Melkite Greek Catholic
Melkites are Catholics
The Melkite Greek Catholic Religion and the Roman Latin Catholic Religion are the same religion. There are about 22 Catholic Churches in a federation under the "Pope".
The Catholic Churches are different in their implementation of the same religion. The Catholic Churches are different in their spirituality, advanced theology, liturgical services, liturgical calendar, saints, rules, regulations, customs, history, languages, etc.
Theology
ALL Catholics accept the definitions, creeds, cannon laws, etc. of the first seven Ecumenical Councils.
The early Catholic Church held seven Ecumenical Councils under the inspiration of the Holy God the Holy Spirit. These seven Ecumenical Councils are the seven great meetings that were called to give expression to the basic faith of the Catholic Church. The first seven Ecumenical Council produced definitions, creeds, cannon laws, etc.
Melkites follow Greek variant of the Byzantine Rite in worship,
theology, and spirituality.
Then, Melkites are sometimes called "Eastern Catholics"
or "Byzantine Catholics" or "Greek Catholics".
The Divine Liturgy, customs, etc. were set about 500-600 AD.
The usual Divine Liturgy is the Divine Liturgy of
Our Father among the Saints John Chrysostom.
(He was born, baptized, and ordained in Antioch.)
Liturgical New Year Begins on 1 September
1 September - The Liturgical New Year Begins.
Theotokos Minor Feast Days - Feast Days which
are not Great Feasts
Feasts of Feasts and Great Feasts Days
Feasts / Feasts ofFeasts / Great Feasts
Class 1 / Great Feasts
Class 2 / Great Feasts
Synaxis Days / Saints
Great Feast
Feasts of Feasts and Great Feasts Days are special days.
These Feasts commemorate an event that has a specific
bearing on the life and mission of Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ,
which is bring "salvation to the world". On these days, we should attend Divine Liturgy.
Feast of Feasts
The most important feast is the feast of feasts: Feast of Feasts Holy and Glorious Pascha - Fesakh - Hajmeh. The date of the Feast of Feast changes, Date.
Rule to Determine the Date
Faithful in Orthodox Dominated Countries
Faithful in Orthodox dominated countries celebrate according to the Julian calendar on 1st Sunday after 1st full moon after March 20 and after the Jewish Passover.
Syria is considered an Orthodox dominated country.
Faithful in Latin Catholic Dominated Countries
Faithful in Latin Catholic dominated countries celebrate according to the Gregorian calendar on 1st Sunday after 1st full moon after March 20.The United States is considered a Latin Catholic dominated country.
Date of Pascha General Practice
Melkites celebrate Pascha on the same date as the dominate Church (Catholic or Orthodox) does.
In the United States, the dominate Church (Catholic or Orthodox) is the Catholic Latin Rite. So, American Melkites celebrate Pascha the same day as the Latin Catholic Church.
In some countries, the dominate Church (Catholic or Orthodox) is the Orthodox Church. So, those Melkites celebrate Pascha on the same day as the Orthodox Church.
Feasts of Feasts Holy and Glorious Pascha Date Range
The earliest possible date for Feasts of Feasts Holy and Glorious Pascha is March 22 and the latest possible date is April 25.
Great Feasts
There are twelve Great Feasts. The order is the chronological that is the liturgical year. The liturgical year begins on 1 September.
25 December
· Great Feast of the Nativity According to the Flesh of Our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ - Celebration First Day
· (One of the Twelve Great Feasts, class 1)
2 February
Great Feast of the Holy Hypapanty of Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ and the Purification of The Theotokos (One of the Twelve Great Feasts, class 2)
Celebration 40th Day of Great Feast of the Nativity According to the Flesh of Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ
6 January
Great Feast of the Holy Theophany of Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ (One of the Twelve Great Feasts, class 1)
6 August
Great Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ (One of the Twelve Great Feasts, class 1)
Sunday before Pascha
Great Feast of Holy and Glorious Palm Sunday - Shaneeneh - Transition Period Second Day (One of the Twelve Great Feasts, class 1)
40th day of Pascha
Great Feast of the Ascension into Heaven of Our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ (One of the Twelve Great Feasts, class 1) - Holy and Glorious Pascha Celebration Fortieth Day
50th day of Pascha
Great Feast of Pentecost Holy and Glorious Pascha Celebration Fifieth Day Eighth Sunday of Holy and Glorious Pascha (One of the Twelve Great Feasts, class 1)
14 September
The Great Feast of the Exaltation of the Precious and Lifegiving Holy Cross (One of the Twelve Great Feasts, class 1)
8 September
Great Feast of the Nativity of The Theotokos (One of the Twelve Great Feasts, class 2)
21 November
Great Feast of the Entrance of The Theotokos into the Temple (One of the Twelve Great Feasts, class 2)
In the Icon of the Entrance of the Mother of God, Mary is shown as a young girl being escorted to the Temple by her parents, Joachim and Anna. She is also accompanied by the holy virgins carrying candles. In all the icons of the Presentation, the High Priest greets the holy family at the entrance of the Temple.
25 March
Great Feast of the Annunciation of The Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary (One of the Twelve Great Feasts, class 2)
15 August
Great Feast of the Dormition of The Theotokos (One of the Twelve Great Feasts, class 2)
The Catholic Calendar (Latin Rite)
Vestment Colors
Vestment colors are used to represent the mood of the Mass being celebrated. The color for the altar cloth and the celebrant's sash will be of this color. There are four standard vestment colors.
Violet - Represents Expectation, Purification, or Penance. Used during Lent and Advent.
White (or Gold) - Represents Joy and Triumph. Used during the Paschal Triduum, Easter, and Christmas, as well as for Holy Days and Feast Days throughout the year.
Red - Represents Royalty, Fire, and Martyrdom. Used on special Feast Days and Holy Days throughout the year.
Green - A sign of Life and Growth. Represents Ordinary Time.
Other colors may be substituted where traditionally appropriate, if desired. Some typical examples are Black, used for funerals, and Pink, used on the third Sunday of Advent.
Liturgical Years
For Sundays and other special days throughout the church year, there are three sets of readings assigned for the day. These readings are assigned to Liturgical Years A, B, and C. Years which are evenly divisible by 3 are assigned year C, such as 1995. Year A follows year C, Year B follows Year A, and Year C follows Year B. Bear in mind that Liturgical Years start on the first Sunday of Advent of the previous year, so December 1, 1996 started Liturgical Year B.
Liturgical Cycles
For weekdays in ordinary time and other special days throughout the church year, there are two sets of readings for the day. These readings are assigned to Liturgical Cycles I and II. Odd years are assigned cycle I, and even years are assigned cycle II. Bear in mind that Liturgical Cycles start on the first Sunday of Advent of the previous year, so December 1, 1996 began Liturgical Cycle I.
Seasons of the Liturgical Year
The seasons of the liturgical year begin with Advent, a time of preparation for the Christmas season. The Christmas season celebrates the birth of Jesus (on December 25) and continues until the Baptism of Our Lord. This is followed by the first of two periods of Ordinary Time, which continues until Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent, a time of penitence leading to the Paschal Triduum after the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday. The Triduum is the three days before Easter. Easter Sunday marks the start of the Easter season, which continues as a time of celebration until Pentecost Sunday. Pentecost Sunday marks the start of the second period of Ordinary Time, which continues until the Advent season begins again.
Feasts, Memorials, Commemorations and Solemnities
These are days which the Church has set aside as having special meaning. There are several types of celebrations. Some are events in the life of Christ. Some are days dedicated to a particular saint. There are three types of feast days. Optional Feasts are not universally celebrated. Holy Days of Obligation are days on which Catholics are required to attend Mass. All other celebrations are celebrated, but Catholics are not obligated to attend.
REF
§ http://www.voiceoforthodoxy.org/audio/audio.htm
§ http://www.catholic-forum.com/members/popestleo/dailyprayer.html
§ http://www.holytrinitymission.org/books/english/liturgics_averky_e.htm#_Toc104768041
§ http://www.holytrinitymission.org/books/english/liturgics_averky_e.htm
§ http://pages.prodigy.net/frjohnwhiteford/resources.htm
§ http://www.faswebdesign.com/ECPA/
§ http://www.johnmaron.org/glossary/glossary.html
§ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Liturgical_Calendar
§ http://www.liturgica.com/html/litEOLitEarly.jsp?hostname=null
§ http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/encyclopedia/l/li/liturgical_colours.htm