Institute of Orthodox Christian Studies

Tuesday, 12 October 2010. Commemoration of the Holy Martyrs Probos, Tarachos, and Andronicos.

Tuesday, 12 October 2010. Commemoration of the Holy Martyrs Probos, Tarachos, and Andronicos.

Prokeimenon
Psalms 64:10,1 (Tone 7)
Let the righteous rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in him. Let all the upright in heart glory.
Stichon: Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint; preserve my life from the dread enemy. (NRSV)

Epistle of the Divine Liturgy
Colossians 1:1-11 (21 after Pentecost)
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the saints and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ in Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. In our prayers for you we always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. You have heard of this hope before in the word of the truth, the gospel that has come to you. Just as it is bearing fruit and growing in the whole world, so it has been bearing fruit among yourselves from the day you heard it and truly comprehended the grace of God. This you learned from Epaphras, our beloved fellow-servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, and he has made known to us your love in the Spirit. For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God. May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience. (NRSV)

Alleluia verse
Psalms 92:12,13 (Tone 2)
The righteous flourish like the palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
Stichon: They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. (NRSV)

Gospel of the Divine Liturgy
Luke 8:1-3 (4 after Holy Cross)
At that time, Jesus went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, as well as some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their resources. (NRSV)

Synaxarion of the Day (story of the feast or commemoration)
Saint Probus was a citizen of the city of Side in Pamphylia. Tarachos was a soldier, a native of Claudiopolis of Isauria, and Andronicos was the descendent of a noble family of Ephesus in Asia. Led to Pompeiopolis (or Scoli), in Cilicia, before President Maximos, under Emperor Diocletian, then to Tarsus and to Mopsuestia, they courageously suffered all sorts of tortures during various questionings and their lives were ended by the sword at Anazarbus in 304.


Class of Feast: 5
Tone of Week: 3

Monday, 04 October 2010. Commemoration of the Holy Hieromartyr Hierotheos, Bishop of Athens.

Monday, 04 October 2010. Commemoration of the Holy Hieromartyr Hierotheos, Bishop of Athens.

Prokeimenon
Psalms 104:4,104:1 (Tone 4)
You make the winds your messengers, fire and flame your ministers.
Stichon: Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, you are very great. (NRSV)

Epistle of the Divine Liturgy
Philippians 2:12-16 (20 after Pentecost)
Brothers and sisters, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Do all things without murmuring and arguing, so that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine like stars in the world. It is by your holding fast to the word of life that I can boast on the day of Christ. (NRSV)

Alleluia verse
Psalms 148:1,2 (Tone 2)
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights!
Stichon: Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his host! (NRSV)

Gospel of the Divine Liturgy
Luke 6:24-30 (3 after Holy Cross)
Jesus said to the crowd, ‘Woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. ‘Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry. ‘Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep. ‘Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets. ‘But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again.' (NRSV)

Synaxarion of the Day (story of the feast or commemoration)
According to the Greek Menaia, Saint Hierotheos "was one of the nine counsellors of the Areopagus." He was instructed by Saint Paul the Apostle and consecrated Bishop of Athens. In his turn he taught the Christian faith to Dionysius the Areopagite. After having led a holy life completely filled by the love of God, and having pleased the Creator by his conduct and good works, he committed his soul into the Lord's hands.


Class of Feast: 5
Tone of Week: 2

Akathist Hymn to the Most Holy Theotokos - Ode 1 in English

So Beautiful!

Tuesday, 28 September 2010

Tuesday, 28 September 2010. Commemoration of our Holy Father Chariton the Confessor.

Prokeimenon
Psalms 64:10,1 (Tone 7)
Let the righteous rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in him. Let all the upright in heart glory.
Stichon: Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint; preserve my life from the dread enemy. (NRSV)

Epistle of the Divine Liturgy
Philippians 1:8-14 (19 after Pentecost)
Brothers and sisters, God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best, so that on the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God. I want you to know, beloved, that what has happened to me has actually helped to spread the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to everyone else that my imprisonment is for Christ; and most of the brothers and sisters, having been made confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, dare to speak the word with greater boldness and without fear. (NRSV)

Alleluia verse
Psalms 92:12,13 (Tone 2)
The righteous flourish like the palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
Stichon: They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. (NRSV)

Gospel of the Divine Liturgy
Luke 5:12-16 (2 after Holy Cross)
At that time, when Jesus was in one of the cities, there was a man covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground and begged him, ‘Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean Then Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, ‘I do choose. Be made clean.’ Immediately the leprosy left him. And he ordered him to tell no one. ‘Go’, he said, ‘and show yourself to the priest, and, as Moses commanded, make an offering for your cleansing, for a testimony to them.’ But now more than ever the word about Jesus spread abroad; many crowds would gather to hear him and to be cured of their diseases. But he would withdraw to deserted places and pray. (NRSV)

Synaxarion of the Day (story of the feast or commemoration)
Saint Chariton was born in Iconium in the eparchy of Lycaonia. Under Emperor Diocletian he was summoned before the consul's tribunal which, by the strength of his word, convicted him of error by his courageous confession of Christ. Four men stretched him out on the ground, struck him, and tortured him with fire. Delivered from prison, he took refuge in Egypt. After the liberating edict of Constantine the Great in 313, he went to Palestine and there converted a grotto into a church in a place called Pharan in order to practice the ascetic life there (330). But soon he had to leave this place to flee from the multitudes who were coming to him, and to withdraw to Doucas mountain in the grottos around Jericho (340). Seeing that a great number of monks were gathering around him, he built a third laura, near the place called Thecoa, in Syriac "Souka", or "monastery". It is also called "The Ancient Laura" or "the Laura of Saint Chariton". Before dying, the Saint returned to Pharan and there committed his soul in peace in 350.


Class of Feast: 5
Tone of Week: 1

How to tie a Chotki!

Pope Compares Atheism to Nazism, Draws Fire

LONDON (Sept. 17) -- Pope Benedict XVI has been accused by secularists of making "a terrible libel" during his first papal visit to Britain, after he appeared to associate atheism with the crimes of the Nazi regime during World War II.

Find the rest of the article here:

www.aolnews.com/world/article/pope-benedict-xvi-criticized-after-comparing-atheism-to-nazism-during-visit-to-britain/19637648

Friday, 24 September 2010. Commemoration of the Holy Protomartyr and Equal of the Apostles Thecla.

Stichon: The Lord is king; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake! (NRSV)

Epistle of the Divine Liturgy
Ephesians 6:18-24 (18 after Pentecost)
Brothers and sisters, pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints. Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak. So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus will tell you everything. He is a dear brother and a faithful minister in the Lord. I am sending him to you for this very purpose, to let you know how we are, and to encourage your hearts. Peace be to the whole community, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all who have an undying love for our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. (NRSV)

Alleluia verse
Psalms 74:2,12 (Tone 1)
Remember your congregation, which you acquired long ago, which you redeemed to be the tribe of your heritage.
Stichon: Yet God my King is from of old, working salvation in the earth. (NRSV)

Gospel of the Divine Liturgy
Luke 4:22-30 (1 after Holy Cross)
At that time, all the people spoke well of Jesus and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, ‘Is not this Joseph’s son?’ He said to them, ‘Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, “Doctor, cure yourself!” And you will say, “Do here also in your home town the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.” ’ And he said, ‘Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s home town. But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up for three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.’ When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way. (NRSV)

Synaxarion of the Day (story of the feast or commemoration)
According to the ancient tradition of several Church Fathers, Saint Thecla, the first woman martyr, received word of the faith from the Apostle Paul, at Iconiumin Lycaonia and at Antioch in Pisidia. She suffered martyrdom in Seleucia of Isauria.


Class of Feast: 5
Tone of Week: 8
Abstinence today: We refrain from eating meat and meat products.
If, however, you follow the traditional fasting discipline: Fasting today: Fast and Strict abstinence -- Refrain from eating until noon, strict abstinence (xerophagy) thereafter.

An Interesting Article

He Welcomed the Nazis and Saved Jews

Timothy Snyder

It can be found here:

Metropolitan Andrei Sheptyts’kyi (H.S. Pshenychny Central State Archive)

http://www.nybooks.com/blogs/nyrblog/2009/dec/21/he-welcomed-the-nazis-and-saved-jews/

Thursday, 23 September 2010. Conception by Elizabeth of the Honourable and Glorious Prophet, the Forerunner John the Baptist.

Thursday, 23 September 2010. Conception by Elizabeth of the Honourable and Glorious Prophet, the Forerunner John the Baptist.

Eothinon Gospel
Eothinon Gospel 11 : John 21:14-25
At that time, Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead. When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’ A second time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Tend my sheep.’ He said to him the third time, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ And he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep. Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.’ (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; he was the one who had reclined next to Jesus at the supper and had said, ‘Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?’ When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, ‘Lord, what about him?’ Jesus said to him, ‘If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!’ So the rumour spread in the community that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, ‘If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?’ This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true. But there are also many other things that Jesus did; if every one of them were written down, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen. (NRSV)

Prokeimenon
Psalms 64:10,1 (Tone 7)
Let the righteous rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in him. Let all the upright in heart glory.
Stichon: Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint; preserve my life from the dread enemy. (NRSV)

Epistle of the Divine Liturgy
Galatians 4:22-27 (of the feast)
Brothers and sisters, it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and the other by a free woman. One, the child of the slave, was born according to the flesh; the other, the child of the free woman, was born through the promise. Now this is an allegory: these women are two covenants. One woman, in fact, is Hagar, from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery. Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the other woman corresponds to the Jerusalem above; she is free, and she is our mother. For it is written, ‘Rejoice, you childless one, you who bear no children, burst into song and shout, you who endure no birth pangs; for the children of the desolate woman are more numerous than the children of the one who is married.’ (NRSV)

Alleluia verse
Psalms 92:12,13 (Tone 4)
The righteous flourish like the palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
Stichon: They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. (NRSV)

Gospel of the Divine Liturgy
Luke 1:5-25 (of the feast)
At that time, in the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord. But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in years. Once when he was serving as priest before God and his section was on duty, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and offer incense. Now at the time of the incense-offering, the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified; and fear overwhelmed him. But the angel said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink; even before his birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit. He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.’ Zechariah said to the angel, ‘How will I know that this is so? For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years.’ The angel replied, ‘I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. But now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will become mute, unable to speak, until the day these things occur.’ Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah, and wondered at his delay in the sanctuary. When he did come out, he could not speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept motioning to them and remained unable to speak. When his time of service was ended, he went to his home. After those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she remained in seclusion. She said, ‘This is what the Lord has done for me when he looked favourably on me and took away the disgrace I have endured among my people.’ (NRSV)

Synaxarion of the Day (story of the feast or commemoration)
Announcing the conception of John, the Angel Gabriel told Zachary that "many will rejoice at his birth" (Luke 1:14). The conception of the Precursor is the dawn of salvation, since Saint John put an end to the night of waiting for the Messiah in which humanity was plunged. John is above all the precursory sign, Elia returning to earth to announce the imminent approach of the Star which dispels the shadows of death and sin. In that way, he prepares our heart to receive the true Light, the Lord.


Class of Feast: 4
Tone of Week: 8

Introduction to the Eastern Way

This is a great video! It's a bit long but it shows how we in the west lost touch with our roots.

Daily Posts

For future notice I'll be posting the daily readings for everyone to share!

Today's Readings for Wednesday, 22 September 2010

Prokeimenon
Luke 1:46,48 (Tone 3)
My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour.
Stichon: For he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed. (NRSV)

Epistle of the Divine Liturgy
Ephesians 5:25-33 (18 after Pentecost)
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, in order to make her holy by cleansing her with the washing of water by the word, so as to present the church to himself in splendour, without a spot or wrinkle or anything of the kind—yes, so that she may be holy and without blemish. In the same way, husbands should love their wives as they do their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hates his own body, but he nourishes and tenderly cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, because we are members of his body. ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ This is a great mystery, and I am applying it to Christ and the church. Each of you, however, should love his wife as himself, and a wife should respect her husband. (NRSV)

Alleluia verse
Psalms 132:8,11 (Tone 8)
Rise up, O Lord, and go to your resting-place, you and the ark of your might.
Stichon: The Lord swore to David a sure oath from which he will not turn back: ‘One of the sons of your body I will set on your throne.' (NRSV)

Gospel of the Divine Liturgy
Luke 4:1-15 (1 after Holy Cross)
At that time, Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. The devil said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.’ Jesus answered him, ‘It is written, “One does not live by bread alone.” ’ Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And the devil said to him, ‘To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.’ Jesus answered him, ‘It is written, “Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.” ’ Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, “He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you”, and “On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.” ’ Jesus answered him, ‘It is said, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” ’ When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time. Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. (NRSV)

Synaxarion of the Day (story of the feast or commemoration)
The son of a ship-builder named Pamphilos, and of a woman named Mary from Sinope, in Pontus, Saint Phocas was consecrated Bishop of Sinope and died by the sword and by fire, under Emperor Trajan (98-117).


Class of Feast: 5
Tone of Week: 8
Abstinence today: We refrain from eating meat and meat products.
If, however, you follow the traditional fasting discipline: Fasting today: Fast and Strict abstinence -- Refrain from eating until noon, strict abstinence (xerophagy) thereafter.

Just found and wanted to share!

Orthodoxy and ET and very interesting Article

Recent efforts to explore the geology and climate of planets within our own solar system, especially Mars, have prompted a renewed interest in the search for microorganisms as the most plausible forms of extraterrestrial life. As the scientific search for evidence of microbial life on Mars intensifies, there has been a perceived need to examine the theological implications in advance of such a possible discovery. Religious considerations, thus far, have focused mainly on Western Christianity as represented by the Roman Catholic and various Protestant traditions. Although Eastern Orthodoxy represents the second largest group of Christians worldwide, to date, there is very little information available from these ongoing discussions concerning an Eastern Orthodox perspective. Therefore, we first review the case for the possibility of microbial life on Mars and then explore its fundamental Orthodox theological meaning. The apprehension of any form of extraterrestrial life by the Orthodox Church will be rooted in its collective interpretation of the Holy Scriptures, Patristic and contemporary religious writers, and in the ancient liturgical expression of its worship. (Olsen & Tobin 2008)

http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~db=all~content=a903556844

Byzantine/Orthodox Theology Classes?

So I'm debating on taking some Byzantine/Orthodox theology classes. I have a small list of possibilities. I was curious if anyone knew about these programs or other programs (perhaps distance ed) that would be along these lines? Thanks!

http://www.iocs.cam.ac.uk/
http://www.stbasilcollege.com/
http://www.byzcathsem.edu/
http://www.antiochian.org/638

Byzantine Discalced Carmelites of Holy Annunciation Monastery, Sugarloaf, PA

Modern Pilgrimage Trail

Pilgrimage to Uniontown PA over Labor Day weekend! We had a wonderful time honoring Our Lady!

Follow me

I want to share something about when I first moved to Boston for Graduate School. Due to the lack of personal transportation I was limited to where I could attend liturgy. So I attended a local Roman Parish that was also a Eucharistic Shrine. At this shrine the host is always exposed and there is always 24 hours a day 7 days a week. I first attended on my first visit to Boston where I stayed at a Hostel that was close by, until I found an apartment. I kept attending liturgy even after I moved out of the neighborhood, here because I honestly thought the Priest, was following me around during the week and use my personal experiences for his homilies. The most mundane of details about the week would be incorporated in his homily. I told my then girlfriend, now wife about this and she laughed, until she attended mass with me. She turned to me after the homily and said, “He is following you”. Now I know Father wasn’t following me around. But, the Holy Spirit was. See God knows everything about me and more. He knows what you did last night, 5 years ago 10 years ago, he remembers when I was born and how many hairs I had when I was 7 years old. He is all. So, why did it seem that his homilies where about me? It’s because they were. Because God touched my heart to make it about me, so I would listen. Now sometimes we as Christians hear but not listen. Just like the Pharisees. They had God right in front of them and couldn’t recognize him. They gazed on the holy face of God and did not see their Father. They saw what I have to wait to see at my death.

Where I Came From

I am a convert. That statement says a lot about who I am and what I believe. My background is similar to many; I come from a Latin Rite Catholic Father and a Protestant Mother. Both my parents decided that my brother and I would choose our own religiosity. This is the truth for many parents of different religious backgrounds. I attended a protestant church until the age of 5 (my family stopped attending) and then later in High School when I returned to church under my own fruition. The spirit gave me the wonderful gift of knowing there are many churches but only one true church. Most of my life I had gravitated toward a catholic truth. Growing up in the rural South I often encountered anti-Catholic sentiments, and often I would find myself defending the Catholic Church even though I wasn’t a member myself. Given the fact that I would often defend the Church I had little desire to become Catholic. As a teenager I looked around at Latin Catholic family, fellow peers who were Catholic and I was unimpressed at how they lived there lives. Not to say I didn’t have good Catholic role models but in most Catholics I knew I couldn’t see Christ. I often would attend Latin Liturgy growing up with family, friends. Sadly it was a Dark Knight for me because I didn’t feel God. It felt hollow, not hallow. As I grew in need of Christ I followed a protestant tradition. For a short time this fulfilled my spiritual needs but as time grew I started experiencing the same hollowness. As I grew and learned more and more about Christ and in my study of the Old Testament and the history of the church the great schism of 1054 I found I gravitated to a more Eastern Orthodox Theology. I then learned of the Byzantine Catholic Churches, the other 22 rites that are in communion with Rome. I found a small mission Byzantine Catholic Church near my school and went with an Orthodox Friend. My first experience with the Divine Liturgy was beyond reproach. It felt like coming home after being gone for a long time. For someone to say that who never experienced an eastern liturgy it was Divine. Shortly after I decided I wanted to be baptized and confirmed in the byzantine tradition… Since then I have continued to grow in faith deepen my relationship with God and grow as a Eastern Catholic…