Adoration?

[Christy4Christ]

Do Orthodox churches have adoration chapels with the real presence like Catholic churches do?

 

[Oblio]

Nope.

We are centered in receiving Communion. We do have reserved Holy Mysteries on the Altar, but not for adoration.

 

[Christy4Christ]

So do you believe that communion remains the real presence afterwards? Like I mean Catholics believe that once it is the real presence it always is. They put a tabernacle in the chapel with the eucharist in it so we can pray in the real presence of Jesus.

What are your thoughts on this?

 

[Oblio]

So do you believe that communion remains the real presence afterwards? Like I mean Catholics believe that once it is the real presence it always is. They put a tabernacle in the chapel with the eucharist in it so we can pray in the real presence of Jesus.

What are your thoughts on this?

Not my thoughts

Yes, the Lamb remains the Lamb and is reserved for the sick and for certain services, most notably the Liturgy of Pre-Sanctified gifts on Wed & Fri eves of Lent. The Church believes that the purpose of the Eucharist is for Communion alone. We do acknowledge it's presence, always venerating when we cross in front either inside or out of the Temple (side note: I Love Greece where the pious cross themselves whenever passing in front of a church )

 

[Christy4Christ]

I cross myself every single time I pass a church as well. I was raised to do that. I also do it for funeral processions and ambulances..

Ok so I guess that answers one of my many questions..

Thank you

 

[katherine2001]

Eucharistic adoration is why Orthodox Church puts the bread in the chalice with the wine and puts it in the person's mouth with a spoon. We need to consume the Eucharist. Jesus said "If you eat my flesh and drink my blood...(see John 6:51-59). The Eucharist is food and nourishment, and if it is going to sustain us, we need to consume it. A baby or small child wouldn't grow if he just looked at the food and didn't eat it. Communion started being given the way it is now so that the priest could make sure that the eucharist was actually consumed and not taken home and worshipped or adored.

 

[Michael G]

Christy,
The Eucharist remains the real presence after liturgy, and we do keep it in a small tabernacle on the center of the Altar. It is kept for pre-sanctified liturgies and for taking to the sick. But we do not keep a large ammount of Eucharist in the tabernacle, as most Catholic Churches do, just enough for emergencies. This being said, there is alot of veneration which goes on in an Orthodox Church. When we enter we venerate the icon on the icon stand in the center of the church, and then venerate several of the other more noticable icons. We venerate the cross and the Gospel book, and each time we venerate anything we make the sign of the cross. Whereas the Catholic Church teaches the Tablernacle is the center of the church because it holds the Holy Sacrament, Orthodoxy teaches the entire space of the church is sacred.
Peace,
Michael

 

[Benedicta00]

Whereas the Catholic Church teaches the Tablernacle is the center of the church because it holds the Holy Sacrament, Orthodoxy teaches the entire space of the church is sacred.

Not exactly. We put the tabernacle in the center if the Church because that is where Christ belongs, but more and more you see Catholic Churches mover Jesus to the side, that make me angry.

Any way, we to also believe the entire space of the Church is holy ground, the Eucharist deserves to be in center.

 

[Michael G]

Not exactly. We put the tabernacle in the center if the Church because that is where Christ belongs, but more and more you see Catholic Churches mover Jesus to the side, that make me angry.

Any way, we to also believe the entire space of the Church is holy ground, the Eucharist deserves to be in center.

Yes Shel, I understand about the moving Christ to the side. At St. Vincent, In Latrobe, Pa where I went to Seminary, in the Seminary Chapel the Tabernacle was placed in the side of the chapel, almost in a cubby hole. But, in traditional Catholic Churches the Tabernacle was always on the High Altar which is in the center of the Church.

 

[prodromos]

The Eucharist remains the real presence after liturgy, and we do keep it in a small tabernacle on the center of the Altar. It is kept for pre-sanctified liturgies and for taking to the sick.

You may not be aware of this, but on Holy Thursday (which is coming up real soon now), the Eucharist is reserved for the entire year for emergencies, and any that remains is consumed before the liturgy on the next Holy Thursday. This is over and above that which is reserved after each liturgy during the year.

In a whole year, it does not spoil, rot, go mouldy etc. in any way .

John.

 

[Benedicta00]

You may not be aware of this, but on Holy Thursday (which is coming up real soon now), the Eucharist is reserved for the entire year for emergencies, and any that remains is consumed before the liturgy on the next Holy Thursday. This is over and above that which is reserved after each liturgy during the year.

In a whole year, it does not spoil, rot, go mouldy etc. in any way .

John.

Is that done for same reasons we strip the altar after Holy Thursday at midnight from Good Friday until the Easter resurrection? What we do is remove the monstrance and the consecrated host from the tabernacle and the Church remains in darkness util midway through the vigil Mass.

 

[Matrona]

Is that done for same reasons we strip the altar after Holy Thursday at midnight from Good Friday until the Easter resurrection? What we do is remove the monstrance and the consecrated host from the tabernacle and the Church remains in darkness util midway through the vigil Mass.

Do you take everything off the altar or just the consecrated host and the monstrance? Can you still have services during that time?

 

[Benedicta00]

Do you take everything off the altar or just the consecrated host and the monstrance? Can you still have services during that time?

Each priest does things a little different I find. Some will strip the altar at the beginning of lent or some will only do that for Holy Week. This is just to prepare our minds and hearts for Good Friday and the resurrection.

What they do is cover up all the statues, icons, images ect but we still have adoration and the Eucharist and of course we celebrate mass. It is after the Holy Thursday mass (washing of the feet) that the priest will remove the host from the tabernacle by procession. In my parish we end the procession at the adoration chapel and some will stay there with our Lord until midnight when he is taken down.

The Church is open still have we have prayer services and devotions on Friday all day and sat morning but we do not have Mass or give communion. The reason is because these three days, our Lord was not with us; we are remembering him in the tomb. This is why we cover the holy images; Christ did not open heaven yet.

Anyway, I was just wondering if the EO tradition does something similar.

 

[Matrona]

Anyway, I was just wondering if the EO tradition does something similar.

Not that I know of. Though that's not to say that there isn't a funereal pall cast over our churches during that time. I'm not a great expert on Holy Week since I have only experienced one, but I will say that I had never experienced the Crucifixion or the Resurrection like that.

We do celebrate liturgy on the morning of Holy Saturday (by anticipation of the Resurrection, I think). I remember because that morning liturgy was the very last time I had to stand by while everyone else took communion.

However, it is absolutely forbidden to celebrate liturgy on Great and Holy Friday.

 

[Reader Nilus]

Not that I know of. Though that's not to say that there isn't a funereal pall cast over our churches during that time. I'm not a great expert on Holy Week since I have only experienced one, but I will say that I had never experienced the Crucifixion or the Resurrection like that.

We do celebrate liturgy on the morning of Holy Saturday (by anticipation of the Resurrection, I think). I remember because that morning liturgy was the very last time I had to stand by while everyone else took communion.

However, it is absolutely forbidden to celebrate liturgy on Great and Holy Friday.

Matrona what you experienced was the Great and Holy Paschal Vigil. Most parishes moved it up from Vespers to the early afternoon. Ours will end around 6 PM and everyone will gather back to the Temple around 11 PM for the Nocturns of Great and Holy Pascha. Between the Liturgy of Holy Thursday and the Paschal Vigil there are no Liturgies. We have the reading of the 12 Gospels which is the Matins of Great and Holy Friday, the Royal Hours and the Vespers of Great and Holy Saturday which is the singing of Psalm 118 (119) with verses.
Jeff the Finn

 

[Matrona]

Matrona what you experienced was the Great and Holy Paschal Vigil. Most parishes moved it up from Vespers to the early afternoon. Ours will end around 6 PM and everyone will gather back to the Temple around 11 PM for the Nocturns of Great and Holy Pascha. Between the Liturgy of Holy Thursday and the Paschal Vigil there are no Liturgies. We have the reading of the 12 Gospels which is the Matins of Great and Holy Friday, the Royal Hours and the Vespers of Great and Holy Saturday which is the singing of Psalm 118 (119) with verses.
Jeff the Finn

That explains a lot.

I guess probably the reason I was confused is because on the afternoon of Holy Saturday, both last year and this year, we've had baptisms, which, I guess, forced the liturgy to be moved to the morning. Last year was mine. This will be my 'first birthday'.

 

[Epiphany]

Do Orthodox churches have adoration chapels with the real presence like Catholic churches do?

To Life Immortal

Thanks for the great answers and questions; I learn a lot from reading them. Keep up the good work

Peace and Long Life
~*~ Epiphany ~*~

 

[MariaRegina]

Matrona what you experienced was the Great and Holy Paschal Vigil. Most parishes moved it up from Vespers to the early afternoon. Ours will end around 6 PM and everyone will gather back to the Temple around 11 PM for the Nocturns of Great and Holy Pascha. Between the Liturgy of Holy Thursday and the Paschal Vigil there are no Liturgies. We have the reading of the 12 Gospels which is the Matins of Great and Holy Friday, the Royal Hours and the Vespers of Great and Holy Saturday which is the singing of Psalm 118 (119) with verses.
Jeff the Finn

Dear Jeff and Matrona:

In the Antiochian and Greek Tradition, on the morning of Holy Saturday (usually at 10 AM) we have a Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil in anticipation of the Pascha with celebrations of baptisms and chrismations prior to the Vesperal Liturgy. It is right after the Baptisms that we have a procession in which the Priest scatters red rose petals and laurel leaves while we sing, "Arise, O God, and be the Judge of the Earth, for rightfully do all nations belong to You." After this procession, the Liturgy of St. Basil continues with the Cherubic Hymn

Let all mortal flesh be silent; let us stand in fear and trembling, having no earthly thought; for behold, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords is coming to be sacrificed and to be given as food to the faithful. He is escorted by hosts of archangels and by all the principalities and dominions.

The OCA Churches here also celebrate a morning Holy Saturday Liturgy.

p.s. the laurel leaves symbolize victory.

 

[katherine2001]

Chanter, I was about to say the same thing. I am OCA and we always have liturgy on the morning of Holy Saturday. In fact, I was Chrismated 3 years ago just before the liturgy on Holy Saturday and took Communion my first time at that liturgy. The Liturgy of Holy Saturday is one of my favorite services of Holy Week.

 

[Matrona]

Chanter, I was about to say the same thing. I am OCA and we always have liturgy on the morning of Holy Saturday. In fact, I was Chrismated 3 years ago just before the liturgy on Holy Saturday and took Communion my first time at that liturgy. The Liturgy of Holy Saturday is one of my favorite services of Holy Week.

Welcome back, Katherine. I remember you from here from a long time ago. Also, if I'm not mistaken, you've also been on the beliefnet boards? I'm badblood829 over there although I haven't logged on in a long time.

My priest serves two mission parishes so that is probably why things I've experienced aren't typical practice. This year and last year, we've had to divvy up Holy Week services between the two of us.

Luckily, the parishes aren't too far apart, and there are larger Orthodox churches in the same cities as both of these missions, so we aren't forced to miss any services because of our unfortunate situation.