The Official "ask Byzantine About The Eastern Churches" Thread

[Ice_nine]

Do Eastern churches accept all the ecumenical councils? I seem to remember a long convo on here a long time ago saying they don't but are still in union with Rome. It's cool if you can't answer this.

When people ask you what your religion is, do you identify as simply Catholic? Or do you think it's necessary to identify as an Eastern Catholic?

Are there stricter rules for fasting before Mass? I know Eastern Orthodox does.

Is Melkite Greek? are you Greek? Are we all Greeks?!

Have you ever attended the Roman rite, whether the EF or NO? If so why is Eastern liturgy preferable to you? Is it something of family tradition, or culture? Do you think you would suffer if only the Roman rite was available to you?

Why are you Eastern Catholic as opposed to Eastern Orthodox? If you were raised this way perhaps you didn't have to make the decision, but figure I'd ask.




On a side note aka tangent: I just think it's so cool how Catholicism contains so many varying cultures and peoples around the world, with such rich histories! Sometimes i hear people complaining about how Jesus is always portrayed as a white guy and how it's not realistic right . . . but I went to the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and I discovered all of these Marian apparitions that happened around the world and in these different sections how Mary and Jesus were artistically portrayed as being of that given culture where the apparition took place. It was so edifying for me because it just reminds me of the universality of Catholicism and learning about all these different rites and learning about them, while overwhelming, conjures up the same emotions.

pax son

[carmenchristi]

This thread is cool. Thanks for the info!

Just to add my 2 cents:
In Rome there is a Centre founded by p. Marko Rupnik (The famous mosaic artist among whose works are the facade of the Basilica at Lourdes). Anyway, this centre is dedicated to the study of the spirituality of the Oriental Church.

The site is in Italian, but someone might find it interesting. [url="http://www.centroaletti.com/index.htm"]http://www.centroaletti.com/index.htm[/url]

There are a lot of great books by p. Rupnik, some of which have been translated into English.

[Byzantine]

[quote name='Ice_nine' timestamp='1313826635' post='2291874']
Do Eastern churches accept all the ecumenical councils? I seem to remember a long convo on here a long time ago saying they don't but are still in union with Rome. It's cool if you can't answer this.
[font=comic sans ms,cursive][size=4][color=#0000cd]I read on a Melkite website that the answer is yes. However, we might already have these beliefs written in our own theological language, so you might not find quotes from council documents in our writings about them. Remember, I'm 17 so some of this is just conjecture.[/color][/size][/font]

When people ask you what your religion is, do you identify as simply Catholic? Or do you think it's necessary to identify as an Eastern Catholic?
[font=comic sans ms,cursive][size=4][color=#0000cd]I always define myself as Byzantine Catholic. I actually checked "other" on the PSAT because I refused to define myself as Roman Catholic, which was the only Catholic option. I disagree with the idea of anyone defining themselves as just "Catholic."[/color][/size][/font]

Are there stricter rules for fasting before Mass? I know Eastern Orthodox does.
[font=comic sans ms,cursive][size=4][color=#0000cd]This is a discipline, not an issue of theology. Therefore, while some will make the personal choice to fast the old way, we are only required to do the one hour fast (although I guess a Church's particular law could change that).[/color][/size][/font]

Is Melkite Greek? are you Greek? Are we all Greeks?!
[font="'comic sans ms"][color="#0000CD"]Yes, to a certain degree (x2), and no, certainly not.[/color][/font]
[font="'comic sans ms"][color="#0000CD"]The Melkites follow the Greek/Byzantine Rite according to the historical usage of their Church. I also follow the Greek/Byzantine Rite, but as a member of the BCMCP (Byzantine Catholic Metropolitan Church of Pittsburgh), I do it according to the Ruthenian usage (since the BCMCP is comprised of the children and converts of immigrants of the Ruthenian Church) as it has come down to us, although we are still somewhat in the process of de-latinization.[/color][/font]

Have you ever attended the Roman rite, whether the EF or NO? If so why is Eastern liturgy preferable to you? Is it something of family tradition, or culture? Do you think you would suffer if only the Roman rite was available to you?
[font=comic sans ms,cursive][size=4][color=#0000cd]Catholic school, amigo! I've attended the NO quite often. We had a priest from the Pittsburgh Latin Mass Community come and say Low Mass once (very interesting, especially since I love the Latin language). Never been to High Mass, but I'd like to. I'd love to attend some of the other Eastern Rites, but I don't know when that'll happen. Byzantine Liturgy is just... it's like nothing else to me. I think I'd definitely suffer if only NO was available, although without the guitars and clapping perhaps not so much. If there was no Byzantine church around, I'd go to one of the other Eastern Rites, then to the EF, and then to the NO.[/color][/size][/font]

Why are you Eastern Catholic as opposed to Eastern Orthodox? If you were raised this way perhaps you didn't have to make the decision, but figure I'd ask.
[font=comic sans ms,cursive][size=4][color=#0000cd]I was raised this way, and now that I've begun to learn more about what I'm supposed to be, I really want to show people what being an Orthodox Christian in Communion with Rome is. If you're interested in a good answer to this question, I would contact Fr. Diodoro Mendoza, who apparently has a great conversion story (I don't know what he was before). I don't know it, but I'm sure he'd tell you.[/color][/size][/font]




On a side note aka tangent: I just think it's so cool how Catholicism contains so many varying cultures and peoples around the world, with such rich histories! Sometimes i hear people complaining about how Jesus is always portrayed as a white guy and how it's not realistic right . . . but I went to the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and I discovered all of these Marian apparitions that happened around the world and in these different sections how Mary and Jesus were artistically portrayed as being of that given culture where the apparition took place. It was so edifying for me because it just reminds me of the universality of Catholicism and learning about all these different rites and learning about them, while overwhelming, conjures up the same emotions.

pax son
[/quote]
[font=comic sans ms,cursive][size=4][color=#0000cd]Aye aye![/color][/size][/font]

[quote name='carmenchristi' timestamp='1313830599' post='2291880']
This thread is cool. Thanks for the info!

Just to add my 2 cents:
In Rome there is a Centre founded by p. Marko Rupnik (The famous mosaic artist among whose works are the facade of the Basilica at Lourdes). Anyway, this centre is dedicated to the study of the spirituality of the Oriental Church.

The site is in Italian, but someone might find it interesting. [url="http://www.centroaletti.com/index.htm"]http://www.centroaletti.com/index.htm[/url]

There are a lot of great books by p. Rupnik, some of which have been translated into English.
[/quote]

[font=comic sans ms,cursive][size=4][color=#0000cd]You're welcome. This link is very interesting. Thanks![/color][/size][/font]

[Amppax]

this is one of the coolest threads here, jussayin.

[Byzantine]

Thanks!

[faithcecelia]

[quote name='Amppax' timestamp='1313852277' post='2291945']
this is one of the coolest threads here, jussayin.
[/quote]

Agreed!

And without sounding like a patronising spinster aunt, you are very eloquent for someone so young, your posts are very easy to read.

[Byzantine]

Thanks I owe it to God and the friends He has given me.

[Ice_nine]

THanks for answering! It's cool if you can't answer everything, so don't feel bad if you don't know something. In addition to learning more about Eastern Catholicism on a scholastic level I'm also just interested as to look through a kid who grew up in another rite and still practices it.

[quote name='Byzantine' timestamp='1313839728' post='2291896']
[font=comic sans ms,cursive][size=4][color=#0000cd]I always define myself as Byzantine Catholic. I actually checked "other" on the PSAT because I refused to define myself as Roman Catholic, which was the only Catholic option. I disagree with the idea of anyone defining themselves as just "Catholic."[/color][/size][/font]
[/quote]

Why do you disagree with it? I'm Roman Catholic (as opposed to another rite) probably just because of convenience and proximity. It's the only form of Catholicism I've ever been exposed to, but I do find what I know of Eastern thought and theology (which is very, very little) to be appealing so I guess I'm not ready to box myself in yet.

Can one identify with more than one rite? I would imagine this situation would come up if a child had a Melkite Catholic parent and a Roman Catholic parent, or perhaps for just someone who loves both. Personally, why is one particular rite integral to your identity?


[quote][font=comic sans ms,cursive][size=4][color=#0000CD]I was raised this way, and now that I've begun to learn more about what I'm supposed to be, I really want to show people what being an Orthodox Christian in Communion with Rome is. If you're interested in a good answer to this question, I would contact Fr. Diodoro Mendoza, who apparently has a great conversion story (I don't know what he was before). I don't know it, but I'm sure he'd tell you.[/color][/size][/font][/quote]

cool bro!

[Byzantine]

[quote name='Ice_nine' timestamp='1313901087' post='2292447']
THanks for answering! It's cool if you can't answer everything, so don't feel bad if you don't know something. In addition to learning more about Eastern Catholicism on a scholastic level I'm also just interested as to look through a kid who grew up in another rite and still practices it.



Why do you disagree with it? I'm Roman Catholic (as opposed to another rite) probably just because of convenience and proximity. It's the only form of Catholicism I've ever been exposed to, but I do find what I know of Eastern thought and theology (which is very, very little) to be appealing so I guess I'm not ready to box myself in yet.

[font=comic sans ms,cursive][size=4][color=#0000cd]I feel that for all the Rites to be given the honor due to them, we cannot just keep saying "we're Catholics." Someone who identifies as a Roman Catholic is going to have a different way of thinking (I guess that's how you'd say it?) about certain topics than someone who identifies as a Byzantine. If we just label them both "Catholic," we end up confusing each other and the people we try to evangelize. Plus, it's annoying because I've found people who think "Catholic" only means "Roman Catholic."[/color][/size][/font]

Can one identify with more than one rite? I would imagine this situation would come up if a child had a Melkite Catholic parent and a Roman Catholic parent, or perhaps for just someone who loves both. Personally, why is one particular rite integral to your identity?

[font=comic sans ms,cursive][size=4][color=#0000cd]There are such people as biritual priests, who have faculties in two rights. However, I hear that it's being discouraged nowadays (although priests from different Churches may concelebrate if the bishops approve or something like that). If a child's parents are of two different Churches, Canon Law prescribes that the child is to be Baptized according to the father's Church unless otherwise specified (by both parents?). If one spouse is not Catholic, the child is to be Baptized according to the Catholic parent's Church. [url="http://easterncatholicspiritualrenewal.blogspot.com/2011/08/its-either-one-or-other.html"]This[/url] blog post ought to explain better.[/color][/size][/font]

cool bro!
[color=#0000cd][font=comic sans ms,cursive][size=3][size=4]Thanks![/size][/size][/font][/color]
[/quote]

[eustace scrubb]

Wow, this has been a very informative thread... thanks for making it!!!! And I am impressed with your zeal!!!

[Byzantine]

[quote name='eustace scrubb' timestamp='1313955525' post='2292761']
Wow, this has been a very informative thread... thanks for making it!!!! And I am impressed with your zeal!!!
[/quote]

Thanks!

[Jaime]

why does the Byzantine Church deny the existence of spoons?

[faithcecelia]

Is it true that [i]any[/i] service counts as the Sunday obligation - even if its not a eucharistic service? I ask because it seemed to be the case on the website you posted yesterday. Thanks

[Byzantine]

[quote name='jaime (the artist formerly known as hot stuff)' timestamp='1313956834' post='2292802']
why does the Byzantine Church deny the existence of spoons?
[/quote]
We do not. Spoons are supposed to be present unless you're a Melkite. Which some might interpret to mean... A quest for spoons! However, we are paranoid and occasionally think people are lumping us with the Orthodox out of Communion with Rome and making snide comments about both of us... My apologies.

[quote name='faithcecelia' timestamp='1313967287' post='2292966']
Is it true that [i]any[/i] service counts as the Sunday obligation - even if its not a eucharistic service? I ask because it seemed to be the case on the website you posted yesterday. Thanks
[/quote]
I have actually only barely explored that website. I've only seen the Rosary page and a few other pages. In some Churches (depending on their particular law), Great Vespers on Saturday night counts. This, I think, is done to escape vigil Liturgies, which, in our tradition, are only for (I think) two days of the year, one being Christmas(?). During Lent, we traditionally don't celebrate the Liturgy on weekdays, so there is a service called typika (not to be confused with the typicon, which is the book with instructions for services) which contains certain parts of the Liturgy. I don't think I've ever heard that just any service can fulfill the obligation.

[faithcecelia]

[quote name='Byzantine' timestamp='1313971241' post='2293025']



I have actually only barely explored that website. I've only seen the Rosary page and a few other pages. In some Churches (depending on their particular law), Great Vespers on Saturday night counts. This, I think, is done to escape vigil Liturgies, which, in our tradition, are only for (I think) two days of the year, one being Christmas(?). During Lent, we traditionally don't celebrate the Liturgy on weekdays, so there is a service called typika (not to be confused with the typicon, which is the book with instructions for services) which contains certain parts of the Liturgy. I don't think I've ever heard that just any service can fulfill the obligation.
[/quote]


Thank you!