Topic: What is going on here?

[mike]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ew22VLOOaE8

I understand it's speeded up but still what are these people doing with their pews and what is this enthusiastic priest doing? (let's ignore the royal doors on rollers)

[Cyrillic]

Is outrage! Pews at 0:09!

[biro]

Ah... er... 

You got me.

[arimethea]

This is from the Pascha Vesperal-Liturgy. It is tradition in the Mediterranean churches to toss bay (or laurel) leaves while "Arise O God and judge the earth..." is sung.

The banging of the pews may be a holdover from when bells were outlawed.

[mike]

Thank you.

[Cyrillic]

The Holy Doors are interesting, though.

[genesisone]

The Holy Doors are interesting, though.

The nearest Greek Church has a door like that. I found it odd - a large icon of Christ that slides back, rather than two swinging panels with icons of the Evangelists (and often the Annunciation).

[NicholasMyra]

The banging of the pews may be a holdover from when bells were outlawed.

I think it is to represent Christ breaking open the tombs.

[Shiny]

That was awesome

[NicholasMyra]

That was awesome

I sing two troparia in the morning
I sing two troparia at night.

I sing two troparia in the afternoon
It makes me feel alright

I sing two trop's in time of peace,
and two in time of war.

I sing two troparia before I sing two troparia,
And then I sing two more.

Yiayia, she once told me son, 'You be monastic man."
And Babushka, she once told me son, "You weep the best you can."
But then one day, I met a monk, who came to me and said:
"Ascesis good, ascesis fine, but is that salt on your cabbage?"

[Tikhon.of.Colorado]

The Holy Doors are interesting, though.

The nearest Greek Church has a door like that. I found it odd - a large icon of Christ that slides back, rather than two swinging panels with icons of the Evangelists (and often the Annunciation).

The Greek Church in my town has the same.

[Christopher McAvoy]

Quite a video.

NicholasMyra should have a book of poetry published, such as the one shared here, I would buy a copy.

[Father H]

This is from the Pascha Vesperal-Liturgy. It is tradition in the Mediterranean churches to toss bay (or laurel) leaves while "Arise O God and judge the earth..." is sung.

The banging of the pews may be a holdover from when bells were outlawed.

I missed this one.  But I must thank you, arimethea, for describing it properly as the Pascha Vesperal-Liturgy (despite its often early serving in our day). 

[Arachne]

The Holy Doors are interesting, though.

The nearest Greek Church has a door like that. I found it odd - a large icon of Christ that slides back, rather than two swinging panels with icons of the Evangelists (and often the Annunciation).

The Greek Church in my town has the same.

Most Churches in Greece are like that - sliding icon of Christ and little carved gate-like panels in front.

[FormerReformer]

Quite a video.

NicholasMyra should have a book of poetry published, such as the one shared here, I would buy a copy.

I think NicholasMyra would have to get legal consent from the survivng members of Sublime, to have that particular piece published

[Irish Melkite]

I like how at 0:10 the one yiayia stops the other from merely slapping the pew - 'hey you, get it right, bang that pew'

Many years,

Neil

[elephant]

This is how it goes at my home parish on Holy Saturday morning. 

We have gates that are waist high,  and a sliding panel with an icon of Christ the High Priest.   

Some people do bring bells with them.  We're making enough noise to raise the dead!  My favorite moment of the Church year!

love, elephant

[Fotina02]

My Antiochian parish doesn't bang anything but we toss the bay leaves or flower petals depending on what our priest can find I think. The fragrant petals remain in the sanctuary through Agape services the next day. Many will gather some petals to keep in their purses and homes as blessing.

I like this video of St. George's monastery in Raitho banging sticks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jo2i_mDiC24

[Joseph Hazen]

I can't watch the video right now without being trampled by angry, studying students in the Hall, but if it's what I think it is in some old-school...I want to say Greek? parishes when they sing that Christ has shattered the gates of hell the people bang on everything, the chandeliers are sent spinning, and generally there's a ruckus to represent the noise of the gates of hell being destroyed. I think they do it while they throw bay leaves around. I saw one really crazy video once. I thought it was kinda cool.

[Monk Vasyl]

I remember seeing these used in Eastern Rite Catholic churches during Holy Week:  (you have to scroll down to the 3rd photo)
http://blog.seattlepi.com/monasticmoments/2008/03/20/little-bell-big-bell-and-the-clapper/

[Dominika]

I remember seeing these used in Eastern Rite Catholic churches during Holy Week:  (you have to scroll down to the 3rd photo)
http://blog.seattlepi.com/monasticmoments/2008/03/20/little-bell-big-bell-and-the-clapper/

And it's used also by Roman Catholics a few times during the Holy Week and twice in very similar way as it's done in the link shared by Fotina02 - during the procession ending the Maundy Thursday Liturgy and the procession with the Eucharist to the Christ's grave (very similar to Epitaphios). During the second one here in Poland is even sung a hymn about the shattered the gates of hell. So, I think that the use of this wooden thing (clapper?) can be very old during the Holy Week, because its services and customs are the oldest ones from the whole liturgical tradition.

[Irish Melkite]

I remember seeing these used in Eastern Rite Catholic churches during Holy Week:  (you have to scroll down to the 3rd photo)
http://blog.seattlepi.com/monasticmoments/2008/03/20/little-bell-big-bell-and-the-clapper/

It's properly termed a crotalus, from a Greek word for rattle.

Many years,

Neil

[mabsoota]

out church copied loud Paschal celebrations from the byzantine church a few hundred years ago - thanks, greek friends!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uhW8Taf1z8

they start by singing Christos anesti (Christ has risen), alithos anesti (truly He has risen) 3 times, and then repeat it in arabic (or whatever language is appropriate).
then the priest and deacon continue (in proclamation and response form) by reading from psalm 23(24) (lift up you heads, o you rulers and be lifted up you everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall enter. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of Hosts, He is the King of glory).
the church is completely dark apart from a few candles at the front, to represent the women coming to the tomb to anoint Jesus' body.
i am sorry about the flash photography, that is not what usually happens! it should be dark and silent (we usually celebrate this saturday night just before midnight).

then all the lights go on and everyone yells and bangs and claps. the procession of subdeacons and clergy goes around the church with the icon of the resurrection singing 'Christ has risen from the dead, through death trampling on death etc.' (exact same words as sung by eastern orthodox church (we do it in greek, then in coptic) and also sung (interestingly) by romanian protestants).
excuse the slightly muted singing, the recording i found was from last year, and our patriarch had recently reposed (may God give him rest and reward)

this occurs about half way through the liturgy; the holy Body and Blood is still under the altar under the covering.

[Nikolaostheservant]

dont know abt the pews, could have to to as you say instead of the bells BUT gota point out though tha the "skipping" priest is not normal!!!
its usually a dignified walk around the church gently tossing the leaves at ppl. this particular priest needs to chill out with the caffeen!!!