Ruthenian Rite Questions

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I am going to be going out of town today and will not be able to attend my normal Sunday Mass (Tridentine). I’m a fairly new Catholic and am more familiar with the TLM than the Novus Ordo. I will be attending a Byzantine (Ruthenian) church for the first time and just wondered what I should expect. I’ve always been very intrigued to attend the Mass in different Rites. Is it a lot different than the TLM? What language is the liturgy in? What are the key differences? Any tips? Also I will be going to confession prior to the mass? Is there anything different I should know about that too?
 
MadeAFace said:
I am going to be going out of town today and will not be able to attend my normal Sunday Mass (Tridentine). I’m a fairly new Catholic and am more familiar with the TLM than the Novus Ordo. I will be attending a Byzantine (Ruthenian) church for the first time and just wondered what I should expect. I’ve always been very intrigued to attend the Mass in different Rites. Is it a lot different than the TLM? What language is the liturgy in? What are the key differences? Any tips? Also I will be going to confession prior to the mass? Is there anything different I should know about that too?
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It is quite different although all the main elements are present, some in a different order. The Divine Liturgy in the US is normally in English. Your normal confession will work fine. You can kneel and the priest will put the epitrachelion over your head at the absolution.

Just follow others, you will be standing or sitting. Kneeling and genuflection is not normal, rather bowing and the sign of the cross.

Here you can hear recording of what is sung, and also the liturgy book.

metropolitancantorinstitute.org/Publications2.html

metropolitancantorinstitute.org/servicebooks/DivineLiturgies.pdf
 
MadeAFace said:
I am going to be going out of town today and will not be able to attend my normal Sunday Mass (Tridentine). I’m a fairly new Catholic and am more familiar with the TLM than the Novus Ordo. I will be attending a Byzantine (Ruthenian) church for the first time and just wondered what I should expect. I’ve always been very intrigued to attend the Mass in different Rites. Is it a lot different than the TLM? What language is the liturgy in? What are the key differences? Any tips? Also I will be going to confession prior to the mass? Is there anything different I should know about that too?
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Be prepared for a face to face confession.

I’ve always found this article to be helpful. These points apply to any Byzantine liturgy

First Visit to an Orthodox Church: Twelve Things I Wish I’d Known
 
Actually, be prepared for a face to face Confession where you and your confessor priest stand before an icon. The priest will hear your spiritual concerns and listen to you confess your sins.

Be prepared for spiritual counsel from your confessor. Be prepared for your confessor to put his Epitrachelion over your head as he gives your absolution. You should kiss the Epitrachelion before concluding your Confession.

It is a beautiful experience of God’s great mercy for us. I hope it will not be your last. Our eastern churches have a rich tradition in worship and sacramental life.
 
MadeAFace said:
I am going to be going out of town today and will not be able to attend my normal Sunday Mass (Tridentine). I’m a fairly new Catholic and am more familiar with the TLM than the Novus Ordo. I will be attending a Byzantine (Ruthenian) church for the first time and just wondered what I should expect. I’ve always been very intrigued to attend the Mass in different Rites. Is it a lot different than the TLM? What language is the liturgy in? What are the key differences? Any tips? Also I will be going to confession prior to the mass? Is there anything different I should know about that too?
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How did your visit to the Byzantine Catholic church go this weekend? I’d love it if you would share your experiences with us.
 
I enjoyed it very much. It was so different than any mass I have been to but a very cool experience. Confession was a little weird for me I must admit because it was face to face which I’m not too comfortable with (usually when I have to confess this way I just bow my head and close my eyes). They had a regular kneeler for confession but no screen and there was no separate room, it was just in the very corner of the sanctuary, with people walking in and out so it was a little strange to me but I liked the priest. He seemed like a very holy man who cares about his people and he spent probably a good 10 minutes with me and gave me good council. I don’t believe he put an epitrachelion over my head but my eyes were closed so maybe he did without me knowing. He was aware that I was visiting from a different rite so he was pretty good at telling me a little bit about their tradition and what to expect.

All in all I loved it. The church and its artwork were so beautiful. It was so refreshing and comforting to see them carry on old tradition and be a part of it. Certain parts were a little informal but I got the feeling that most the people attending were guests from out of town and not familiar with the Rite so he explained to everyone how to follow along and how to receive communion. I thought the liturgy was very beautiful. I made the mistake of sitting up front so I had a hard time figuring out when to stand and sit and bow and make the sign of the cross. They followed a lot of pre vatican II traditions like the TLM so the priest was facing the alter rather than the congregation. I noticed they also said the Kyrie several times throughout the liturgy and they seemed to put a lot more emphasis on Mary and the Trinity.

Communion was very different. Instead of the round wafers they used actual bread cut into squares. They placed the bread into the chalice and mixed it with the wine, then we had to tilt back our heads and receive it in our mouths from a small spoon without sticking out our tongues. The man who greeted me at the door (who also informed me about the way they take communion) said they had a joke about how a “Roman” has a difficult time opening their mouths without sticking their tongue out. 🙂

They also had a gift shop so I went after mass and bought a small piece of art work and chatted with a couple other people who had attended the mass. It reminded me a lot of my church at home because it was small and intimate. I absolutely loved it. It was very edifying for me. I am still more comfortable in my Latin Mass but I definitely loved the Ruthenian form more than the Roman Novus Ordo and hope to be back again next time I am in town.
 
MadeAFace said:
. Confession was a little weird for me I must admit because it was face to face which I’m not too comfortable with (usually when I have to confess this way I just bow my head and close my eyes). They had a regular kneeler for confession but no screen and there was no separate room, it was just in the very corner of the sanctuary, with people walking in and out so it was a little strange to me but I liked the priest. He seemed like a very holy man who cares about his people and he spent probably a good 10 minutes with me and gave me good council. I don’t believe he put an epitrachelion over my head but my eyes were closed so maybe he did without me knowing. He was aware that I was visiting from a different rite so he was pretty good at telling me a little bit about their tradition and what to expect.
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This is a pretty common reaction from people who are not used to confessing in the Byzantine Rite. Our parish offers Sunday morning Confession, so we get a good number of visitors who come by in the morning just for Confession. Not infrequently, they change their minds when they see how confession is done. Sometimes, they object to not being able confess behind a screen, but more frequently it is that they feel uncomfortable out in the open. You get used to it. 🙂
 
That is BEAUTIFUL. I really hope I can make it up there one day!
 
Maria65 said:
If you are ever in Pittsburgh, I hope you’ll stop by!

sjcbcc.com/

👍
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I’ll be heading down there next friday for a school interview at Duquesne! I’m hoping to be able to do… well, SOMETHING up at Saints Cyril & Methodius seminary, which I also hope to attend after Duquesne.
 
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