A Merry Russian Orthodox Christmas

Turn up the volume on the speakers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7eQeFTrvAM

I'm not sure where the choir is located (since I assume those were female voices I heard). I had assumed they were behind the iconostasis, but that seems not to be the case. Note the lavish use of the thurible with the incense representing the Holy Spirit.. There seem to be more participants in the liturgy than congregation. Note that it is a very iconographic oriented service. Enjoy !

Phew ! I can smell the incense sitting at my computer.

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Comments

MJ. Smith

[Y]

But the congregation IS a group of participants[:D]

George Somsel

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/444451#Comment_444451

But the congregation IS a group of participants

Well, yes, but you know what I meant. [:P] [:)]

George Somsel

BTW: Did you notice the bidding prayer in the liturgy? I still can't figure out why the one guy is always holding on to his stole.

MJ. Smith

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/444463#Comment_444463

I still can't figure out why the one guy is always holding on to his stole.

Sorry, I don't know - I've seen the stole held in a similar manner when a confession is being heard (in the midst of an evening service) but that definitely doesn't fit.

George Somsel

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/444470#Comment_444470

I still can't figure out why the one guy is always holding on to his stole.

Sorry, I don't know - I've seen the stole held in a similar manner when a confession is being heard (in the midst of an evening service) but that definitely doesn't fit.

One thing that came to mind (though it seems far-fetched) was that, as I reacall, there was once a controversy regarding whether one should use two or three fingers in crossing ones' self which even came to blows (and you note that they are constantly doing that). Is it possible that he is doing that to conceal how many fingers he is using? Was it in one of the Dostoyevsky novels?

nicky crane

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/444498#Comment_444498

The explanation I heard for the smoke from the incense is that it represents the prayers of the faithful ascending to Heaven. I'll look up the video, for which recommendation many thanks, but later, as I need to be getting myself into town for Mass. For the first time in my 19 year memory of Albania it looks as if we shan't have snow over Christmas. I wish you all a joyful and blessed Christmas!

Lynden O. Williams

Sounds nice even though I could not understand a word. Sometimes my children like to listen to the Mass on EWTN.

George Somsel

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/444502#Comment_444502

Sounds nice even though I could not understand a word. Sometimes my children like to listen to the Mass on EWTN.

If you pay close attention there is, at least, some English in there.

George Somsel

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/444500#Comment_444500

The explanation I heard for the smoke from the incense is that it represents the prayers of the faithful ascending to Heaven. I'll look up the video, for which recommendation many thanks, but later, as I need to be getting myself into town for Mass. For the first time in my 19 year memory of Albania it looks as if we shan't have snow over Christmas. I wish you all a joyful and blessed Christmas!

Yes, that is the way it is presented in the Apocalypse.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYVvcf1QqXc

It is Christ whom we adore in Eucharistic adoration and whom we follow in Eucharistic procession. Incense in procession symbolizes the fragrance of Christ. Himself

nicky crane

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/444534#Comment_444534

Yes, that is the way it is presented in the Apocalypse.

That's what he said. He was an Orthodox theological student, who said his clothes were reeking of incense, which led to him getting heckled about incense by a protestant whose zeal exceeded his knowledge. So he gave the lad a lesson about what Revelation teaches about incense...

Incidentally I like your quote. Hadn't heard that explanation.

May we rejoice as we worship Christ, in whatever tradition, this Christmas!

Ergatees

Many Thanks, George!

Merry Christmas! Or as they say in the Orthodox Church: Christ is born! and the response: Glorify Him!

The chanting is great! It is in Church Slavonic. No one but the priest and altar servers and the deacon go behind the Iconostasis or Icon Screen.

The chanters are usually hidden behind a screen to not distract: either on the left or right front side.

Yours in Him,

Ergatees

Well, after detailing an answer the Logos site gave an error! But then I turned to the film and saw the chanters were the men, subdeacons, servers and two priests gatherered around the altar. Very beautiful. I'll post this much and see what happens. There may be a deacon in there, I didn't take too much time to wait on the view.

Richard D. Hawthorne

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/445031#Comment_445031

Nice to see this posted here and a blessed Nativity to all :-)

The deacon holding the stole (we call it an orarion from the word for prayer) holds it up like that to encourage the congregation to be more attentive during the petitiions. This is the practical reason.

The spiritual reason I have heard is that the deacon represents the ministering spirits/ angels (ministering from the Greek "diakonia"/ deacon) and the orarion also symbolizes the wings of the angels. Angels are often seen in icons vested with the orarion as well.

Most of what we do in the services has both practical and allegorical meanings like this. It is very interesting and I find that I get more out of the services the more I take the time to educate myself on the "why's" of the rich symbolism of Orthodoxy.

George Somsel

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/449134#Comment_449134

The deacon holding the stole (we call it an orarion from the word for prayer) holds it up like that to encourage the congregation to be more attentive during the petitiions. This is the practical reason.

The spiritual reason I have heard is that the deacon represents the ministering spirits/ angels (ministering from the Greek "diakonia"/ deacon) and the orarion also symbolizes the wings of the angels. Angels are often seen in icons vested with the orarion as well.

Thank you for the enlightenment.

Richard D. Hawthorne

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/449138#Comment_449138

You're welcome, George!

Ergatees

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/449134#Comment_449134

Good reply, Richard.

Blessed Nativity to you all on the old calendar (i.e. Julian Calendar).

For those following the new calendar, today is Epiphany or Theophany, (the baptism of Christ) and the blessing of water for church members.

In Christ,

Ergatees

HansK

George,

Christ is risen!

In this video, the choir can be seen. It's like Revelation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srKisoBTTYE&list=UU4PzlH3oMgqiU5_PZRvORgA&index=3

The LORD is risen! Bless this congregation and all believers.

Greeting and blessings from The Netherlands,

Hans

George Somsel

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/449244#Comment_449244

George,

Christ is risen!

In this video, the choir can be seen. It's like Revelation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srKisoBTTYE&list=UU4PzlH3oMgqiU5_PZRvORgA&index=3

The LORD is risen! Bless this congregation and all believers.

Greeting and blessings from The Netherlands,

Hans

Very interesting. I was beginning to think you were mistaken about the choir until about ¾ of the way through the video. It was somewhat strange that it begins in B & W and switches to color later. I was also beginning to wonder whether we had landed in Speedway, IN on Memorial day the way they were chasing one another around the table saying "Christ is risen" in Russian and occasionally English. They remind me of a bunch of women as often as they changed vestments. The lucifer looks a lot like the deacon in the one I linked. I was wondering whether they were ever going to get around to reading the gospel—finally.

Richard D. Hawthorne

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/449256#Comment_449256

I think Han's link is good, too, but I am sure it is easy to misunderstand and become impatient with a 30 minute video in another language recording an ancient form of Christianity that most of us in the West have never experienced.

The video does start in black in white and switch to color which is why some people may think it is the Wizard of Oz. What is really happening is that this is part of the Resurrection Matins at Easter (Orthodox usually call it by its Biblical name of Pascha). At the beginning of the video we are remembering Christ in the Tomb and have come there like the myrrh-bearing women in the pre-dawn hours of Sunday morning so the whole church is in darkness.

Just as Christ is the sole Light of the World, there is one candle lit. The Gospel is being proclaimed from the moment those around the altar start singing and is in everything that is said throughout the video (it is easy to miss since it is in Russian/ Slavonic). They sing over and over again: "Thy Resurrection, O Christ our Savior, the angels in heaven sing, enable us here on earth to glorify Thee in purity of heart.." as Christ the Light who enlightens every man is represented by the spreading of the lighted candles among all the faithful.

The journey of the women to the tomb is remembered by the procession around the church and the stopping at the doors of the church is their arrival to find the stone rolled away. From then on everything is bathed in light and we sing "Christ is Risen" in every language possible out of joy.

I have not ever asked why the celebrant changes into every color of vestment successively (perhaps I have been too busy trying to keep up with the priest as he changes when I help at the altar to think about it!- it is definitely a time for servers to be on their toes) but I can say what it means to me.

Each service throughout the year the celebrant and servers wear a different color depending on what is being remembered. The Church year is an annual journey through the whole Biblical history of salvation, each event being celebrated with special hymns and even the color of the vestment. In the moment of the Resurrection we are no longer on the thousands-year journey through salvation history. At the cross and the tomb, "It is finished!" Everything happens in a moment and the human race is delivered from sin and death. The hurried changing of the vestments reminds us of this explosion of Life defeating death by death.

And that is the short explanation.

"Believe it, or not." -Jack Palance

George Somsel

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/449379#Comment_449379

The video does start in black in white and switch to color which is why some people may think it is the Wizard of Oz. What is really happening is that this is part of the Resurrection Matins at Easter (Orthodox usually call it by its Biblical name of Pascha). At the beginning of the video we are remembering Christ in the Tomb and have come there like the myrrh-bearing women in the pre-dawn hours of Sunday morning so the whole church is in darkness.

Interesting. I hadn't thought about the similarity to the Wiz in regard to the switch from B & W to color.

Each service throughout the year the celebrant and servers wear a different color depending on what is being remembered. The Church year is an annual journey through the whole Biblical history of salvation, each event being celebrated with special hymns and even the color of the vestment. In the moment of the Resurrection we are no longer on the thousands-year journey through salvation history. At the cross and the tomb, "It is finished!" Everything happens in a moment and the human race is delivered from sin and death. The hurried changing of the vestments reminds us of this explosion of Life defeating death by death.

In the Episcopal Church we also recapitulate the sacred history from the garden to … the garden in the Easter Vigil, but we don't change vestments. Thank you for your explanation. The problem, as you note is that it's easy to miss much since it is in Russian. You would think that the Russians would have the decency to do it in English ! [;)] [;)] [;)]

[:D] [:D] [:D]

And that is the short explanation.

"Believe it, or not." -Jack Palance

I'm ready to believe 3 impossible things—before breakfast.

Richard D. Hawthorne

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/449393#Comment_449393

I know right? It's the same reason I never travel abroad, there are so many foreigners in other countries!

I'm ready to believe 3 impossible things—before breakfast.

You are out of control, George!

BTW, I checked with some of the higher clergy today and my feeling was pretty close- the reason for the multiple changings of vestments is this: Throughout the year there is a specific color of vestment prescribed for each day and feast. But at Pascha, which is the Feast of Feasts, everything is fulfilled through the death and resurrection of Christ. Because Pascha is the fulfillment of everything that came before, every color of vestment is worn during this service.

So I was close but I think the explanation I was given is more concise.

Also, this turns out to be a Russian Orthodox tradition so the other Orthodox churches don't do it.