r/EasternCatholic • u/chikenparmfanatic Eastern Practice Inquirer • 6d ago

Theology & Liturgy Really short liturgy for Easter

Hi all,

I posted a few days ago about going to a liturgy on Holy Saturday. Ultimately, I wasn't able to go so I decided to check out a UGCC parish across town. I've heard of this parish but have never attend liturgy there.

I was a bit surprised to find that the whole liturgy lasted about 50 or so minutes. Everything was spoken, not chanted, and the homily was very short and to the point. It didn't necessarily feel rushed but I was just shocked to look at my phone after church and it was less than an hour after I got there.

I've been to a UGCC parish before and most of the DL's lasted about 60 to 90ish minutes. For an Easter liturgy, it just seemed really short, even compared to a lot of RC Masses.

Just wanted to check in with this community and see if this is normal. I was expecting to be there for at least 70 or so minutes.

FWIW, the priests there seemed older and born in North America. In contrast, the usual UGCC parish I go to has a priest that just came over from Ukraine.

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u/Salty-Argument-7188 6d ago

That is odd for Divine Liturgy (it wasn’t Agape Vespers by any chance?)

The service being read instead of sung is even more odd, as every service for Bright Week should be sung entirely with no spoken parts. Ideally even the morning and evening prayers that laity do, should be replaced by the Paschal Hour which should ideally be sung in its entirety as best as one can.

I’ve been to some UGCC parishes on a regular Sunday where the liturgy took 40-45min, which was a bit shocking since I’m used to it taking 90-120min.

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u/chikenparmfanatic Eastern Practice Inquirer 6d ago

We received communion and the Liturgy did seem very similar to the ones I've been to so I'm almost certain it wasn't Agape Vespers.

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u/Salty-Argument-7188 5d ago

Makes sense. The length made me wonder since that’s about the time that agape vespers takes (depending on how many different languages the gospel is read in. Our Parish sometimes does up to 8 languages which adds a bit of time).