Visiting an Eastern Rite Church

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evolwk

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I apologize if this has been commented on before, but I couldn’t easily find an answer so I thought I’d ask it.

What does your standard Latin Rite Catholic need to know to visit an Eastern Catholic Church? Specifically, Byzantine.

I guess I am assuming it is okay for me to attend Divine Liturgy?

If it is, what is different?
 
It is very different yet many things are recognizable. My advice is always to sit back, relax and observe. Cross yourself when others cross themselves, follow their posture, etc. but don’t be too focused on flipping through the “green book” for all the responses else you’re likely to miss a lot of the beauty.
 
Many things are different in the Byzantine Rite. We sing everything, we cross ourselves at the mention of the Trinity. There are no kneelers, we stand for most of the Liturgy. Just follow the postures, you should be fine. A profound bow is bending at the waist, and is done during the Institution.
I also recommend you sit next to someone, just so they can help you through the Liturgikon.

And of course, you are always welcome there! 🙂
 
Is there a difference in receiving the Eucharist? Is the host leavened?
 
evolwk said:
Is there a difference in receiving the Eucharist? Is the host leavened?
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In the Byzantine rite, yes and yes. The Eucharist is leavened bread mixed with wine in a chalice, dropped into your mouth with a golden spoon.

Also, approaching with your arms crossed over your chest is the normative practice for those who are receiving, as opposed to the Latin rite where this posture is for those who do not intend to receive communion and only want a blessing.

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For Byzantines, It should be noted that, during presanctified (vespers w/communion) liturgy, yes, it’s just wine*. During Divine Liturgy, the wine is consecrated and is the Precious Blood.

Step forward, tilt your head back, open your mouth wide, do not extend your tongue, don’t say anything, and if your mouth is higher than the top of the chalice, bend your knees a bit, and don’t move! Rev. Fr. (or occasionally, Fr. Deacon, will feed you salvation!

Once you have been communed, you might be permitted to kiss the chalice. In some uses, you may be offered a cup of water or wine, and perhaps a piece of bread, to insure the precious gifts have gone down.

If it looks like a second communion, that’s not; it is the antedorion, the blessed but unconsecrated bread left from the preparation of the gifts.

Note also: The Maronites use unleavened bread, and several other eastern churches permit either! Maronite commnion is in a style that will be familiar to most Latins, tho the rest of the mass may be a bit unfamiliar.
  • The wine used is blessed, but not consecrated, while the precious body is placed into it. Some theological points consider the wine to be “contact consecrated” while others don’t; if the precious body had been dyed with the Precious Blood, then the theory of contact consecration holds more weight… but it’s treated the same as if it had been, liturgically, anyway!
 
Aramis said:
For Byzantines, It should be noted that, during presanctified (vespers w/communion) liturgy, yes, it’s just wine*. During Divine Liturgy, the wine is consecrated and is the Precious Blood.

Step forward, tilt your head back, open your mouth wide, do not extend your tongue, don’t say anything, and if your mouth is higher than the top of the chalice, bend your knees a bit, and don’t move! Rev. Fr. (or occasionally, Fr. Deacon, will feed you salvation!

Once you have been communed, you might be permitted to kiss the chalice. In some uses, you may be offered a cup of water or wine, and perhaps a piece of bread, to insure the precious gifts have gone down.

If it looks like a second communion, that’s not; it is the antedorion, the blessed but unconsecrated bread left from the preparation of the gifts.

Note also: The Maronites use unleavened bread, and several other eastern churches permit either! Maronite commnion is in a style that will be familiar to most Latins, tho the rest of the mass may be a bit unfamiliar.
  • The wine used is blessed, but not consecrated, while the precious body is placed into it. Some theological points consider the wine to be “contact consecrated” while others don’t; if the precious body had been dyed with the Precious Blood, then the theory of contact consecration holds more weight… but it’s treated the same as if it had been, liturgically, anyway!
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Actually if you are not known to the parish it is good practice to say one’s first name before bending one’s neck back. That way the person distributing communion can say "The servant of God receives the Body and Blood of our Lord jesus Christ.

EMsHC are allowed in at least the Ruthenian recension under defined conditions.
 
Bull said:
Actually if you are not known to the parish it is good practice to say one’s first name before bending one’s neck back. That way the person distributing communion can say "The servant of God receives the Body and Blood of our Lord jesus Christ.

EMsHC are allowed in at least the Ruthenian recension under defined conditions.
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Yes, and it’s listed in Ruthenian Particular Law… but the number of faithful require to even permit 1 is rather high… for the 1st 70 people, only one MHC, ordinary or extraordinary, is permitted. The Deacon is not an OMHC, but the proper EMHC.

Then again, RPL also permits minor orders… but the Metropolitan Church isn’t using them, either.
 
Glory to Jesus Christ -
Welcome, evolwk.
They will certainly be glad to have you there. I hope you do go.
Aramis said:
Step forward, tilt your head back, open your mouth wide, do not extend your tongue, don’t say anything, and if your mouth is higher than the top of the chalice, bend your knees a bit, and don’t move! Rev. Fr. (or occasionally, Fr. Deacon, will feed you salvation!

Once you have been communed, you might be permitted to kiss the chalice.
Click to expand...
I loved when someone here or on another forum described our posture like baby birds in the nest, when papa comes to feed them, with those wide open mouths, head tipped back 🙂

If you would normally kiss the chalice you may also kiss the priest’s hand holding it. At the conclusion of the DL you would follow others who go up and kiss the hand-held cross the priest has, and his hand. He may say “Christ is in our midst.” you can respond “He is and will be.” Or say “Amen” and he’ll know you’re a visitor from the West. 😉 As Bull’s first post said, watch what others do and follow them. Don’t be shy about asking for help, too.

Be prepared for a longer liturgy than many Roman rite Masses with lots of repetition, plenty of incense, and to remain standing during most of it, unless you need to sit. Some churches have pews. Some do not, in which case there is often a bench around the perimeter and some additional seats, for those who are not able to stand. The two churches I normally attend do not have pews and most of the faithful stand for everything except the homily. Other places people may sit for some of the readings. When the deacon sings “Let us conclude our prayers” figure you might be half way through the liturgy. 🙂

Many parishes have excellent websites including photos, so take a look at the website of the parish you are planning to go to, it may show the presence of pews, and various other things about the particular parish. I would encourage you to contact their deacon, or other contact listed and let him know of your plans to visit. I’m sure they’ll be very welcoming even if you call or email and do not hear back. If it’s a small parish chances are very good they will immediately recognize you as someone they don’t know. I’ve been in large parishes where they were so familiar with everyone they knew me right away as a visitor.

Parts, or all, of the Liturgy may be another language, like Church Slavonic. The website probably would indicate if it’s not predominantly in English.

Usually there is an agape meal afterwards, and you *should plan to stay * for that.
 

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