Handbells During Divine Liturgy?

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Most of us have heard about the “Latinization” of using sanctus bells during the Eastern Divine Liturgies.

Was this a “Latinization” only because they were rung at the Consecration and Epiclesis (not the Eastern Tradition) or also because they were handbells?

It would seem that an Eastern parish that could not afford tower bells could licitly ring handbells if they did it at the correct times before and during the Divine Liturgy?

Please advise.
 
Absolutely not. The use of sanctus bells was specifically forbidden in a decree from Rome following the publication of Ordo Celebrationis.

Fr. Deacon Lance
 
Deacon_Lance said:
Absolutely not. The use of sanctus bells was specifically forbidden in a decree from Rome following the publication of Ordo Celebrationis.

Fr. Deacon Lance
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You didn’t answer my question. Just what constitutes “sanctus bells?” I’m fairly certain handbells (although maybe not “sanctus bells”) are indeed allowed during the DL. I’ll have to check with my pastor.
 
The rubrics permit the tolling of the bells in the tower, but not the ringing of bells in the Altar, at the epiclesis.
 
OhMalley said:
You didn’t answer my question. Just what constitutes “sanctus bells?” I’m fairly certain handbells (although maybe not “sanctus bells”) are indeed allowed during the DL. I’ll have to check with my pastor.
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Traditionally, it wasn’t bells but a series of gongs, pictures 5 inverted brass bowls of varying sizes on a stick about 3 feet tall. These were tapped with a wooden mallette to create the tune. I can remember them playing this until the late 1970’s in my church and still in ACROD churches up until last year…👍
 
Patchunky said:
Traditionally, it wasn’t bells but a series of gongs, pictures 5 inverted brass bowls of varying sizes on a stick about 3 feet tall. These were tapped with a wooden mallette to create the tune. I can remember them playing this until the late 1970’s in my church and still in ACROD churches up until last year…👍
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You describe what is in instrument catalogs as a “Bell Tree”…
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_tree



Handheld versions are also common.
 
While what were jocularly called “good humor bells” or even “Bozhe’s telephone” were used as sanctus bells in the West, the rubrics actually contemplated a small single hand bell.

The original purpose of Western altar bells was to signal the tower bell ringers.

Since there was no Byzantine equivalent of a missa privata–a celebration done in a low voice–such were unnecessary. The bell ringers in the tower could get their cues from the Priest and Congregation. (Yes, I’m aware of recited Liturgies; but they were still audible.)

Check out the ABRIDGED TYPICON for the Muscovite (Great Russian) rules about how and when the bells are rung.
 
Patchunky said:
… I can remember them playing this until the late 1970’s in my church and still in ACROD churches up until last year…👍
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Have you worshiped at ACROD recently? How nice!

Does it remind you of the BCC about thirty years ago?

The ACROD parish I have visited actually still used the Sanctus bells, and knelt for the consecration.
 
Patchunky said:
Traditionally, it wasn’t bells but a series of gongs, pictures 5 inverted brass bowls of varying sizes on a stick about 3 feet tall. These were tapped with a wooden mallette to create the tune. I can remember them playing this until the late 1970’s in my church and still in ACROD churches up until last year…👍
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No, that is not true. The first “sanctus bells” were large tower bells. Many, many older churches still have their sanctus bells either in their tower or atop rood screens. Hand-held sanctus bells are a set of 3-5 tuned bells. I’m not asking what a sanctus bells is with regard to the west.

My question was in the context of the Divine Liturgy (not the Mass) what constitutes a “sanctus bell.” More accurately what consitutes the former “Latinization?”

NB: Those “bowls” (they are NOT “gongs”) are commonly known as “orchestra bells.”
 
bpbasilphx said:
While what were jocularly called “good humor bells” or even “Bozhe’s telephone” were used as sanctus bells in the West, the rubrics actually contemplated a small single hand bell.

The original purpose of Western altar bells was to signal the tower bell ringers.

Since there was no Byzantine equivalent of a missa privata–a celebration done in a low voice–such were unnecessary. The bell ringers in the tower could get their cues from the Priest and Congregation. (Yes, I’m aware of recited Liturgies; but they were still audible.)

Check out the ABRIDGED TYPICON for the Muscovite (Great Russian) rules about how and when the bells are rung.
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That’s not true. The hand held bells took the place of tower bells over a long period as a matter of convenience. No bell ringer up in a belfry with his (back then) ears plugged with cotton could hear a hand-set of bells. They didn’t need to anyway – churches were built so that the bell ringer or a person signalling him had line of sight to the altar and could see what was going on.

Do you have an on-line source for the “ABRIDGED TYPICON?” I have written a typikon for the Divine Liturgy based on “The Official Bell-Ringers’ Typikon of the Russian Orthodox Church” (the best resource I could find when I wrote my typikon) and I’m curious how they compare. Thanks.
 
After talking to my Eastern pastor this morning I am fairly certain it would not be wrong to ring hand bells during the Divine Liturgy if it was done according to a validly approved typikon.

Ringing hand bells or tower bells as they are validly rung during the Mass for the Divine Liturgies WOULD be abusive. That’s what the former Latinization was all about.
 
Deacon_Lance said:
Absolutely not. The use of sanctus bells was specifically forbidden in a decree from Rome following the publication of Ordo Celebrationis.

Fr. Deacon Lance
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Hi Fr. Deacon Lance,

I am not familiar with the use of sanctus bells or why this was done. Is there a name on the decree so I can look it up? And for what reason were they forbidden?

Thank you for info… I come from a congregation that doesn’t use them, so this is all new to me.

In Him,
Anthony
 
From the Ordo Celebrationis:

“10. Liturgical vestments and linens, other than those indicated in this book for each divine service, should not be used; the use of little bells, large or small organs, so called harmoniums is excluded.”

After the Ordo Celebrationis was published Bishop Daniel responded by asking for 23 exceptions to the stated rubrics. The 23rd being:

“According to immemorial custom, the small bells are used.”

To which the Oriental Congregation responded:

“the small bells are eliminated even from the Solemn Liturgy.”

There is absolutely no allowance for handbells as they are expressly forbidden.

Fr. Deacon Lance
 
OhMalley said:
After talking to my Eastern pastor this morning I am fairly certain it would not be wrong to ring hand bells during the Divine Liturgy if it was done according to a validly approved typikon.

Ringing hand bells or tower bells as they are validly rung during the Mass for the Divine Liturgies WOULD be abusive. That’s what the former Latinization was all about.
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For the Divine Liturgy the Typikon prescribes:

Before the Liturgy: a blagovest is rung.

Immediately before the start of Liturgy: a trezvon of three movements is rung.

During the Liturgy: a blagovest is rung contiuously from the start of the Anaphora until the singing of the Irmos.

After the Liturgy: a trezvon of one movement is rung.

Now even if handbells were allowed, which they are not, it would be a complete annoyance to have them rung continuosly while the priest is saying the Anaphora aloud (which is now mandated in the Ruthenian Church in the US) and the people are chanting the responses. The above rubric was developed when the Anaphora was prayed silently and the bells were in tower so the sound was disipated somewhat and the chants were not interrupted. If you ring the handbell only at the start of the Anaphora you have blatent imitation of Latin custom.

I am sorry my friend they are simply not acceptable.

Fr. Deacon Lance
 
antgaria said:
Hi Fr. Deacon Lance,

I am not familiar with the use of sanctus bells or why this was done. Is there a name on the decree so I can look it up? And for what reason were they forbidden?

Thank you for info… I come from a congregation that doesn’t use them, so this is all new to me.

In Him,
Anthony
Click to expand...
The ringing of hand-held bells in the manner in which they are rung during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass (and not the Divine Liturgy) was once foisted upon the DIvine Liturgy in the USA (and likely elsewhere) without authoriztion.

Simply adhering to the approved rubrics makes the ringing of any bell (hand bell or tower bell) forbidden in that manner during the Divine Liturgy.
 
Deacon_Lance said:
For the Divine Liturgy the Typikon prescribes:

Before the Liturgy: a blagovest is rung.

Immediately before the start of Liturgy: a trezvon of three movements is rung.

During the Liturgy: a blagovest is rung contiuously from the start of the Anaphora until the singing of the Irmos.

After the Liturgy: a trezvon of one movement is rung.

Now even if handbells were allowed, which they are not, it would be a complete annoyance to have them rung continuosly while the priest is saying the Anaphora aloud (which is now mandated in the Ruthenian Church in the US) and the people are chanting the responses. The above rubric was developed when the Anaphora was prayed silently and the bells were in tower so the sound was disipated somewhat and the chants were not interrupted. If you ring the handbell only at the start of the Anaphora you have blatent imitation of Latin custom.

I am sorry my friend they are simply not acceptable.

Fr. Deacon Lance
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It looks like you went to www.russianbells.com and borrowed from their translation of the Russian Orthodox Bell Ringing Typikon? While I’m not sure that’s the controlling document for this discussion, let’s break down your comments.

First a “blagovest” is the measured ringing of ONE bell. Blagovest can certainly be rung with a hand-held bell in the absence of larger tower bells. Not optimal but certainly doable and acceptable.

Next we come to the word “trezvon.” A trezvon is a pattern rung on three bells. Again more than doable using hand-bells in the absence of larger bells. In fact because Byzantine bell ringing technique lies not in melody but in rhythm a skilled campanologist could actually ring trezvon with a classic 3-belled set of hand-held “sanctus bells.”

Ultimately it’s up to the local ordinary. Nothing in the typikon you reference disallows the use of hand-held bells in the absence of tower bells however.
 
You are correct that Russian Typikon does not explicitly forbid handbells. The Ordo Celebrationis does and it is the liturgical law of the Ruthenian Metropolia.

From the Ordo Celebrationis:

“10. Liturgical vestments and linens, other than those indicated in this book for each divine service, should not be used; the use of little bells, large or small organs, so called harmoniums is excluded.”

It states they are excluded, period. It does not state excluded only in the manner in which they are rung during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
 
Deacon_Lance said:
You are correct that Russian Typikon does not explicitly forbid handbells. The Ordo Celebrationis does and it is the liturgical law of the Ruthenian Metropolia.
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I believe the Ordo C is the governing document for the UGCC as well, am I correct?
 
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