Visiting Byzantine Mission / Maryland

  • Thread starter Thread starter Miserissima
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
Glory to Jesus Christ!
Thanks for sharing about your visit. I’m glad to hear it went very well. 🙂
Miserissima said:
3 Questions
  • Where do I find a midi or an MP3 of the “Holy God - Holy Mighty One” (Option C)? I actually cried listening to that, as I was so very moved by it. :o I’ll just blame it on the pregnancy hormones
  • What are the large gold cherubs on poles called, and were they used to represent? I’m guessing angels hovering over actions the Liturgy?
  • When one receives the Eucharist that could spill, commonly one puts one’s hands under a red cloth. What does that cloth and that action represent? Does one hold someone’s hand under there?
Click to expand...
I don’t know which Trisagion you sang. This is the one we seem to use most often. We often sing the first and third repetitions in English and the second repetition in Church Slavonic.

Ripidia are liturgical fans. I’ve seen them used in pairs. They served the purpose of keep insects off the holy gifts origionally, we’re told. They usually have the image of the six winged seraphim which they represent.

I’m not familiar with putting one’s hands under the red napkin. It’s there to catch any of the Eucharist were that to spill in any way. You may use it to wipe your chin etc if the precious blood happens to run out of your mouth.
I am familiar with the whomever is holding the red napkin lifting it up after the priest communes one so you can kiss the chalice.
2 complaints:
I didn’t open my mouth widely enough for the Eucharist, and the spoon touched my lips. 😊 I even practiced beforehand
I thought people were staring at me as I tried to keep my son under control, so I bowed my head in shame, asking the Lord if I should leave, inasmuch as I hated to do that. Suddenly, what I thought were stares of disapproval were actually smiles, nods, and approving / encouraging looks. My bad! I am ashamed to say that I thought people were looking at me harshly, or judging my parenting – which was incredibly distracting from the Liturgy itself. (Just one young lady was obviously annoyed.)
Click to expand...
It doesn’t seem to be typical in the US but some other places the faithful basically close their mouth around the spoon. Whatever you experienced, it’s nothing to be concerned about. 🙂

We unfortunately have no little children in our parish. We always are delighted when children come. Our particular temple isn’t “child proof” in one sense we discovered when a large family with a toddler visited us. We use sand for holding our candles upright and the box in front of our patronal icon is low enough a toddler can easily reach it. Sand is easily swept up but candles toppling is a safety concern. I don’t know that we will have this particular candle holder in our new location, at least not inside the temple itself. It hasn’t proved to be an issue with other little visitors luckily. The Orthodox parish I get to fairly often has a number of toddlers at Vespers (I’m rarely there for any other services) and they roam about and are typically pretty quiet. Again, that parish seems like ours to be very happy to have children in Liturgy.

You don’t mention them having Forgiveness Vespers today. Are they on the old calendar so today was Meatfare for them, as it was at our parish, rather than Cheesefare?

We had a visitor today who will be moving to DC next summer or fall. I’m happy to know of a good parish to suggest he check out.

It’s so good to hear you had such a positive experience there. 🙂
 
It is clear that you were very welcome there, and as a lifelong BC, I would have expected nothing else from the “nasi” (our people).

Your “3 Questions”:
  • Where do I find a midi or an MP3 of the “Holy God - Holy Mighty One” (Option C)? I actually cried listening to that, as I was so very moved by it. I’ll just blame it on the pregnancy hormones.
It wasn’t the hormones. Carpatho-Rusyn Plainchant (Prostopinije) is regarded by many as a treasure. BTW - you can find recordings of all the music settings in the pew book here:

metropolitancantorinstitute.org/RecordedMusic.html

That said, I’m not a big fan of these particular recordings, as they were done to be instructional (to teach the music) and IMO do not match the beauty of the same rendered by a faithful congregation, where the “soul” of the music is so very evident.

I’ll try to locate and send you a link to either an mp3 or a YouTube video.
  • What are the large gold cherubs on poles called, and were they used to represent? I’m guessing angels hovering over actions the Liturgy?
They are called Ripidia as 5Loaves mentioned. The sanctuary of a Byzantine Church is properly configured to match the Old Testament description of the Tabernacle, the Holy of Holies, as given by God in Exodus 25. In the New Testament, in Chapter 9 of the Epistle to the Hebrews, this usage is further explained and reconciled to its purposeful intent under the New and Everlasting Covenant. We of the Byzantine Rite follow that OT prescription for the Tabernacle in our Sanctuaries, by and large, as further explained in Hebrews 9:1-10. Each point of instruction on the construction of the tabernacle as reconciled in Hebrews 9:1-10 is supposed to be evident in the Byzantine sanctuary (the most common omission is the lack of a red curtain behind the royal doors of the icon screen). The Ripidia represent “the cherubim of glory overshadowing the place of expiation” [Heb 9:5].
  • When one receives the Eucharist, commonly one puts one’s hands under a red cloth. What does that cloth and that action represent? Does one hold someone’s hand under there?
While this custom is not universal, the red cloth is used as a communion paten would be in the Roman Rite. Those who use it will normally grab it from the bottom and hold it under their chin as they receive the Eucharist, as a precaution.
 
5Loaves said:
I’m not familiar with putting one’s hands under the red napkin. It’s there to catch any of the Eucharist were that to spill in any way. You may use it to wipe your chin etc if the precious blood happens to run out of your mouth.
I am familiar with the whomever is holding the red napkin lifting it up after the priest communes one so you can kiss the chalice.
Click to expand...
I didn’t see kissing the chalice happen, but I would dearly love to do that someday. Let me tell you I was watching bug-eyed so I didn’t look stupid when it was my turn. I decided to keep my son in my arms so I didn’t have to reach out and use it (not everyone did). At least I remembererd not to say “Amen!” Haha.

I just realized that I didn’t talk to the priest beforehand. I wonder how he knew I was Catholic and able to receive? Pshaw. I’m sure he’s seen it all before, haha! I must give out Catholic phermones. Many of the respones are the same, and I was surprised to hear so much of the service in English.

My only complaint is that the celebrant spoke/chanted so quietly that I was embarrassed by my son. If I couldn’t hear so well, how could others hear? 😦
5Loaves said:
It doesn’t seem to be typical in the US but some other places the faithful basically close their mouth around the spoon. Whatever you experienced, it’s nothing to be concerned about. 🙂
Click to expand...
I am relieved! I meant no disrespect. I liken it to licking a priest’s fingers after reception of the Eucharist in the Latin Rite. 😛
5Loaves said:
You don’t mention them having Forgiveness Vespers today. Are they on the old calendar so today was Meatfare for them, as it was at our parish, rather than Cheesefare?
Click to expand...
Since it’s a mission, Vespers were to be held at the big church in Annandale later in the afternoon. However, after Divine Liturgy there was a “Ceremony of Forgiveness at the Beginning of Great Lent.” I haven’t processed to kiss a crucifix since my Bobka passed.
5Loaves said:
We had a visitor today who will be moving to DC next summer or fall. I’m happy to know of a good parish to suggest he check out.
Click to expand...
It’s a small mission, and I would gladly recommend it, and if it’s anything like what they do at the big church, I’d recommend it wholeheartedly. Please let me know when they move, I wouldn’t mind if you passed on my personal info.
 
ByzCathCantor said:
Your “3 Questions”:
  • Where do I find a midi or an MP3 of the “Holy God - Holy Mighty One” (Option C)? I actually cried listening to that, as I was so very moved by it. I’ll just blame it on the pregnancy hormones.
It wasn’t the hormones. Carpatho-Rusyn Plainchant (Prostopinije) is regarded by many as a treasure. BTW - you can find recordings of all the music settings in the pew book here:

metropolitancantorinstitute.org/RecordedMusic.html

That said, I’m not a big fan of these particular recordings, as they were done to be instructional (to teach the music) and IMO do not match the beauty of the same rendered by a faithful congregation, where the “soul” of the music is so very evident.

I’ll try to locate and send you a link to either an mp3 or a YouTube video.
Click to expand...
This was it!: metropolitancantorinstitute.org/recordings/DivineLiturgies/025ThriceHolyHymnC.mp3
Just…wow. I have no words to describe it even as I listen to it now. If there was an epiphany moment during the DL, this was it. I wanted to be with the angels just singing His praise, and I think this was the next best thing.

(Man, I sure am waxing posaic, huh? LOL)
ByzCathCantor said:
The sanctuary of a Byzantine Church is properly configured to match the Old Testament description of the Tabernacle, the Holy of Holies, as given by God in Exodus 25. In the New Testament, in Chapter 9 of the Epistle to the Hebrews, this usage is further explained and reconciled to its purposeful intent under the New and Everlasting Covenant. We of the Byzantine Rite follow that OT prescription for the Tabernacle in our Sanctuaries, by and large, as further explained in Hebrews 9:1-10. Each point of instruction on the construction of the tabernacle as reconciled in Hebrews 9:1-10 is supposed to be evident in the Byzantine sanctuary (the most common omission is the lack of a red curtain behind the royal doors of the icon screen). The Ripidia represent “the cherubim of glory overshadowing the place of expiation” [Heb 9:5].
Click to expand...
NO WONDER…even in a gymnasium there was no other place to focus. The most unusual thing for me was the blending of the sacred worship and the secular community in the same space – in front of a construct of the Holy of Holies, no less! I have come to expect one or another at Mass, and never both.
 
Miserissima said:
NO WONDER…even in a gymnasium there was no other place to focus. The most unusual thing for me was the blending of the sacred worship and the secular community in the same space – in front of a construct of the Holy of Holies, no less! I have come to expect one or another at Mass, and never both.
Click to expand...
Welcome to “Heaven on Earth”!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top