"Eastern Rite Anglicanism" - does it exist?

[MarkRohfrietsch]

I know. I put it that way because the post (#22) that announced the Society for Eastern Rite Anglicanism said something about getting the Anglican Communion to recognize the project, and as you may know, we are not part of that organization, either. So, I just followed the format.

 

[DaughterofJehovah]

This is pretty interesting!

I do know that a lot of Anglicans seem to be fond of icons these days. I was about to have one too, but I do not have the space to properly venerate them (I did not know that according to Orthodox teaching, icons must be venerated), although I do have my 'Anglo-Catholic' home altar. Many Anglo-Catholics (I included) have an interest in Eastern Orthodox teachings, and I would not be surprised if some even took to some practices, such as hesychasm.

Anglo-Orthodox churches in the future? An interesting prospect!

Still, given that Eastern Orthodoxy claims to be the only True Church and emphatically so, I do not see myself in their ranks any time soon. But I do respect their beliefs and teachings, just as I do my Catholic upbringing.

 

[Albion]

This is pretty interesting!

I do know that a lot of Anglicans seem to be fond of icons these days. I was about to have one too, but I do not have the space to properly venerate them (I did not know that according to Orthodox teaching, icons must be venerated), although I do have my 'Anglo-Catholic' home altar. Many Anglo-Catholics (I included) have an interest in Eastern Orthodox teachings, and I would not be surprised if some even took to some practices, such as hesychasm.

Anglo-Orthodox churches in the future? An interesting prospect!

Still, given that Eastern Orthodoxy claims to be the only True Church and emphatically so, I do not see myself in their ranks any time soon.

...which does raise an interesting point. The presumption is, I suspect, that if this project were ever to come to fruition, it would find favor with Orthodoxy, i.e. that it would be a bridge of sorts. In reality, it could never be that because it would be just a new rite operating within a church that Eastern Orthodoxy has dismissed on doctrinal grounds. In addition, most Orthodox Christians feel that continuity is so important that to take on the style of another tradition is simply bogus, even if well-intended.

 

[DaughterofJehovah]

...which does raise an interesting point. The presumption is, I suspect, that if this project were ever to come to fruition, it would find favor with Orthodoxy, i.e. that it would be a bridge of sorts. In reality, it could never be that because it would be just a new rite operating within a church that Eastern Orthodoxy has dismissed on doctrinal grounds. In addition, most Orthodox Christians feel that continuity is so important that to take on the style of another tradition is simply bogus, even if well-intended.

Well, I have no idea about this movement, but I doubt that their desire is to find favour with Orthodoxy as well. Rather, I feel like, just as Anglo-Catholicism (which has its own historicity), they probably desire to practice Eastern devotions without having to remove their connections to the Anglican Communion.

I don't think it would work in a communal way, simply because Anglicanism never inherited much of any Eastern practices, and thus do not really have a context to work with. But individually, I would not have a problem if some bloke would somehow be inclined to a sort of Anglo-Orthodoxy.

 

[Albion]

Well, I have no idea about this movement, but I doubt that their desire is to find favour with Orthodoxy as well.

Possibly not. Most people who start up these hybrid movements, do hope for that, however.

Rather, I feel like, just as Anglo-Catholicism (which has its own historicity), they probably desire to practice Eastern devotions without having to remove their connections to the Anglican Communion.

Could be.

(Of course, there isn't any movement. There's just a website with nothing on it, so this is all rather academic that we're discussing.)

 

[Cappadocious]

I do know that a lot of Anglicans seem to be fond of icons these days.

Orthodox icons are generally "cool" at this time in Christendom. The Roman Catholics are cranking out creepy photographic pose-like "eastern icons" and Evangelicals are finally getting comfortable using icons as tacky advertisements for their blog posts.

Forgive me, I often play the cynic.

I was about to have one too, but I do not have the space to properly venerate them

You really don't need a lot of room to venerate an icon. To kiss one requires little room, and little metanyas (genuflecting downward while standing) also requires little room. Full prostrations are the only thing that require some space.

(I did not know that according to Orthodox teaching, icons must be venerated)

It is considered proper to piety to do so, yes, but the "must" applies in cases where one would refuse, indicating iconoclasm. Just as the Synod of Gangra asked those who always fasted from meat and wine to touch and taste meat and wine, even if they weren't going to eat it, in order to demonstrate they did not believe that meat and wine were unclean.

Many Anglo-Catholics (I included) have an interest in Eastern Orthodox teachings, and I would not be surprised if some even took to some practices, such as hesychasm.

Hesychasm is something practiced by advanced monks, the average person wouldn't do it or have a use for it. If you mean the "Jesus Prayer", that is a native part of Anglican spirituality, so it wouldn't be something new at all!

 

[DaughterofJehovah]

Orthodox icons are generally "cool" at this time in Christendom. The Roman Catholics are cranking out creepy photographic pose-like "eastern icons" and Evangelicals are finally getting comfortable using icons as tacky advertisements for their blog posts.

Forgive me, I often play the cynic.

And here I am chatting while having an icon of my confirmation saint as an avatar! :o I hope I'm not being too irreverent. To be honest, I am pretty ignorant of Orthodoxy, although doctrinally it seems to have some similarity to Anglicanism (of the Catholic persuasion).

You really don't need a lot of room to venerate an icon. To kiss one requires little room, and little metanyas (genuflecting downward while standing) also requires little room. Full prostrations are the only thing that require some space.

I have no idea. I suppose it's still quite foreign to me, as the only time I kiss objects would be the crucifix on my Rosary, and on veneration of the Crucifix during Good Friday at my parish. I grew up venerating Christian statues and images through touch, but never really through kissing, although in its own virtue it can be very beautiful!

(One unfortunate visitor looked aghast at the sight during Good Friday, exclaiming, "Oh my Lord" with gaping eyes at the people genuflecting and kissing the Crucifix, lol. It smacks of so much 'idolatry' for Protestants!)

It is considered proper to piety to do so, yes, but the "must" applies in cases where one would refuse, indicating iconoclasm. Just as the Synod of Gangra asked those who always fasted from meat and wine to touch and taste meat and wine, even if they weren't going to eat it, in order to demonstrate they did not believe that meat and wine were unclean.

Interesting! At home I have a small altar with a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a crystal Cross, my Rosary, a picture of the Holy Family, an icon of Madonna and Child, and of course, my Book of Common Prayer (Canada 1962). I have always did the sign of the cross and genuflected in front of it, but I've never done any low prostrations before it, or kissed any of my images.

Hesychasm is something practiced by advanced monks, the average person wouldn't do it or have a use for it. If you mean the "Jesus Prayer", that is a native part of Anglican spirituality, so it wouldn't be something new at all!

Oh, not just the Jesus prayer, but the whole tradition. The person must be prematurely dabbling then, lol. I must admit, there is so much more I need to learn about Eastern Orthodoxy, but there is an old copy of the Philokalia in my parish library.

I'll pick it up some day!

Your sister in Christ.

 

[Albion]

Orthodox icons are generally "cool" at this time in Christendom. The Roman Catholics are cranking out creepy photographic pose-like "eastern icons" and Evangelicals are finally getting comfortable using icons as tacky advertisements for their blog posts.

Interesting. I'll have to pay closer attention.

 

[Cappadocious]

And here I am chatting while having an icon of my confirmation saint as an avatar! :o I hope I'm not being too irreverent. To be honest, I am pretty ignorant of Orthodoxy, although doctrinally it seems to have some similarity to Anglicanism (of the Catholic persuasion).

I'm sure your use was out of love for the person depicted, and not as a hook to get someone to read your posts. So no, it's not irreverent IMO.

Interesting. I'll have to pay closer attention.

Exaltation of the Holy Cross icon:

Something of the Cross "icon" from the Cathedral of St. James in Seattle, Washington, USA:

 

[Albion]

Exaltation of the Holy Cross icon:

Something of the Cross "icon" from the Cathedral of St. James in Seattle, Washington, USA:

What am I supposed to see there?--something deficient or just an icon in a non-Eastern Rite church?

 

[Cappadocious]

What am I supposed to see there?--something deficient or just an icon in a non-Eastern Rite church?

Look at the figures and faces of the figures depicted in the latter.

 

[Albion]

Look at the figures and faces of the figures depicted in the latter.

I see what you mean.

 

[EasternAnglicanism]

Over 75 people have joined our group on Facebook and there's a lively discussion there that's growing on this topic. I'd love to invite you all to join the discussion there: facebook.com/groups/EasternAnglicanism/
or just search Facebook for "Society for Eastern Rite Anglicanism"

 

[rhartsc]

Someone posted a youtube video on the SERA FB page of the Liturgy of St. James as performed in the Mar Thoma Church, which is in communion with the Anglican Communion, and I have to say that it was absolutely beautiful.

 

[FireDragon76]

There are a few Episcopal churches that have byzantine style architecture or liturgy. Several options in the 1979 BCP are closer to the Orthodox Divine Liturgy than to the 1662 BCP or the Roman Catholic mass. So its possible for an Episcopalian to have a service that feels very "Byzantine".