V
Vico
Guest
If you are willing to go an additional time to church this week, you might go to the Byzantine parish for Theophany. The parish should at least have the Divine Liturgy on January 6, AM or PM.Wow, okay now I’m way more interested in this now. Basically, you’ve given me some scant details, and my imagination is now running wild with what it must be like!
So, if you stand most of the time, are there pews? Ok, I know you probably do, as there is sitting, but it just seems weird to be standing in a pew that long…
And, people are venerating icons off to the sides and stuff, just as everything is going on?
Hmm, I had to check their schedule tomorrow, to see if I might go after Mass, but it looks like their only Liturgy is going to conflict with my Mass time. I just may go next week though, they have a Saturday evening Liturgy which I might go to.
Also, why do you guys call it a Liturgy instead of a Mass? Do you have Masses as well?
Oh, and I should ask, will it be in a different language?
[Sorry, I literally know more about Judaism than I do about Eastern Catholicism, which is kind of sad. I have many friends who are Maronite, but I’ve never been to their Church, other than that I really no very little about what goes on in any Eastern Church]
The service of Vespers on the afternoon or the previous evening of January 5 marks the transition from the pre-festive days of Theophany to the feast. So, during the evening of January 5, the Great Compline is held (in some parishes) with Matins immediately after to form a night-time vigil, like for Christmas.
When on a weekday morning (or evening) of January 6, the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil is celebrated (this usually is about 1:20 hours long).
One of the most solemn blessings of the Church year is also part of the celebration of Theophany, The Great Blessing of Water. On the eve of the feast, after Vespers, and on the morning of Theophany, after the Divine Liturgy, water is blessed.