Difference between revisions of "Western Rite"

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'''Western Rite Orthodoxy''' is a strand of Orthodox Christian worship adapted for congregations in traditionally Catholic or Protestant countries.
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The '''Western Rite''' is a strand of Orthodox Christian worship based on the liturgical traditions of the ancient pre-[[Great Schism|Schism]] Orthodox Church of the West.
  
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There are certain [[parish]]es known as Western Orthodox within the [[Orthodox Church]] that follow the rituals of either:
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==Liturgy==
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* the Anglican/Episcopalian (about 75% of these parishes, using  the [[Liturgy of Saint Tikhon]], a modification of the 1904 Book of Common Prayer); or
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Western Rite parishes generally follow one (or sometimes both) of two types of traditional Western liturgical traditions.  About 75% use the [[Liturgy of St. Tikhon of Moscow]], which is an adaptation of the 1904 Anglican ''Book of Common Prayer''.  The remaining 25% use the [[Liturgy of St. Gregory the Great]], which is a modified form of the Tridentine Mass known to Roman Catholics before the liturgical reforms of Vatican II in the 1960s.
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* [[Roman Catholic Church]]es (about 25% of these parishes, using the [[Liturgy of Saint Gregory]], similar to the [[Tridentine Mass]]).
 
  
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By far the largest group of these parishes in North America is represented by the [[Western Rite Vicariate]] of the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]].  The [[Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia]] (ROCOR) also has a small number of Western Rite parishes and one monastery.  The [[Orthodox Catholic Church of France]]—which is currently of ambiguous status in world Orthodoxy, but at one time was cared for by St. [[John of Shanghai and San Francisco]] and later by the [[Church of Romania]]—also uses a Western Rite liturgy based on ancient Gallican liturgical materials.
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The liturgy has much less repetition than its corresponding elements in the Byzantine rite, and generally has a more rational, succint manner to it.  Celebrants wear distinctive Western vestments, and the faithful follow pious devotional customs particular to their tradition, as well.
  
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The situation of Western Orthodox parishes has been compared by some with the analogous status of autonomous [[Uniate]] churches in communion with the Roman Catholic Church. For centuries, there have been hierarchical churches in [[full communion]] with and in subjection to the [[Vatican]], but which the [[Pope]] allows to follow liturgical customs and rules like those of the [[Orthodox Church]], (e.g., they confirm newly baptized infants via [[chrismation]], they have married [[priest]]s, their churches have [[iconostasis|iconostases]], etc.).  Additionally, as the Uniates share a common dogmatic requirement with Latin Rite Catholics, the Western Rite Orthodox share the same faith as their Byzantine Rite brethren.
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==Congregations==
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By far the largest group of these parishes in North America is represented by the [[Western Rite Vicariate]] of the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]].  The [[Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia]] (ROCOR) also has a small number of Western Rite parishes and one monastery. 
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The [[Orthodox Catholic Church of France]]—which is currently of ambiguous status in world Orthodoxy, but at one time was cared for by St. [[John of Shanghai and San Francisco]] and later by the [[Church of Romania]]—also uses a Western Rite liturgy based on ancient Gallican liturgical materials.
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==An Orthodox Unia?==
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The situation of Western Orthodox parishes has been compared by some with the analogous status of autonomous [[Uniate]] churches under the [[Roman Catholic Church]]. For centuries, there have been hierarchical churches in [[full communion]] with and in subjection to the [[Vatican]], but which the [[Pope]] allows to follow liturgical customs and rules like those of the [[Orthodox Church]], (e.g., they confirm newly baptized infants via [[chrismation]], they have married [[priest]]s, their churches have [[iconostasis|iconostases]], etc.).  Additionally, as the Uniates share a common dogmatic requirement with Latin Rite Catholics, the Western Rite Orthodox share the same faith as their Byzantine Rite brethren.
  
 
However, unlike the [[Uniates]], Western Rite Orthodox congregations are not mainly the result of large-scale ecclesiastical political machinations and [[schism]] but rather of small-scale genuine conversion to Orthodoxy by individuals and congregations.
 
However, unlike the [[Uniates]], Western Rite Orthodox congregations are not mainly the result of large-scale ecclesiastical political machinations and [[schism]] but rather of small-scale genuine conversion to Orthodoxy by individuals and congregations.

Revision as of 21:04, January 28, 2005

The Western Rite is a strand of Orthodox Christian worship based on the liturgical traditions of the ancient pre-Schism Orthodox Church of the West.

Liturgy

Western Rite parishes generally follow one (or sometimes both) of two types of traditional Western liturgical traditions. About 75% use the Liturgy of St. Tikhon of Moscow, which is an adaptation of the 1904 Anglican Book of Common Prayer. The remaining 25% use the Liturgy of St. Gregory the Great, which is a modified form of the Tridentine Mass known to Roman Catholics before the liturgical reforms of Vatican II in the 1960s.

The liturgy has much less repetition than its corresponding elements in the Byzantine rite, and generally has a more rational, succint manner to it. Celebrants wear distinctive Western vestments, and the faithful follow pious devotional customs particular to their tradition, as well.

Congregations

By far the largest group of these parishes in North America is represented by the Western Rite Vicariate of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. The Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR) also has a small number of Western Rite parishes and one monastery.

The Orthodox Catholic Church of France—which is currently of ambiguous status in world Orthodoxy, but at one time was cared for by St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco and later by the Church of Romania—also uses a Western Rite liturgy based on ancient Gallican liturgical materials.

An Orthodox Unia?

The situation of Western Orthodox parishes has been compared by some with the analogous status of autonomous Uniate churches under the Roman Catholic Church. For centuries, there have been hierarchical churches in full communion with and in subjection to the Vatican, but which the Pope allows to follow liturgical customs and rules like those of the Orthodox Church, (e.g., they confirm newly baptized infants via chrismation, they have married priests, their churches have iconostases, etc.). Additionally, as the Uniates share a common dogmatic requirement with Latin Rite Catholics, the Western Rite Orthodox share the same faith as their Byzantine Rite brethren.

However, unlike the Uniates, Western Rite Orthodox congregations are not mainly the result of large-scale ecclesiastical political machinations and schism but rather of small-scale genuine conversion to Orthodoxy by individuals and congregations.

It should also be noted that there are also a number of groups who follow various Western rites and may call themselves Orthodox but are not part of or in communion with the Orthodox Church.

External links

Liturgies

Introduction and History

Apologias

Criticism

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