our Metropolitan John [LoBue] of the Autonomous Orthodox Metropolia
A recent comment was negative about the Orthodox Western Rite, advising us just to become Roman Catholic. A beloved holy Orthodox hierarch, St John of San Francisco and Shanghai stated that the West was Orthodox for a thousand years using the Western Rites, let no one forbid the Western Rite saying it cannot be Orthodox. At present there are many Western Rite Orthodox blessed by their hierarchs to use various forms of the Western Rites. Such arrangements are notable here in North America in the AWR of the Antiochians, the Western Rite Vicariate of ROCOR/MP, and various smaller groups including the Autonomous Metropolia of North and South America and the British Isles. ~~~ Roman Catholics should be cognizant of their own Eastern Rites...Eastern Catholics, Byzantine Catholics, Melkites, and Chaldeans...to name only a few of their many Uniat organizations. Whoever else may find the Orthodox Western Rite confusing, Roman Catholics should not. ~~~ Some argue that revitalizing an old rite is poor policy. In truth however, the evidence for the ancient Western Rites is rich and available, just not much attended to in the past, and shows the ancient Western Rites [AD 900-1200] more akin to the East as genuine practices are documented and recovered. The growing question is why and how did the West allow itself to be improverished and altered!?
Additional comment from Deacon Fr Finbarr: The Orthodox Christian Church believes the Holy Divine Spirit to be alive and well. The Lord who could raise up the dry bones or create children of Abraham has no difficulty revivifying an wholesome ancient rite among those who call upon Him!
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