Roman Catholic attending Divine Liturgy for the first time

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Hi, Latin Catholic here. I don’t really know much about Eastern Christianity, but I just found out there’s a Byzantine rite Catholic church near me (I think it’s Ukranian) and would love to attend a Divine Liturgy sometime.

I was just wondering what I should know before going? Will I know what to do or is it really different from the Latin rite? ( I usually attend a TLM if that makes a difference).

A few questions in particular I had:

What do I do when receiving Communion? I know Eastern Catholics stand not kneel, but is there anything else I should know?

What goes on with icon veneration before the Liturgy and stuff like that?

Also, I usually wear a mantilla to Mass; I know that’s a Latin custom, so should I wear a scarf/something else instead?

Thanks so much.
 
CatholicLeanne said:
Hi, Latin Catholic here. I don’t really know much about Eastern Christianity, but I just found out there’s a Byzantine rite Catholic church near me (I think it’s Ukranian) and would love to attend a Divine Liturgy sometime.

I was just wondering what I should know before going? Will I know what to do or is it really different from the Latin rite? ( I usually attend a TLM if that makes a difference).

A few questions in particular I had:

What do I do when receiving Communion? I know Eastern Catholics stand not kneel, but is there anything else I should know?

What goes on with icon veneration before the Liturgy and stuff like that?

Also, I usually wear a mantilla to Mass; I know that’s a Latin custom, so should I wear a scarf/something else instead?

Thanks so much.
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I suggest watching a video first. If you get there 20-30 minutes before it is to begin, perhaps you can prevail upon some kind soul to guide you. Best wishes!
 
Before the Divine Liturgy there is the Morning Sermon - Utrenia (1 hour -45 minutes before the announced time before the DL) and that is when most people come in. Some churches announce the hour of beginning as the actual beginning of the Divine Liturgy others announce the hour as that being of the Morning Prayers.
When you come into the church most people kiss the icons (some even bow) of the Iconostasis (the rood with icons before the altar) as a sign of reverence. Before you kiss the icon you cross yourself and you cross yourself after you kiss the icon. The icons are to be kissed on the right hand, or the book they hold (in Christ’s case it is the Bible) or other lower part, not the mouth or the head.
The order of kissing the icons is such:
  • first the icon of Christ, displayed at the right, then moving outwards to the right, and then you kiss the icon displayed on the table to the right (that celebrates current Feasts or the Saint guarding the church you are in). Then you move to the extreme left and go in front of the Iconostasis to begin kissing the icons on Theotokos’s side so you do not pass directly in front of the front doors of the Altar. You kiss first Theotokos, then moving outwards from her icon to the left. And then you go stand or sit on the left if you are a woman, or on the right if you are a man. Some people don’t follow this rule, you will see many people standing on either side, but traditionally women stand at the left and men at the right.
    The preferred position is standing but in the beginning if you are unprepared it will be hard for you to stand for 3 - 4 hours.
    If you choose to attend the Morning Prayers you will see that the priest comes out with the Holy Bible from the altar and places it in front of the altar and that is when the actual Divine Liturgy begins. People again line up to kiss the Holy Bible (a very important moment). This lasts for 15 minutes or so while the Liturgy is already being sung. After this everyone returns to their place and you do not have to do much in most parishes only the choir sings while in others people chime in as well. People in the pews recite the Creed towards the end of the Liturgy and pray Our Father. Whenever people cross themselves you cross yourself it is very case specific. Some people cross themselves a lot (usually women) others only the priest does and the Doxology is being said.
    The Eucharist is served before the DL (for small children, old people and others who choose to do it) and also after the DL. Before the Eucharist we full-fast (not consume anything) from the night before until the moment of receiving the Sacrament as well as we recite a set of prayers, but as long as you Roman Catholic I suppose you are obliged to your own rules. You should tell the priest you are there and you wish to receive it and you are in full standing with the Roman Catholic Church in order to receive it.
    You will notice most people do not receive the Eucharist because we are not obliged to do so every Sunday and we cannot receive it without fasting and preparation.
 
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