Preparing to attend a Greek Orthodox Divine Liturgy

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Hi guys, I’m invited to attend a Greek Orthodox Divine Liturgy on the coming Sunday. I’m a Latin Rite Catholic and I’m definitely not receive the Holy Communion from an Orthodox Mass unless granted permission, and I shall attend a Catholic Mass to fulfill my Sunday obligation.

Could anyone tell me what is the general flow in the Divine Liturgy? What should I read beforehand in order to understand the icons, symbols, liturgical moves, vestments and spirituality of it? How can I participate in the liturgy without any knowledge of Ancient Greek (that’s not Russian Orthodox liturgy)?

Thank you!
 
Are you in Greece? The liturgy in the US is offered in English, with the prayers in Greek and English. Same for the Russian liturgy. You can find full liturgies on youtube, to get a feel for what it’s like. Big difference, expect incense, lots of incense and no holy water fonts.
 
First of all, an Orthodox priest will not give you communion if he knows you’re Catholic. The bulletin for the Orthodox church near me clearly states that one must be Orthodox and fast from midnight in order to receive Communion.

You cannot participate in any way in the service, not even to say “Amen”.

Full disclosure: I’m Ukrainian Greek Catholic and have Russian Orthodox relatives. When my grandmother passed away, they attended the funeral but did not say anything. They stood like sentinels during the entire liturgy without saying a word. The only time they sat down was for the homily.

At a Russian Orthodox funeral (one of the relatives above), we attended but did not say anything. At the end of the service my godfather gave a wonderful witness to the Catholic Faith. I was so proud of him.

Finally, 15 years ago an Orthodox family invited me to attend their son’s Baptism/Chrismation/First Eucharist. *** I accepted but did not participate in the service.

***N.B. In the Byzantine Tradition - Catholic and non-Catholic - the baby receives all 3 Mysteries/Sacraments at the same time. In the Latin Tradition, they are separated for infants unless there is danger of death. Chrismation I.e. Confirmation is given later than Baptism and First Eucharist.
 
Make sure you wear good, comfortable shoes. If you’ll be attending with a non-Greek lady who is also invited, high heels aren’t recommended.

There is a lot of standing involved with attending Greek liturgy and its definitely longer than a Catholic mass.
 
MichaelAnonymous said:
Hi guys, I’m invited to attend a Greek Orthodox Divine Liturgy on the coming Sunday. I’m a Latin Rite Catholic and I’m definitely not receive the Holy Communion from an Orthodox Mass unless granted permission, and I shall attend a Catholic Mass to fulfill my Sunday obligation.

Could anyone tell me what is the general flow in the Divine Liturgy? What should I read beforehand in order to understand the icons, symbols, liturgical moves, vestments and spirituality of it? How can I participate in the liturgy without any knowledge of Ancient Greek (that’s not Russian Orthodox liturgy)?

Thank you!
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Try this Byzantine Catholic site: The Divine Liturgy (MCI)
 
Margaret_Ann said:
You cannot participate in any way in the service, not even to say “Amen”.
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This has not been my experience at all. I’ve been to a couple of Greek Orthodox Divine Liturgies, Vespers and to a funeral and was able to fully participate, with the exception of receiving Communion. I prayed, I venerated icons, I made the sign of the cross and I lit candles. If the church had congregational singing, I would have sung. Nobody asked or suggested that I should not participate in this way.
 
To actively participate in a Greek Orthodox Divine Liturgy is communio in sacris, which is forbidden by the First Commandment and the CCC.

Unlike Eastern Catholics, the Greek Orthodox do not commemorate Pope Francis in the Divine Liturgy nor are they in full communion with the Holy See.

If you look at these two words:

idolatry
adultery

they’re very similar.

Idolatry is adoring something else than God and being unfaithful to Him.

Adultery is giving another creature the love and respect due to one’s spouse and being unfaithful to him or her.

To actively participate in a non-Catholic service is being unfaithful to God and His Bride, the Holy Catholic Church.
 
Margaret_Ann said:
To actively participate in a Greek Orthodox Divine Liturgy is communio in sacris, which is forbidden by the First Commandment and the CCC.

…

To actively participate in a non-Catholic service is being unfaithful to God and His Bride, the Holy Catholic Church.
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Okay, so you approach this from the Catholic perspective rather than the Orthodox perspective.

Yours is a very restrictive interpretation. While your own conscience might not allow you to participate in any way, the Church, in its official guidance on this matter, gives considerably more latitude.

After mass in the Catholic cathedral of the Holy Spirit which dates back to 1846, Pope Francis drove to the Fanar, the headquarters of the ecumenical patriarchate of the 300 million member Orthodox Church, and there he was welcomed by his friend, Patriarch Bartholomew, ‘the first among equals’ in the leadership of the Orthodox world.
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Together they participated in the beautifully rich Orthodox prayer service in the church of St George that dates back to 1720,
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The Church has given us actual guidance on how to interpret this and the official interpretation allows for much more common prayer and worship than yours. The 1993 Ecumenical Directory is clear that Catholics may participate in Orthodox worship.
http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/p...uni_doc_16031998_ecumenical-dimension_en.html
Catholics may be allowed to attend Orthodox liturgical services if they have reasonable grounds, e.g. arising out of a public office or function, blood relationships, friendships, desire to be better informed, etc. In such cases there is nothing against their taking part in the common responses, hymns, and actions of the Church in which they are guests…
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A prior edition of this directory was even more permissive:
  1. A Catholic who occasionally, for reasons set out below 35
    attends the Holy Liturgy (Mass) on a Sunday or holy day of
    obligation in an Orthodox Church is not then bound to assist at
    Mass in a Catholic Church. It is likewise a good thing if on such
    days Catholics, who for just reasons cannot go to Mass in their own
    Church, attend the Holy Liturgy of their separated Oriental
    brethren, if this is possible.
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Your consience in this matter binds only you. It does not apply to the OP or any other Catholic who seeks to attend an Orthodox Divine Liturgy.
 
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Margaret_Ann said:
To actively participate in a Greek Orthodox Divine Liturgy is communio in sacris, which is forbidden by the First Commandment and the CCC.
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In light of canon 844, which provides for Catholics to receive the the sacraments of penance, Eucharist, and anointing of the sick from Orthodox priests in some circumstances, I don’t see how this can be the case.
 
Margaret_Ann said:
To actively participate in a Greek Orthodox Divine Liturgy is communio in sacris, which is forbidden by the First Commandment and the CCC
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In addition to canon 844, there is CCC 1399:
The Eastern churches that are not in full communion with the Catholic Church celebrate the Eucharist with great love. “These Churches, although separated from us, yet possess true sacraments, above all - by apostolic succession - the priesthood and the Eucharist, whereby they are still joined to us in closest intimacy.” A certain communion in sacris, and so in the Eucharist, “given suitable circumstances and the approval of Church authority, is not merely possible but is encouraged.”
 
Wear comfortable shoes. You will have to stand for 1 hour and a half or more. Estimate it will last 2 hours.
 
Yeah, you can’t actively participate in the liturgy. It would be sinful.
 
Did I miss something here? Are they worshiping a different God than us? This is just overly scrupulous reasoning here.

OP, it isn’t sinful to attend an Orthodox Liturgy. They will most likely not permit you to the chalice (however I do personally know Catholics who were allowed) but that’s fine. There will probably be others who don’t receive either. Just follow along with what others do, you’ll be fine 🙂
 
We cannot actively participate in liturgies which are done not in communion with the church. People on here would say the same things about an SSPX mass.
 
semper_catholicus said:
We cannot actively participate in liturgies which are done not in communion with the church. People on here would say the same things about an SSPX mass.
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This is simply not correct. See canon 844, CCC 1399, and “Unitatis Redintegratio” 15.
 
semper_catholicus said:
We cannot actively participate in liturgies which are done not in communion with the church. People on here would say the same things about an SSPX mass.
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You’ve been given ample evidence, from the authority of the church, that shows that this is incorrect. Could you provide some evidence from church documents to support your point of view? Specifically something that contradicts the documents that I’ve provided, which very clearly state the opposite of what you claim.

I once attended an SSPX Mass. I checked with my pastor beforehand that I was able to attend and to receive Holy Communion and so I did.
 
Relax. Reading those documents which you provided, they all mention that it can be done only under specific circumstances. The Canon you mentioned says this (just so everybody is on the same page):

"Whenever necessity requires it or true spiritual advantage suggests it, and provided that danger of error or of indifferentism is avoided, the Christian faithful for whom it is physically or morally impossible to approach a Catholic minister are permitted to receive the sacraments of penance, Eucharist, and anointing of the sick from non-

Catholic ministers in whose Churches these sacraments are valid."

I’ve added bold to certain parts to demonstrate my point.

What this is saying is that, if there are grave circumstances (i.e. danger of death), you can receive three sacraments, the Sacraments which people generally receive when they’re in danger of death, from valid ministers who aren’t in communion with the catholic church. This isn’t just going down to St. Georges Greek Orthodox Church on a regular Sunday when you can go to a Catholic Church just because you’re curious or you feel like it.
 
semper_catholicus said:
What this is saying is that, if there are grave circumstances (i.e. danger of death), you can receive three sacraments, the Sacraments which people generally receive when they’re in danger of death, from valid ministers who aren’t in communion with the catholic church. This isn’t just going down to St. Georges Greek Orthodox Church on a regular Sunday when you can go to a Catholic Church just because you’re curious or you feel like it.
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The circumstances under which participation is permitted are not limited to danger of death. I suggest consulting “Unitatis Redintegratio”, 15.

As for a typical Sunday, if I were to visit an Orthodox Divine Liturgy, I would do so in addition to attending a Catholic service, not in the place of. However, I would still join in the prayers.
 
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