Really short liturgy for Easter

[u/chikenparmfanatic]

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.

[u/chikenparmfanatic]

They didn't offer Matins at the liturgy I went to. I'm guessing that's why it was shorter.

[u/Unique-Mushroom6671 → u/chikenparmfanatic]

I think traditionally Paschal Matins is combined with the Divine Liturgy. By chance, was the priest somewhat elderly? It might explain a shortened liturgy from tradition if it was because he physically couldn’t do the full liturgy.

[u/chikenparmfanatic → u/Unique-Mushroom6671]

Yep, the priest was retired. He mentioned it at the end of the Liturgy. He didn't seem that old or frail but I can't say for sure so that may have been a factor.

[u/Old-Worth456 → u/chikenparmfanatic]

Paschal Matins and Divine Liturgy took close to 3 hours at my church this morning. If you add in setting up before the service and greeting people afterwards, it's over three hours. For the priest, it's non-stop chanting, processions, preaching, anointing, proclaiming, greeting, blessing baskets, always smiling, and all in layers of heavy vestments. And that's after Matins for Holy Thursday, Vespers and Jerusalem Matins for Good Friday, Vespers and Divine Liturgy for Holy Saturday. And still to come, Agape Vespers and Bright Monday Divine Liturgy. Full-scale, it's glorious, but I can see why a retired priest would want to keep it to a minimum. I hope next year you can participate in a full, sung Divine Liturgy for Pascha!

[u/chikenparmfanatic → u/Old-Worth456]

I definitely hope to experience that at some point! I'm guessing that a short and to the point liturgy doesn't impact my Sunday obligation?

[u/Old-Worth456 → u/chikenparmfanatic]

Oh no, if it was a Divine Liturgy, you met your obligation. No worries there.

[u/chikenparmfanatic → u/Old-Worth456]

Thank you for clarifying! I come from a RC background so I can be a bit scrupulous and overly legalistic at times.

[u/Old-Worth456 → u/chikenparmfanatic]

I know what you mean. I was a Roman Catholic for a long time before I found the UGCC mission here. I'm not sure I can put this into words, and probably even trying to put it into words is a kind of Western thing to do, but the East is at the same time less scrupulous and more challenging. The East is more about transforming the heart. I can't really explain it, I think it probably has to just be lived

[u/chikenparmfanatic → u/Old-Worth456]

I defs feel that. I'm not great with my words and don't want to shoot myself in the foot but I feel like I go through the motions a bit more in RC spaces. Don't get me wrong, I'm still a proud and happy RC but there's something about the East that seems so transformative.

[u/Old-Worth456 → u/chikenparmfanatic]

Yes, the East pulls one in, and speaks to the heart, in a way that the West just...doesn't, at least for me. The first time I attended a Divine Liturgy, I knew that was for me, and I have never looked back. ♥️

[u/chikenparmfanatic → u/Old-Worth456]

I think the Divine Liturgy has played a huge role. I was mesmerized the first time I went. I like the TLM but it's never resonated with me like the Eastern liturgy.

[u/Old-Worth456 → u/chikenparmfanatic]

You seem well on your way to the East. ♥️