Melkite Catholic, differences?

[XuDan]

Hey all,

So I’m looking at the different rites within the Catholic faith and while I can find a ton of information emphasizing that the Melkites are in full communion with the Holy See, I’m not seeing anything that clearly states the differences.

These differences are what I’m interested in. So can anyone please explain what the differences are in theological approach and practice?

Perhaps there are some Melkites on here that can speak as to why they became Melkite over the Roman rite?

Please and thank you!

 

[PaulfromIowa]

Perhaps there are some Melkites on here that can speak as to why they became Melkite over the Roman rite?

Very few Catholics choose to switch rites. Most stay in the rite they were born into. Having said that, we can attend and commune in any Catholic church.

 

[XuDan]

Very few Catholics choose to switch rites. Most stay in the rite they were born into. Having said that, we can attend and commune in any Catholic church.

Not all Catholics are cradle Catholics though. So there may be converts evangelized or from Protestant faiths. They could speak to their choice in the Melkite rite over others. But even a cradle Melkite would be able to answer my questions surrounding what makes them unique as a rite.

 

[Vico]

Hey all,

So I’m looking at the different rites within the Catholic faith and while I can find a ton of information emphasizing that the Melkites are in full communion with the Holy See, I’m not seeing anything that clearly states the differences.

These differences are what I’m interested in. So can anyone please explain what the differences are in theological approach and practice?

Perhaps there are some Melkites on here that can speak as to why they became Melkite over the Roman rite?

Please and thank you!

I am Byzantine not Melkite.

Adults that are not already validly baptized that become Catholic may choose which sui iuris Church they will be enrolled in, at the time of baptism. So some of the choices are from the Byzantine tradition, including Melkite. Melkite is unique because they began in association with the See of Antioch with west Syrian tradition, but changed to the Byzantine tradition. The eastern Catholic churches have their own sacramental discipline distinct from the Latin Catholic Church. There is in the Byzantine tradition the use of certain Divine Liturgies of St. John Chrysostom, St. Basil, and St. James, and the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts. The use of Greek and Arabic and incorporated into the Melkite liturgies, in addition to local vernacular. The liturgy is sung and without instruments. Orthros (Matins) and Vespers are publish worship.

The eastern Catholic churches emphasize the Resurrection in their liturgies and are oriented toward Mystery and the nurturing of the Holy Spirit. Theological expression therefore includes particularly Theosis. Also there is the use of Icons.

As an example of the sacramental discipline, infants receive all three Holy Mysteries of Christian initiation at once, and there is infant reception of the Eucharist, and matrimony must be blessed by a priest (not deacon or layman). Annointing of the sick is ideally given by more than one priest together. There are married priests and deacons.

Fast and abstinence observed in a traditional way including Wednesdays and Fridays and includes meat, milk, and dairy. There are four penitential seasons through the year.

 

[Peter_J]

Hi XuDan. How far are you from a Melkite parish? (Also feel free to mention other Eastern Catholic parishes if you have them … personally I’ve been lucky enough to be near a Melkite parish and a UGCC parish – and the nearest Maronite parish is less than 30 minutes away to boot. )

 

[XuDan]

I am Byzantine not Melkite.

Adults that are not already validly baptized that become Catholic may choose which sui iuris Church they will be enrolled in, at the time of baptism. So some of the choices are from the Byzantine tradition, including Melkite. Melkite is unique because they began in association with the See of Antioch with west Syrian tradition, but changed to the Byzantine tradition. The eastern Catholic churches have their own sacramental discipline distinct from the Latin Catholic Church. There is in the Byzantine tradition the use of certain Divine Liturgies of St. John Chrysostom, St. Basil, and St. James, and the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts. The use of Greek and Arabic and incorporated into the Melkite liturgies, in addition to local vernacular. The liturgy is sung and without instruments. Orthros (Matins) and Vespers are publish worship.

The eastern Catholic churches emphasize the Resurrection in their liturgies and are oriented toward Mystery and the nurturing of the Holy Spirit. Theological expression therefore includes particularly Theosis. Also there is the use of Icons.

As an example of the sacramental discipline, infants receive all three Holy Mysteries of Christian initiation at once, and there is infant reception of the Eucharist, and matrimony must be blessed by a priest (not deacon or layman). Annointing of the sick is ideally given by more than one priest together. There are married priests and deacons.

Fast and abstinence observed in a traditional way including Wednesdays and Fridays and includes meat, milk, and dairy. There are four penitential seasons through the year.

Thank you for the response! I’ve also heard that there are different devotions in the eastern rites, or that the devotions in common are understood differently, is this also true? If so can you explain how they differ?

 

[XuDan]

Hi XuDan. How far are you from a Melkite parish? (Also feel free to mention other Eastern Catholic parishes if you have them … personally I’ve been lucky enough to be near a Melkite parish and a UGCC parish – and the nearest Maronite parish is less than 30 minutes away to boot. )

Hi Peter! I have three different Eastern Catholic parishes within 25 minutes of me:

1. 
   *]St. John the Baptizer Ukrainian Catholic Church
   *]Our Lady of Grace Melkite Catholic Church
   *]St. Ephrem Maronite Catholic Church
   
   The Melkite and Maronite Parishes are adjacent buildings (I think they may even share a common parking lot. Honestly the only thing I can find to differentiate the two are that Melkite uses Greek and Arabic in the Liturgy and Maronite uses Armenian instead of arabic. Is this the only difference? I find it hard to believe that the only difference in the two would be that, I mean why would that be so significant as to create a total difference in rites? I’m pretty sure I’m missing something here.
   
   The Byzantine one is St. John, I’m guessing by the name they use Greek and Ukrainian or an older Slavic language in their liturgies?
   
   Other than language in liturgies, are there any differences between them? Can an Eastern Catholic attend any Eastern Catholic rite (I know they are discouraged from attending the western rites) or are they as distinct from each other as they are from the Western?
   
   My only experiance with any eastern tradition is a family friend who is Greek Orthodox. I have always found his perspectives refreshing, but I believe that Peter and his successors hold a special role as well. Anyways, my impression is that the focus is more mystical than the western that the focus is more on Mercy. I really like the idea of that. Again, I only know what I’ve been explained by an Eastern Orthodox, but obviously there are some major differences.

 

[Peter_J]

You’re quite right, there are larger differences than the language used in the liturgy. In fact, Melkites are one of the 14 Greek Catholic churches, i.e. the ones that use the Byzantine Rite (aka Greek Rite). The Maronite Church uses the Maronite Rite (who saw that one coming? )

To make things even more confusing, the term “Eastern Catholics” is sometimes used to mean Greek Catholics exclusively, and sometimes used to include Maronites, Coptic Catholics, etc etc as well.

 

[XuDan]

So in this - the Ukrainian Catholic Church and the Melkite Catholic Church are going to have more in common with each (as they are both Byzantine in liturgical approach?) other than either would with the Marionite Catholic Church as far as liturgy is concerned. Is that correct?

What other notable differences (aside from liturgy and language) are there between these three? Are there any theological emphasis differences? Any devotional differences? I really do want to explore the Eastern rite, but I feel like I’m walking in blind. My google-fu has failed me in finding any differences between them aside from liturgy, languages, or patriarchs. Surely there must be more than that!

 

[ByzCathCantor]

So in this - the Ukrainian Catholic Church and the Melkite Catholic Church are going to have more in common with each (as they are both Byzantine in liturgical approach?) other than either would with the Marionite Catholic Church as far as liturgy is concerned. Is that correct?

You are correct - both churches are of the Byzantine Rite. Depending on the parish, the Ukrainians and Melkites may make more use of ethnic and historical liturgical language in the Divine Liturgy. Personally, I have felt that it adds to the beauty of their divine worship, but some are uncomfortable with that.

You may also want to consider Holy Angels in San Diego. This is a Byzantine (Ruthenian) parish by heritage. Their services are in English (with occasional use of Church Slavonic on festive days or seasons) and they worship beautifully as a parish family.

 

[Peter_J]

Right. Melkites are similar to Maronites in language and ethnicity, and similar to the UGCC in liturgy.

If you haven’t already, I recommend attending the different liturgies (or watching online videos of them) to get a better idea.

 

[GM_2013]

Not all Catholics are cradle Catholics though. So there may be converts evangelized or from Protestant faiths. They could speak to their choice in the Melkite rite over others. But even a cradle Melkite would be able to answer my questions surrounding what makes them unique as a rite.

Dear XuDan, when a Protestant, who is a Western Christian, becomes Catholic, he necessarily becomes Latin rite. He may not choose, even if he became Catholic by going to a Byzantine Catholic parish. In Canon Law, there are some voices asking for change in this matter, but it has not been changed yet. So, Western non-catholic christians, whenever they become Catholics, are attached to the Latin Church.

The only way he can choose is if he is not baptized yet. The non-baptized person, if he/she is over 14 years old, may choose to enter any Catholic Church sui iuris through baptism. That’s what canon 30 of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches (1990) says:

Canon 30 - Anyone to be baptized who has completed the fourteenth year of age can freely select any Church sui iuris in which he or she then is enrolled by virtue of baptism received in that same Church, with due regard for particular law established by the Apostolic See.

 

[Peter_J]

Dear XuDan, when a Protestant, who is a Western Christian, becomes Catholic, he necessarily becomes Latin rite.

For what it’s worth. (I add that qualifier because, IME, some ECs put more emphasis on canonical membership, while others put more emphasis on just being a member of an EC parish.)

 

[GM_2013]

For what it’s worth. (I add that qualifier because, IME, some ECs put more emphasis on canonical membership, while others put more emphasis on just being a member of an EC parish.)

That’s exactly why I said “In Canon Law”. No matter what one thinks, Canon Law says this. It’s a whole different matter if we are talking about feeling like an Eastern Catholic, or being treated as one by parish members. But Canon Law does matter in some important moments of a catholic’s life: if a Latin rite Catholic tries to marry another Latin rite Catholic in the presence of the Eastern pastor of the Byzantine church he regularly goes to, he will be in trouble. His marriage will be invalid, since he is not canonically Byzantine. So people should take care about this. If you don’t formally change rites, you should not get married in an Eastern Church (unless you are going to marry an Eastern Catholic).

 

[Vico]

Thank you for the response! I’ve also heard that there are different devotions in the eastern rites, or that the devotions in common are understood differently, is this also true? If so can you explain how they differ?

The eastern liturgies and liturgical language and norms vary and also sacramental discipline vary. The largest differences are between the different traditions, east to west:

• Chaldean
• Armenian
• Antiochene
• Constantinopolitan
• Alexandrian

There are distinct differences in the theological expression.

 

[SyroMalankara]

So in this - the Ukrainian Catholic Church and the Melkite Catholic Church are going to have more in common with each (as they are both Byzantine in liturgical approach?) other than either would with the Marionite Catholic Church as far as liturgy is concerned. Is that correct?

What other notable differences (aside from liturgy and language) are there between these three? Are there any theological emphasis differences? Any devotional differences? I really do want to explore the Eastern rite, but I feel like I’m walking in blind. My google-fu has failed me in finding any differences between them aside from liturgy, languages, or patriarchs. Surely there must be more than that!

El Cajon is also home to Chaldean Churches, San Diego is home of the Chaldean Catholic Cathedral for the Western US Diocese for Chaldeans.

Maronites are Syriac, they share their Liturgical practices with the Syriac Catholics/Orthodox and Malankara Catholics/Orthodox but are much more heavily latinized so may appear at first glance more like the local Roman parish. They usually celebrate the Syriac (Aramaic, not Armenian) Liturgy of St. James the Apostle - the same one employed by the previously mentioned Churches.

 

[XuDan]

Dear XuDan, when a Protestant, who is a Western Christian, becomes Catholic, he necessarily becomes Latin rite. He may not choose, even if he became Catholic by going to a Byzantine Catholic parish. In Canon Law, there are some voices asking for change in this matter, but it has not been changed yet. So, Western non-catholic christians, whenever they become Catholics, are attached to the Latin Church.

The only way he can choose is if he is not baptized yet. The non-baptized person, if he/she is over 14 years old, may choose to enter any Catholic Church sui iuris through baptism. That’s what canon 30 of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches (1990) says:

Canon 30 - Anyone to be baptized who has completed the fourteenth year of age can freely select any Church sui iuris in which he or she then is enrolled by virtue of baptism received in that same Church, with due regard for particular law established by the Apostolic See.

So, someone who is evangelized can choose their rite, but someone who is proselytized cannot. Since the Catholic Church does not recognize my previous baptism, I would be considered an evangelized convert and would be able to Choose my rite. Am I understanding this correctly?

 

[Vico]

Hi Peter! I have three different Eastern Catholic parishes within 25 minutes of me:

1. 
   *]St. John the Baptizer Ukrainian Catholic Church
   *]Our Lady of Grace Melkite Catholic Church
   *]St. Ephrem Maronite Catholic Church

1. 
   Also, Holy Angels Byzantine Catholic Church:
   holyangelssandiego.com/
   

   So, someone who is evangelized can choose their rite, but someone who is proselytized cannot. Since the Catholic Church does not recognize my previous baptism, I would be considered an evangelized convert and would be able to Choose my rite. Am I understanding this correctly?

   You can choose the Catholic church sui iuris when adult baptism is received.

 

[SyroMalankara]

I’ve been to Holy Angels - the Church and people are lovely!

 

[XuDan]

I’ve been to Holy Angels - the Church and people are lovely!

I google stalked them, is it the one that is a repurposed house? Seems like it would be a small congregation. Not that that’s bad.

It’s about 40 minutes from me once traffic is factored in.