Vestment change in middle of liturgy?

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Hi all - I attended my first Divine Liturgy yesterday (Saturday 6th), being a Roman rite Catholic myself, at a Ukrainian church. The liturgy was beautiful. One small thing I found confusing, though, was that the priest started the liturgy in red vestments and changed to blue shortly after communion. I understand yesterday was Akathist Saturday. Was the vestment change standard procedure for the day and, if so, what’s the significance? It’s not particularly important but would love to know the answer!
 
That is incredibly weird! I don’t think that is normal and there is no significance.(At least that I know of)
 
Telecreon said:
Akathist Saturday
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Red is the color for Lent in the Ukrainian Catholic Church. Blue is the color for Mary, so the vestment changes were likely due to the fact the Divine Liturgy was for Akathist Saturday. I didn’t go to DL on Saturday, so I’m not sure on this.
 
Uliana988 said:
Red is the color for Lent in the Ukrainian Catholic Church.
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My priest uses dark purple during Great Lent. He does, however, use red during Nativity Fast (Advent).
But yes, blue is usually reserved for feasts of Mary…He’s used blue during Lent if celebrating the Annunciation.
 
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a vestment change during Liturgy.

For Great Lent, my priest wears red.
 
DeniseNY said:
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a vestment change during Liturgy.
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It’s prescribed for the Holy Saturday Divine Liturgy. Whether there are any other times it takes place, I don’t know.
 
I asked my pastor today, and he said the only Divine Liturgy that includes changing vestments is Holy Saturday.
 
Telecreon said:
… One small thing I found confusing, though, was that the priest started the liturgy in red vestments and changed to blue shortly after communion. …
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I am Byzantine Catholic. Yes it is normal to change vestments when a transition is called for.
 
It’s also prescribed for Passion Matins with the 12 Gospels. About 30 years ago, our parish started having Passion Matins. There was an article in The Way (our archeparchial newspaper; now it’s only online at www.ukrarcheparchy.us) which mentioned the meanings of the different colors used in iconography (and yes, I still have it 😉). So when our (now former) pastor changed his vestments for Passion Matins knowing the meanings of the colors helped me meditate like this:

First Gospel: Red vestments with the image of Our Lord crowned with thorns on the phelonion.

Meditation: Red is the color for Christ and the Holy Cross. My sins did this to Him.

Second Gospel: Black and gold vestments. Black is the color of death. Gold is the color of heaven.

Meditation: One day I will die. I’m not prepared!

Third Gospel: Green and gold vestments. Green is the color of Pentecost and new life. There’s still hope for me. I have to go to Confession.

By that time I was simply watching Father and almost oblivious to the Gospels. Each time he changed his vestments it helped me meditate.

After Passion Matins I asked Father if he could hear my confession which he did. It was one of the best times of my life.
 
You’re in the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh? Can you put in a good word to the Archeparchy and tell them to get Byzantine Seminary Press up and running? I love BSP but it’s so tough ordering things from them! :cry:
 
Margaret_Ann said:
You’re in the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh? Can you put in a good word to the Archeparchy and tell them to get Byzantine Seminary Press up and running? I love BSP but it’s so tough ordering things from them! :cry:
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Actually Passaic but we all use the MCI site. I think maybe BSP are filling back-orders with parishes. We got a table full of books recently to sell during The Great Fast.
 
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I know the lady who runs BSP and she will be retiring soon. Hopefully the Archeparchy can get someone to do it. I’d do it if I didn’t live on the other side of the Commonwealth (i.e. outside Philadelphia).
 
Margaret_Ann said:
You’re in the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh? Can you put in a good word to the Archeparchy and tell them to get Byzantine Seminary Press up and running? I love BSP but it’s so tough ordering things from them!
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I’m in the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh. I’ve had a couple of problems with orders in the past, but got them resolved very quickly. I needed a "rush’ package last year, and they got it to me on time.

Back to the vestments… I don’t know if I’m just really not observant but I can’t recall seeing a vestment change. I’ll know to look for it now on Holy Saturday. I"m also going to meeting with my pastor this week and will ask him about it.
 
RyanBlack said:
It’s prescribed for the Holy Saturday Divine Liturgy. Whether there are any other times it takes place, I don’t know.
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It also happens when Good Friday and the Annunciation coincide.

On Holy Saturday, not just the priest, but the Holy Table and preparation tables change–the black is removed to reveal the white beneath.

Annunciation “trumps” Good Friday, and the priest and tables begin in blue, which is removed partway through. There is also a Divine Liturgy which would not normally happen on Good Friday. I think that whether or not it is a day of fasting varies by jurisdiction.
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We won’t see this again in our lifetimes . . .
 
I’d love to visit the Pittsburgh area again. What parish do you attend?
 
dochawk said:
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We won’t see this again in our lifetimes . . .
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So for the Divine Liturgy with Vespers on Annunciation on Good Friday (Mar 25, 2016) we had:
Start same hour as Entombment Vespers, but bright vestments, but change to dark vestments for the burial procession after the Ambon Prayer during the singing of the Apostichera. No incensation and doors closed until the Little Entrance for the Divine Liturgy with Vespers.
 
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