!

 

[Vico]

It’s rather presumptuous to quote the law to condemn someone without knowing anything about the specifics of a situation, relying merely on a comment on the internet.

I firstly inquired about transferring to the Maronite Church and my pastor suggested it, as in invited me to discern it further with him.

Christ is born!

It is true that there is to be no induction to transfer, and it was never asserted that such exists. Why not ask what the purpose of the post is instead of criticism?

To show the issues involved is why items for eastern law are included, item 10 and CCEO 1465 and 17, and Latin law CIC 1248, and 112, and note that permission is given in all cases by the Apostolic See, when bishops agree, which applies to CIC 112. Latin Catholics follow the CIC, and in some ways the CCEO. The Maronite priest follows CCEO, and in some ways the CIC.

 

[CompSciGuy]

I have been to a Maronite parish in my city quite a few times, I have also visited a Byzantine parish in Houston twice, Melkite liturgy. That parish also does Ruthenian liturgies and I really want to attend one. I would have this past Christmas but I hear that their Christmas liturgies are three hours long (I could be wrong about this). I liked the Melkite liturgy a lot, it was beautiful and very reverent. However I found following along in the book very hard to do. The Maronite book was a lot easier to follow, everything flowed in a linear fashion whereas in the Byzantine book there were ribbons galore and lots of flipping around. There are lots of bells and chant. There’s a lot of veneration of icons at the Byzantine one, there is an iconostasis and really fancy vestments. If you are Catholic you really ought to go to one.

At the local Maronite parish there is kind of a half-and-half mix of canonically Latin Catholic parishioners, as well as Lebanese immigrants who were actually raised Maronite. A lot of Roman Catholics will make their parish home in an Eastern parish without actually changing churches; however this can be complicated since you are technically bound to the observances of the church you come from. Basically this means that when it comes to observing lenten fasts, etc. if you are Roman Catholic you’re obliged to do things the “Roman” way, so to speak, which may differ from the Greek way, the Syriac way or the Russian way.