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Question:
My wife and I are expecting our
first child in October. We were raised Roman Catholic and
married in the church. We have since lost faith with the Roman
Church, due mainly to the changes in its ceremonies, traditions,
and overall "Protestantism." We have searched for a more
"traditional" church and have found both Orthodox and Byzantine
Churches. What are the differences in the two? I would like to
find a Russian or Ukrainian Church since this is where some of
my relatives came to the United States from. Are there any
Ukrainian or Russian Orthodox Churches in Phoenix, AZ? We have a
Serbian orthodox church, is it similar the Ukranian? |
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Answer:
Very
Rev. Ihor Kutash
kutash@unicorne.org
I presume that the Churches which call
themselves Byzantine are Eastern-rite Catholic Churches composed of folks
from the Trans-Carpathian region of what is now Ukraine.
Ukrainian and Russian Orthodox Churches are similar - the differences are
not those of faith but of culture. The Russian Church is somewhat more
austere in its approach than is the Ukrainian - this may be an
over-simplification. The Serbian Church also differs only in its cultural
aspects - the faith is the same. Their singing by the way is the Byzantine
style while the Ukrainian and the Russian use a polyphonic Slavic style
and are more likely to have splendid choral singing as well. I believe
there are indeed Russian and Ukrainian Churches in your vicinity. I would
suggest going to the websites of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA,
the Orthodox Church in America (until 1970 it was called the Russian
Orthodox Metropolia) and the Russian Orthodox Church in Exile (this body
is, for now, not in Communion with most of the other Orthodox Churches,
but it is, in my opinion, quite a solid representative of Orthodoxy).
Or, since you are of Catholic heritage, you may indeed find the Byzantine
Catholic Churches to be quite acceptable. They are in communion with the
Church of Rome and are not as likely to be "modernizing" - something you
seem to have found objectionable in the Latin Church.
My own preference is, of course, Orthodoxy - by heritage, by conviction
and by choice. But it seems to me that people ought to worship and
fellowship where they find themselves most nourished and sustained.
I don't suppose we shall ever find the perfect community here on earth.
But our Lord did say that where two or three are gathered in His Name He
Himself would be among them. And His followers must do their utmost to
make the community of which they are part reflect as much as possible that
blessed Presence in their midst which gives them life and being.
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