What is the Byzantine Catholic Church? The Byzantine Catholic Church (Ruthenian) is one of 24 Churches (who are in communion with the Pope of Rome) that make up the Holy Catholic Church.
Our church uses the Byzantine Rite for our worship. Which means that the way we worship, mostly comes from the culture and customs of ancient Constantinople.
Can a Roman Catholic go to confession and receive communion in the Byzantine Church? Yes! As a Church in full communion with Rome, any properly disposed Catholic may receive communion in our church and can go to confession.
This is my first Divine Liturgy, what should I expect? First off, welcome! We are always excited to welcome visitors!
Our Divine Liturgy takes about an hour and half minimum. Extra services like baptisms or other blessing/services can be attached, which will lengthen the Liturgy.
Watch, observe and follow the others, do not worry about doing something wrong, most of us were in the same situation at one point.
Expect a lot of chanting, almost everything is chanted
We say "Lord have mercy" a lot!
We use a lot of incense, we use it to bless the building, the people, the icons, the Holy Gifts, everything!
We cross ourselves A LOT! We do this to honor the Most Holy Trinity (who gets mentions a lot). and really anytime you feel moved to do so.
The way we cross ourselves is from Right to Left, which is the older custom of doing the sign of the cross.
Standing is the normal posture for liturgy, however should you feel like you need to sit, please do so! No one will have an issue with you sitting.
Holy Communion is distributed by spoon. The Sacred Body is mixed with the Sacred Blood in the Chalice prior to distribution. Just open your mouth wide, tongue back and do not close. You do not say anything (like Amen), the priest will speak for you as you receive.
Everything about the Liturgy engages and elevates all senses, your intellect and your soul to Heaven, to the Mystical Banquet of the Lamb. We worship with our whole being.
Why do your infants/children receive communion? The ancient custom of the Church for anyone (infants,children and adults) coming in, was to receive all three sacraments of initiation (baptism, Chrismation/Confirmation, eucharist) at once. The Byzantine church has retained this practice for both adults and infants/children.
Do you kneel during the consecration? The proper liturgical posture throughout the Divine Liturgy is to stand. In our Tradition, kneeling is a sign of repentance/penance rather than adoration/reverence. In place of kneeling, we do a profound bow at the Words of Institution and the Epiclesis (invoking the Holy Spirit over the Gifts).