Letters to Bishop Moskal
Bishop Moskul answers letters about faith, the Liturgy , the Catholic Church and more.
Dear Bishop Robert,
Why do we pray for ñorthodox Christiansî in our Liturgy?
Curious
Dear Curious,
During the Divine Liturgy we pray for everyone. Your question undoubtedly is prompted because of some peopleÍs understanding or perception of the term "Orthodox". The English term is derived from the Greek Orthododokeo which means to teach rightly. In a passive sense, it is applied to those who had been "rightly taught", hence "true believing". It seems to me that when this Greek term was translated into Church-Slavonic (or ancient Bulgarian), the translator misinterpreted the second half of the verb Dokeo (to teach-Doksia participle) and confused it with the Greek word (to glorify) -- Doksia (glory), so that many have come to understand the word "Orthodox" as meaning "true -- worshipers" or those "rightly glorifying God". Hence, the word: Pravoslavnyj.
Curious, are you confused by now? Who wouldn't be! Be as it may, the word "Orthodox" has been used throughout the history of the church to describe the Faith of the Church. It appears in the writings of the Fathers of the Church, as well as in the Liturgies of both the Eastern and Western Churches. In the old Latin text of the Roman Catholic Mass, the people prayed "pro orthoxis fidelibus" i.e. for "Orthodox Christians", meaning the faithful who professed the accurate teachings of the Faith. However, since the word "Orthodox" originated in the Eastern Church(es), it was and has been widely used. For us to deny that our Faith is Orthodox, would be negating or re-writing the history of the Church and the terminology which the Church has used and uses.
In modern day Ukraine, many people, not wanting to be confused with the Orthodox Church, especially the Russian Church, argue against the use of the word "Orthodox". The late Patriarch Joseph Slipyi firmly stood on the ground that we must not abandon the use of this word at all costs, because it leads to a correct understanding of our very identity. We can understand that with the gradual estrangement of Eastern Christians from Western Christians, that some misunderstanding can easily arise especially since the term "Orthodox" has shifted in popular parlance from describing The Faith to describing the Church. Nonetheless, we strive to overcome misunderstandings and continue to use the word Orthodox properly, especially in our own day and age to overcome the difficulties of the past and pray for the unity of all the true -- believers in the One Church of Jesus Christ. The communion, in the love of Christ, of all "Orthodox churches" in the Universal Church is the one, holy, apostolic and catholic Church of Jesus Christ, who is the Head of the Church. Our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, has underscored many times that we are "Orthodox in Faith, and Catholic in the bonds of love."
Yours In Christ,
+Bishop Robert
Great Fast 2004
Dear Bishop Robert,
Why do we communicate infants at Baptism in in our Church?
Curious
Dear Curious,
Becoming a member, through Initiation, in the community of believers, the Church, means we become members of the Body of Christ. Any person, regardless of age, who has become a member of the Body of Christ is entitled to partake in the Eucharist (given that their conduct is in accord with the teachings of Christ). Infants, even though they do not understand, receive the Eucharist because they are full members of this Body of Christ. They are not deprived of this unity and nourishment because of their age. St. John Chysostom addressed this question in the fourth century when he said, ñAs a mother will not deny her children food until they understand what they eat, so too the church will not deny the Spiritual Food of the Eucharist until a person understands.î
May I suggest you watching the ñNew Life in the Trinityî video for further explanation.
Yours In Christ,
+Bishop Robert
Fall 2003
Dear Bishop Robert,
For years our priest celebrated the Divine Liturgy without saying many of the prayers out loud. Why is he now beginning to say all the prayers aloud? I don't mind this but it is a big change for us in the congregation.
Curious
Dear Curious,
It is a big change in the Divine Liturgy to have the priest audibly say all the prayers. I must say that it is a healthy change, but it may take some time "getting used to." Our Liturgical scholars tell us that up to the fifth century there were no silent prayers in the Eucharistic celebration. With the passage of time, "private prayers" developed. St. John Chrysostom would not have considered this a healthy change for he wrote: "One sees that the people contribute much to the prayer (Liturgy)... the priest speaks for the people, and the people speak on behalf of the priest, as can be seen from these words, 'And with your spirit.'"
The Church is now directing us back to be the One Body in Christ at the most important moment of the experience of Christ in the Church. You now have an opportunity to actively participate by listening to the prayers of the Church through the priest and assenting with a heartfelt "Amen."
Yours In Christ,
+Bishop Robert
Great Fast 2003
Dear Bishop Robert,
Why do some people in our Churches stand during the consecration?
Curious
Dear Curious,
As early as the second century, Christians celebrated the ñeighth dayî as the joyous day of ChristÍs resurrection. In the Eighth Century, St. Germanus, Patriarch of Constantinople, wrote in his book On the Divine Liturgy: ñWe do not kneel on Sunday as a sign that our fall has been corrected through the resurrection of Christ. We do not kneel until Pentecost because we observe the seven days after Easter seven-fold; seven times seven is forty-nine, and Sunday makes fifty.î (Ukraine accepted Christianity from Constantinople in 988 A.D. therefore that is the source of the practice).
At the beginning of the Anaphora, the priest says, ñLet us stand well! Let us stand in awe! Let us be atentive that we may present the holy offering in peace.î Later he prays... ñWe thank you for this Liturgy... even though there stand before you tens of thousands of angels...î Standing is a reverential position. Men stand when a woman enters the room. Congress stands when the President enters Congress. Therefore, like the angels we stand in praise of God who comes to us by the power of the Holy Spirit (Epiclesis) under the appearance of bread and wine. Kneeling is a penitential position reserved for the Great Fast and other times of fast.
Because the epiclesis (the invocation of the Holy Spirit) is such a sacred moment in the Divine Liturgy, there should be no movement during it. Even if an individual is kneeling, he or she should not stand up until the epiclesis is completed.
Yours In Christ,
+Bishop Robert
Fall 2002
Dear Bishop Robert,
Why does the Ukrainian Church begin Lent on the Monday before Ash Wednesday as observed by the Roman Catholics?
Curious
Dear Curious,
By the end of the fourth century of the Christian Era the pre-paschal fast or Forty Days Fast had already become an accepted practice in both the Eastern and Western churches. It was a period of intense preparation for the great feast of Pascha (i.e. the Resurrection of Our Lord). In the East (from where Ukraine had accepted Christianity), the church considered Passion week a separate fast from the Forty Days Fast. Passion week started with Lazarus Saturday, the Saturday before Palm Sunday. If you count forty days before Lazarus Saturday our Forty days start on Monday. The West (Roman or Latin Church) includes Passion week in its calculation of the Forty Days Fast (excluding Sundays), therefore, they start on Wednesday.
Ash Wednesday first appeared in the West (Roman Church) around the beginning of the eighth century. The observance developed from the practice of admitting persons as penitents at the beginning of Lent. Until they were solemnly reconciled to the Church on Holy Thursday, they wore sackcloth and ashes. Devout people started to use ashes in the penitential spirit and the custom was started. In the East a black fast (no meat or dairy products) marked our first day of penance following the prescriptions of Is.58:6-7. We read at Matins on the first Monday of Lent: ñThe beginning of the fast - it is time for repentance, the day of salvation, O Soul; watch, therefore, and close the doors to the passions and lift up your eyes to God." Also St. Basil wrote On Fasting I: "Because we did not fast we were banished from Paradise. So let us fast as to return to paradise."
Yours In Christ,
+Bishop Robert
Great Fast 2002
