What I admire about the Orthodox

[lilypadrees]

It doesn’t matter what language is used. The prayers that are the most effective are those that are sincere.

 

[AlNg]

My priest says they are just as effective in English,

I agree with this as you probably do too. I was only trying to focus in on my disagreement with the comment of Father Rippenger.

I just mentioned what Fr. Rippenger said, and what my priest said in response as part of the thread. Part of the conversation.
How is that, me telling you anything??

You are right.

 

[ProVobis]

Nuances are different from language to language and some things are better left untranslated. Sabbaoth for example. Alleluia, Amen.

 

[catholic1seeks]

I don’t understand how “not teaching Latin” equates to Catholics not holding “onto tradition,” as you suggest.

Latin is very important to Western Catholic theology, but you hardly need to know Latin to be part of, know, and practice the ancient, apostolic, historic Catholic Faith. Sometimes folk forget that Latin only became the church’s language eventually – and only the Latin church – because it was (more or less) vernacular at the time.

But did Jesus or the Apostles use Latin? No.

And not all Catholics are derived from the Latin tradition.

 

[Onthisrock84]

I must say, during benediction, singing Pange Lingua in Latin is much more beautiful than in English.

 

[2towers]

Sorry, I took this to be a “nit-pick” which has become quite normal unfortunately. One of the limitations of texting as well.

 

[dochawk]

She tells me her church has classes every week to learn Greek.

Offering the Divine Liturgy in a language the congregation doesn’t actually understand is quite un-Eastern/un-un-Orthodox . . .

I respect that they use Church Slavonic and Koine Greek.

The very purpose of Church Slavonic when created and introduces by SS C&M was that it was designed to be intelligible to all of the slavs, who spoke different languages and dialects . . .

They were actually called to Rome to defend this and other disputes. After the defense, Methodius is consecrated a bishop and sent back to work . . . (ok, this is simplified, but gets the point across . . .)

I don’t see this. Jesus spoke Aramaic. You mean to tell me that if He had said His prayers in latin instead of Aramaic they would have been more efficacious?

Our former priest got a kick over the radtrads who think Jesus spoke latin. He asked, “What would he have done with it, cussed out Roman soldiers?”

The notion that God listens more to certain languages smacks of the pharisaical notions against healing on the Sabbath . . .

:rofl;

I hear prayers are even more effective if you use 17th century English - the language of the KJB.

That’s because it’s the only divinely inspired Bible–Christians were left without one for the first sixteen centuries . . .

hawk

 

[OsculeturMeOsculo]

All my favorite songs are in Latin. You can also say things and people won’t know what you are talking about.

 

[Onthisrock84]

Maybe the Divine Liturgy is in the vernacular however that doesn’t mean they can’t offer classes in the traditional language.

 

[dochawk]

Yes–but the traditional language is cultural, not a religious issue.

enough EC and EO have enough problem already with being a ethic cultural club first, and a church only second . . .

hawk, EC

 

[AlNg]

I feel they hold onto tradition.

One other thing that I admire about the Orthodox is that they do not have dancing in Church. And they do not have these loud rock bands in their churches. I have seen this dancing and these rock bands at some Catholic Newman chapels during Mass.

 

[Onthisrock84]

That is so sad.

 

[exnihilo]

You have to keep in mind that the Greeks, at least in my experience, are later immigrants who hold fast to their culture. Part of learning Greek would be to keep those cultural bonds. It is both something to admire but also can be a problem as the church may not be looking to evangelize the world.

You can see the same thing in Hispanic Catholics. They have the Mass in their language, teach their kids Spanish, have cultural festivals, and form their own subculture in the local community that can be very inward looking.

 

[ProVobis]

For what it’s worth they estimate that within a decade, the majority of Catholics within the U.S will be Hispanic.

 

[ProVobis]

My own personal belief is that the Baltimore Catechism helped spread the faith in the English speaking countries. The QA format and the logical flow had probably a lot to do with that.

 

[alice24]

You have to keep in mind that the Greeks, at least in my experience, are later immigrants who hold fast to their culture. Part of learning Greek would be to keep those cultural bonds. It is both something to admire but also can be a problem as the church may not be looking to evangelize the world.

You can see the same thing in Hispanic Catholics. They have the Mass in their language, teach their kids Spanish, have cultural festivals, and form their own subculture in the local community that can be very inward looking.

This, so much.
It´s the reason I (with many other non russian people from georgia, romania, syria and germany) attend a russian parish and not a greek orthodox. I was a bit annoyed from the mixture of culture and religion. Not to say that all parishes are like that or that this doesn´t happen in my parish, but since I attend, our priets simply reads the important parts twice - slavonic and german. I have high respect for that as he himself grew up only with russian and still he make sit possible to sing everything beautifully.

 

[LadyMK]

Some KJV-Only protestants even believe that the 1611 translation was inspired. Yeah, sure it was; mountains and hills aren’t eternal and committing adultery isn’t okay.

 

[AlNg]

You have to keep in mind that the Greeks, at least in my experience, are later immigrants who hold fast to their culture.

Greek culture and cuisine is fantastic. What a great contribution Greek immigrants make to whatever country they find themselves in. Too bad so many Americans don’t appreciate it.

 

[alice24]

Well yes, but this isn’t really relevant for a discussion on how open or universal they spread the faith. I did experienced extremely good greek parishes, but stayed at the russian one because years of soviet diaspora had one positive aspect: the focus more on the culture and issues of the countries they were exiled and are therefore a bit more international.

 

[ziapueblo]

There is a Greek Orthodox Church in my town and I have a friend who is Orthodox. She tells me her church has classes every week to learn Greek.
It saddens me, as I feel they hold onto tradition. I never hear of Catholic Churches offering Latin.

It depends on the Church and her pastor. Here is a great resource, and it’s free!
Institute of Catholic Culture with over 800 archives educational programing from Scripture study, philosophy, theology, art, literature, apologetics and more. They also have live webinars. If you do not watch it live they post it the next day on their website or YouTube page. There is also a weekly series they have called the Sunday Gospel Reflection. They go over the historical background of the readings for Sunday, both the Roman and Byzantine rite, so that those of us in the pew are more prepared for the homily. Get a group of parishioners together and watch some of the programming.

Check it out!

ZP