My first Divine Liturgy experience.

[heavenlyboy34]

Fr.Chris is back! Emphasis onfaith in salvation and asking God for help and being thankful inovercoming adversity. Also a bit about the Eucharist and the meaningof several parts of the liturgy. (first of a series on the meanings of the parts of Liturgy) I get the sense that cradle Orthodox don't appreciate the depth and profundity of the liturgy as much as us converts do. Mamechka had to leave early so I only saw her briefly. Hugs and kisses all around after church.


Epistle Hebrews 13:17-21 Gospel Luke17:12-19. Learned that Fr. Chris recently had a mini-stroke. Verysadz.

 

[heavenlyboy34]

31st Sunday after Pentacost and 14th Sunday of Luke. Blessed Xenia of St Petersburg, fool-for-Christ. Righteous Mother Xenia the merciful of Rome, Hieromartyr Babylas of Sicily; Venerable Philotheos, founder of Philotheou monastery on Athos.

Continuing series on the Divine Liturgy, primarily the Eucharist. Fr. Chris brought all the elements into the center of the church and prepared communion there. A very educational and beautiful experience. One of these days I'm going to get around to uploading homilies.

Getting better at singing tenor now that I've had a few voice lessons...Getting to middle C pretty easily, higher than that is difficult, but becoming more natural.

Epistle Timothy 1:15-17 Gospel Luke 18:35-43

 

[TER]

 

[heavenlyboy34]

^^ The arrangement of "Blessed Be The Name Of The Lord" that i'm accustomed to has become one of my favorite choral pieces, secular or sacred.

 

[heavenlyboy34]

Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee. Epistle-Timothy 3:10-15, Gospel Luke 18:10-14 Pretty average day overall..but learned my friend Rzoon is pregnant nao. yay!

 

[heavenlyboy34]

Busy Lenten season is busy. :O Finally getting a bit caught up here.


2[SUP]nd[/SUP] Sunday of Great Lent
Archbishop of Thessalonica Martyr Matrona of Thessalonica; Martyrs Philetos the Senator, his wife Lydia of Rome and those with them; Paul, Bishop of Corinth



Very long liturgy-the Liturgy of St Basil The Great. Bishop John of the Diocese of Worcester and New England presided over liturgy. Pretty interesting experience. I recorded his homily.



Singing is feeling stronger every week.

 

[heavenlyboy34]

Continuing the Lenten journey. Veneration of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross Abbot Nikitas the Confessor of Medikion; Venrable Joseph the Hymnographer; New-martyr Paul the Russian

Per tradition, still using St Basil's liturgy-quite a bit longer than Chrysostom's. Epistle Hebrews 4:14-5:6 Gospel Mark 8:34-9:1

Fr Chris continuing the series about Liturgy-this time on the importance of bringing children to church.

 

[heavenlyboy34]

Fr Chris talked a lot about Orthodox marriage and philosophy today as a continuation on his series about the liturgy within the liturgy. Pretty interesting. Video coming ASAP. Gospel Mark 9:16-30 Epistle-Hebrews 6:13-20

 

[qh4dotcom]

Please do all of us and the world a favor next time you go to church

The last time I went to a church several years ago...the priest said "The peace of the Lord be with you”

The people at the church replied “And also with you.”

The Priest said: "Let us offer each other a sign of peace"

So the priest and all the people exchanged an embrace, handshake, or other appropriate gesture of peace with those near them.

If this happens at your church, please ask those whom you exchange a gesture of peace to wish the whole world peace during elections....and not support any corrupt pro-war politician.

 

[heavenlyboy34]

Went to confession toady. Went pretty well and I had a nice talk with Fr Chris. There's no confessional in EO tradition, which I like because it's more personal.

 

[fisharmor]

Fr Chris talked a lot about Orthodox marriage and philosophy today as a continuation on his series about the liturgy within the liturgy. Pretty interesting. Video coming ASAP. Gospel Mark 9:16-30 Epistle-Hebrews 6:13-20

I was just talking to my wife about this recently.
Well, not this in particular.

What I noticed is that, when we were Lutherans, there was really a lot of effort spent on convincing everyone that we didn't have to do anything as Christians.
We didn't contribute to our salvation, we didn't have to follow traditions, we didn't have to read any theology, we didn't have to do anything really.
Just show up and occasionally vote to obliterate yet another historical artifact that didn't have any meaning any longer.

If we wanted to actually KNOW something, actually study something, well gee, that's great! These other people want to know too! Why don't YOU start a study group and check that out!
Why don't YOU serve on the Board of Education! You're a perfect candidate, because you're interested in filling that abject dearth of knowledge we left you with!
Why don't YOU serve on the worship committee! If you don't think it's happening correctly, then YOU should spend YOUR time to fix it!

To any protestants (in particular) reading this thread:
I have literally not had to DO anything since becoming Orthodox.
I've been sitting back for the last two years and just absorbing everything.
The most I've had to actually DO, is ask questions.

In my former life, I would have to prepare for two hours to teach a class on a subject I didn't know anything about, and the group would discuss what we thought about things, and if we ever did get to an answer it was a half-assed platitude scribbled in the margin of a study guide. Most of the time we just ended up with more questions.

In my current life, the economics of my Christian education are so overwhelmingly reversed that I still don't fully believe it. I ask one simple question like "why is it that only during the presanctified liturgy, you close the curtain halfway?" and I get a ten minute response that goes over how the entire liturgy is also an allegory for the public ministry of Christ, and what parts of the liturgy line up with which parts of His ministry, but since the lamb is presanctified that particular part isn't obscured.

I put in the tiniest fraction of the effort I put in previously, and it pays off a hundredfold.

 

[fisharmor]

If this happens at your church, please ask those whom you exchange a gesture of peace to wish the whole world peace during elections....and not support any corrupt pro-war politician.

Part of the Orthodox service is the Cherubic Hymn, which is this (actual wording can vary):

"Let us, who mystically represent the cherubim and sing the thrice-holy hymn to the life-giving trinity, lay aside all worldly cares, that we may receive the King of all, invisibly escorted by the angelic hosts. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia."

In our parish, we repeat the verse "now lay aside all earthly cares" three times, and then we often repeat the stanza as many times as necessary for the priest and deacon to prepare for the Great Entrance, wherein the prepared bread and wine are processed in front of the congregation.

So we're actually singing "now lay aside all earthly cares" as many as nine times.

 

[heavenlyboy34]

Part of the Orthodox service is the Cherubic Hymn, which is this (actual wording can vary):

"Let us, who mystically represent the cherubim and sing the thrice-holy hymn to the life-giving trinity, lay aside all worldly cares, that we may receive the King of all, invisibly escorted by the angelic hosts. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia."

In our parish, we repeat the verse "now lay aside all earthly cares" three times, and then we often repeat the stanza as many times as necessary for the priest and deacon to prepare for the Great Entrance, wherein the prepared bread and wine are processed in front of the congregation.

So we're actually singing "now lay aside all earthly cares" as many as nine times.

You mean the people in your parish sing along with the choir? That's interesting. That's reserved for special occasions at my parish.

 

[TER]

You mean the people in your parish sing along with the choir?

That's the way it should be done, and how it was done from the earliest established liturgies of the early Church! After all, all those present in the liturgy are active participants in the service to the Lord, giving the amen, responding to the exhortations of the priest and deacons, and co-worshipping together the Holy Trinity as one body of Christ. It is unfortunate that in time much of this understanding has been lost amongst the local Churches (especially in the west) and has been relegated as a service done primarily by a particular choir. Acoustically, this may be pleasing, since a choir often contains the most talented singers from amongst the parish, but the purpose is for the choir to lead all the other members of the congregation (the laity in particular, including the children), into participation in the prayers, hymns, and doxologies offered to God.

I too grew in a parish where, with the exception of a few members singing from within the pews, the choir hymned certain parts of the liturgy while the laity were more observants rather than active participants, at least externally. It wasn't until just recently, after studying the liturgical developments of the early Church, that I learned the truly important role of the laity in every divine service of the Church. In fact, without a laity to witness and co-worship along with the ordained clergy, a Divine Liturgy is impossible to take place and forbidden by the Holy Canons.

Now, I am much more engaged in the liturgical services, singing along with the choir while standing in the nave, bowing and kneeling at the appointed times, responding to the exhortations of the clergy, and praying to God along with my fellow members the intercessions of the Church for peace in the world. So too have I found the parish in general become much more active with the hymns and prayers. This reversion is happening in many parishes, having been helped by the likes of men like Father Alexander Schmemann and his contemporaries.

It is not a mere mental assent and approval of what the priest is saying and doing, but rather a cooperation and communal prayer of our mind, our soul, and our body, with not only the priest, but with those around us, and even with those far from us in spatial distance and even historic time, yet together, present before God and His Heavenly Hosts and in unity as members in Christ.

And it is this experience of the Holy Church and the members in it, and, above all, the grace of God (by Whom all things find life and being), whereby the liturgies and the prayers we have now are the same in foundation and basic form which existed from the very beginning of the history of the Church.

For further information, I recommend these books:


http://www.amazon.com/The-Orthodox-Liturgy-Development-Eucharistic/dp/0881411000

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/09..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=17R5P68HDY5QD9829VBT

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/08..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=17R5P68HDY5QD9829VBT

 

[fisharmor]

You mean the people in your parish sing along with the choir? That's interesting. That's reserved for special occasions at my parish.

Well, I am in the choir, but yes, the people sing with the choir. It's particularly quiet during the Troparion and other parts where we're the only ones who know what's going on.

BUT, let me add something you (and unfortunately probably also for TER) about the people singing.
The people probably WANT to sing. So go to Fr Chris and tell him that this angry Orthodox guy on this political forum you're on has some sage advice.


PRINT. THE. MUSIC.
Don't hand newcomers that little black Divine Liturgy book. Throw those away. They are useless to singers.
Print out a large book that has staffs on it with ALL. FOUR. PARTS. Unless Antiochian doesn't have four parts. I don't know. The point is, not everyone is either a soprano or a habitual wearer of tight underwear. We baritones need the music too.

Second, if you have a choir loft, consider not using it. I'll leave it to others to determine whether having the choir above and behind the people sends some kind of message. The main point here is, if some angry baritone Ron Paul fan is singing along with your PRINTED MUSIC, the choir will not only hear it, but will ID that guy and rope him into being in the actual choir. Before you know it the choir proper will consist of a fifth of the total attendance.

 

[TER]

This is an excellent article pertaining to the topic of the laity in the Eucharist assembly

https://avowofconversation.wordpress.com/2010/05/31/the-sacrament-of-the-assembly/

 

[heavenlyboy34]

Well, I am in the choir, but yes, the people sing with the choir. It's particularly quiet during the Troparion and other parts where we're the only ones who know what's going on.

BUT, let me add something you (and unfortunately probably also for TER) about the people singing.
The people probably WANT to sing. So go to Fr Chris and tell him that this angry Orthodox guy on this political forum you're on has some sage advice.


PRINT. THE. MUSIC.
Don't hand newcomers that little black Divine Liturgy book. Throw those away. They are useless to singers.
Print out a large book that has staffs on it with ALL. FOUR. PARTS. Unless Antiochian doesn't have four parts. I don't know. The point is, not everyone is either a soprano or a habitual wearer of tight underwear. We baritones need the music too.

Second, if you have a choir loft, consider not using it. I'll leave it to others to determine whether having the choir above and behind the people sends some kind of message. The main point here is, if some angry baritone Ron Paul fan is singing along with your PRINTED MUSIC, the choir will not only hear it, but will ID that guy and rope him into being in the actual choir. Before you know it the choir proper will consist of a fifth of the total attendance.

Nicely said. Most of Anitochian choral music is in 4 parts. There are only a few things like the music before and after the gospel reading that are just chanted Byzantine melody transcribed in Western notation.
(ETA: Straight Byzantine chant is just melody and ison, like all other Orthodox chant.)

We do have a choir loft. We once did a "camp" liturgy in which the choir was in front of the church and everyone in the church had a copy of the music to sing along with. We have a new choir director who is still kind of learning the ropes, so IDK when we'll do that again. Hopefully later this year sometime.

 

[heavenlyboy34]

OMG, This is the busiest Palm Sunday I remember. EVARRR. Fun, though. The voice lessons are helping me with better tone and
such. Chanter did my favorite Byzantine Chant-Rejoice O Bethany. w00t! Epistle: Phillippians 4:4-9 Gospel John 12:1-18

 

[heavenlyboy34]

Holy Saturday was great! This is the first year I've had time to go, and I rather liked it.

 

[fisharmor]

Christ is risen!



If there are devout and God-loving people here, let them enjoy this beautiful, radiant festival. If there are prudent servants, enter joyously into the Lord’s joy. Whoever may be spent from fasting, enjoy now your reward. Whoever has toiled from the first hour, receive today your just settlement. If any came after the third hour, celebrate gratefully. If any of you arrived after the sixth, have no misgivings, you have lost nothing. If some have been as late as the ninth, come forward, do not be at a loss. If any of you have arrived only at the eleventh hour, do not be dismayed for being late.
The Master is gracious: He accepts the last even as the first; He gives rest to those of the eleventh as well as to those have labored from the first; He is lenient with the last while looking after the first; to one He gives, to the other He gives freely; He accepts the labors and welcomes the effort; honors the deed but commends the intent. So, all of you, enter into the joy of our Lord: first and second, share the bounty. Rich and poor alike, celebrate together. Sober or heedless, honor the day. Those who fasted and those who did not, rejoice today. The table is full, everyone fare sumptuously. The calf is fatted; no one go away hungry. Everyone, savor the banquet of faith; relish the riches of His goodness.
No one need lament poverty, for the kingdom is seen as universal. No one need grieve over sins; forgiveness has dawned from the tomb. No one need fear death; the Savior’s death has freed us from it. While it’s captive He stifled it. He despoiled Hades as He descended into it; it was vexed when it tasted His flesh.
Foreseeing this Isaiah proclaimed: “Hades,” he said, “was vexed when he met You below.” It was vexed because it was abolished. It was vexed because it was mocked. It was vexed because it was slain. It was vexed because it was shackled. It received a body and encountered God. It took earth and came face to face with heaven. It took what it saw and fell by what it could not see.
Death, where is your sting? Hades, where is your victory?
Christ is risen and you are overthrown.
Christ is risen and demons have fallen.
Christ is risen and angels rejoice.
Christ is risen and life rules.
Christ is risen and not one dead remains in the tombs.
For Christ having risen from the dead has become the first fruits of those that slept. To Him be the glory and the dominion, forever.