Dancing Girls In A Byzantine Catholic Church Sanctuary

[Maggyie]

I don't see what the problem is if it wasn't during Mass?

 

Although I know the eastern tradition is much more rigid about ALL forms of artistic expression of religious feeling (statues are forbidden etc). So maybe it's wrong b/c it's in a Byzantine church?

[Apotheoun]

Are they in the sanctuary or the chancel?

In the Byzantine liturgical tradition what Westerners call the nave (i.e., the main body of the Church building) is the sanctuary, and profane or secular activities really are not supposed to occur within the temple.

[Apotheoun]

What is your take on this?

I see dancing in the sanctuary as improper, because it trivializes the sacred nature of the space.

[Apotheoun]

while, I'm no expert in Eastern Architecture... I'd say neither the step is where I see the chancel beginning and the sanctuary is further back.

 

In any regard I do not see a specific problem here as we historically have had concerts and other social gatherings in the Church outside of the liturgy. Without having seen dance and lacking more knowledge I won't let my feathers get ruffled.

The sanctuary of the Christian temple - in the Byzantine Tradition - is the main body of the Church, while the area behind the iconostasis is the Holy of Holies. The entire temple building is sacred, and profane activities should not take place within a Christian Church.

[arfink]

Heaven forbid someone sneeze...

[Apotheoun]

Heaven forbid someone sneeze...

Should a person sneeze I would say "God bless you."

 

The whole Church building is a temple in the Byzantine Tradition, and as a temple it is a sacred place consecrated to the celebration of the liturgy. If you want to have a dance or music recital do that in the parish hall or in some other unconsecrated space.

[GeorgiiMichael]

Since the dance was religious in nature, despite not being a liturgy or within the context of a liturgy, is it still profane?

 

That said, many comments seem to be taking a very...Jehovah's Witness approach to dancing...

[arfink]

Dancing is clearly always profane.

[Apotheoun]

Since the dance was religious in nature, despite not being a liturgy or within the context of a liturgy, is it still profane?

 

That said, many comments seem to be taking a very...Jehovah's Witness approach to dancing...

Yes, it was profane, because the Church building is consecrated for liturgical worship and not for dance recitals, even religiously based dance recitals. When the bishop consecrates the Church structure he consecrates all its different parts and not just the altar table and the holy of holies behind the iconostasis. The main body of the temple is where the members of the royal priesthood gather in their divine service to God during the holy liturgy, and so it is a sacred space intended for that - and only that - purpose. The whole Christian temple (normally called a Church in the West) is heaven on earth, and the meeting place of God and man in divine worship.

 

PS - I am not opposed to a religiously based (or even a secular) dance recital per se, I am simply opposed to the misuse of the temple by allowing a non-liturgical event in the liturgical space. If a parish wants to have a dance recital, do it in the parish hall or if the parish does not have a hall, rent a hall elsewhere for that event.

Edited August 2, 2013 by Apotheoun

[arfink]

It just should have been liturgical dance, instead of religious-themed profane dancing.

[Apotheoun]

Dancing is clearly always profane.

Dancing is not considered a liturgical act in the Byzantine Tradition. Perhaps the Roman Rite considers it to be liturgical, although I have read plenty of directives from Rome forbidding dance during the liturgy in Western countries.

[Apotheoun]

It just should have been liturgical dance, instead of religious-themed profane dancing.

Ah, how far the Roman Church has fallen when its own members do not even know its own Traditions.

[arfink]

You are too easy Apotheoun. :hehe:

[Apotheoun]

You are too easy Apotheoun. :hehe:

And you are too loose.  :hehe2:

[arfink]

Well, I always had that problem in Oregon Trail...