May visit the Ukrainian Catholic Church soon, any tips?

[babochka]

I am considering visiting a Ukrainian Catholic Church soon. I’ve never been to one. Any tips or pointers for an RC making a first visit to their Divine Liturgy?

Are you likely to visit during Pascha? It is really one of the best times to visit - such joyful singing and saying, “Christ is Risen!”

I don’t know how common the practice is among Ukrainians, but at my parish we distribute the antidoron after every liturgy. Immediately after the liturgy, the priest and servers come out into the nave. The people process up and kiss the cross and/or are anointed with oil. The priest greets each person with the appropriate seasonal greeting and each person responds. Currently, the greeting is “Christ is Risen!” and the response is “Indeed he is Risen!” (Translations vary among jurisdictions. Some say, “He is Risen, indeed!” Each person then proceeds on to an altar server who is holding a basket or box of bread. This is blessed bread, but not consecrated. It is the bread left over from the loaf that was consecrated. Take a piece if you wish.

Here’s how it looks at St. Elias:

 

[eagerbeaver]

This is normal practice in the UGCC
AH - St Elias Brampton - wonderful Liturgy there

 

[eagerbeaver]

The ‘conversation’ was a bit longer than "What is your name please ? "

 

[babochka]

This is normal practice in the UGCC
AH - St Elias Brampton - wonderful Liturgy there

Thank you. The one Ukrainian parish I have visited did not distribute antidoron and I’ve heard of Ruthenian parishes that reserve it for special occasions. It should be done, but you never know.

 

[babochka]

babochka:

Do you have a link to the video?

Certainly, it’s here.

Thanks! I just got a chance to watch it. It was interesting to watch and listen to, although some things that he said are a matter of prudential judgement and contradict what I have been taught.

Regarding the issue of saying your name: Perhaps it is more common for every person to say his or her name in a large parish, which is the specific example that he gave to illustrate the instruction. I have never been a member of a large parish and in my tiny parish, it would be quite silly for every person to give the priest a name every single week. There can certainly be small differences like that from parish to parish.

 

[edwest211]

Make sure you understand Ukrainian. To me, it is more difficult than Russian.

 

[babochka]

Make sure you understand Ukrainian. To me, it is more difficult than Russian.

The Liturgy could very well be in English.

 

[edwest211]

I know but some of the participants would prefer to use Ukrainian in informal discussions after Church.

 

[CoffeeFanatic]

My jaw would have hit the floor too. We’re not supposed to do prostrations or kneeling between Pascha and Pentecost. I go to an Antiochian parish.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Thanks for all the tips.
I went to the Ukrainian Catholic Church today. Here’s a picture of the inside.
(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

It’s a bit famous for being the only church at “Silent Hill” if anyone gets the reference
Lots of people take pictures or video of the outside, but they don’t go in. There are so many No Trespassing signs everywhere and most of the church doors are locked (also one door is behind the iconostasis, you def dont want to come through that one during liturgy) so you really have to know what you’re doing to go into a liturgy. I was about 15 min late due to heavy rain on the way there but once I got in the swing of things it was fine. The priest did not ask names or talk to anyone at Communion and it went okay. I might go back at another time.

 

[dochawk]

Perhaps it is more common for every person to say his or her name in a large parish,

I’ve never been to a large byzantine parish, and when I visited the byzantine parish in San Diego, I don’t think I knew to announce my name (but he may have asked).

A year or so later, that priest visited our parish (I think they swapped that weekend), and addressed me by my full name–which AFAIK, he could only have known by having read the guest register, associated with a visitor, and remember a year later!

 

[TheMortenBay]

addressed me by my full name –which AFAIK, he could only have known by having read the guest register, associated with a visitor, and remember a year later!

That is a serious gift of grace he’s got going there…