Orthodox Liturgical Language in America

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Another Opinion to the Fray
(Some initial thoughts)
Hagiographos Elias Damianakis, Archon Maestor
 
I have read on more than one occasion the call for ridding the church of its liturgical language. Not only here on America but also in Greece and Russia. The conversation is not unique to us in the States. In Greece the concern is which dialect to use and/or what form of Greek to use: Ancient or modern. Blaming the dwindling numbers to the use of Liturgical language.
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Similarly, in America, substituting one liturgical language for another whether it be Greek, Russian, Serbian… for all English. Some blaming the decline in participation on unattainable comprehension due to a foreign language. Making assumptions based on statistics and polls.

My initial thoughts on these suppositions is sadness. Even the greatest linguists, if not in tune with mystical spirituality or Orthodoxy cannot comprehend the Mystical depths of the liturgy. In fact, the ‘divine’ is incomprehensible. Wisdom is not attained by intellectual comprehension. Faith is not captured by reason and understanding of petitions. “We knew not whether we in heaven or on earth”

The legal language of America is English. But the “spiritual’ language of America is Spanish, Greek, Russian, Gaelic, Latin, French, Cherokee, and the multitude of immigrant and polyphonies which arrived on our shores. Not English.

Orthodoxy has always maintained the concept of vernacular use. To the point of developing the Cyrillic Alphabet for the Slavic people. This is ideal for a monolithic society. But not for America. Though I believe English is imperative for ministries and should be the 'official' language of all aspects of church life -outside the liturgy. The 'American' "Liturgy" should reflect America... more various languages in all liturgies. Every liturgy should have English, Greek, Russian, Bulgarian, etc...

Imagine the impact of our liturgical life if the paradigm shifted from a sense of exclusion, to non-ethnic faithful, if the internal dialogue became what language was that? Instead of I don’t understand “Greek” for example. If they understood the point of prayer and learned “Kyrie Eleison”. If they understood Σοφία πρόσχωμεν like they understand gynecology, photography, physics, numismatics, automobile, or the thousands of other Greek words they already understood. Let’s increase their spiritual vocabulary not dumb-down our inheritance.

The faithful would not only have to work at it, but perhaps enjoy working at it. And ironically learn something and participate in the liturgy.

The faith is far deeper than language, and if it’s not practiced at home, and manifested in our people, forget trying to get it in 2 hours during services because we use 'English'. If English were the 'magic pill' the OCA would be overflowing but unfortunately their all English communities are in a desperate state

St Paisios responding to a mother’s concern about her children taught “Stop telling your children about God, and start telling God about your children”. What a powerful concept. Pray and give God your problems. We too must stop telling others about church and start praying to God about it.

Another issue I see often as I travel and teach the basics of Orthodox and Iconography Is the complacency of our people. They are devout and pious while in the pews, but then join the world and do not set the example of proper Christian phronema.

Basic practices have been lost to modern man. Keeping what’s become known as an “Icon Corner” in the home. Lighting an oil lamp, candles, and praying in the home. Censing the home and blessing its inhabitants (including pets). Having the home blessed by a priest (agiasmo) and blessing it often, monthly, with holy water. Practice preparing prosphora, artoclasia, and koliva offerings to the church. This is what church is. Not dressing up on Sunday and visiting your local community. In Modern American jargon that’s like saying ‘where’s the beef’.

Unless you are fully practicing Orthodoxy and exemplifying what it is to be Orthodox don’t assume changing the liturgical language is going to change a thing. Our kids are smarter than that. I’d give the American society a bit more credit than that. These nondenominational “mega-churches” are offering entertainment and a choice of lifestyle; to participate in a community of giving back. Yet they doctrine is wrong.

Make Orthodoxy more relevant in society, a serious presence in each community before we start to water down what has lasted for 200 years, through tougher times than the Lady Gaga era. In the most educated era in human history, in the most educated country on the world with the most universities ever, our immediate inclination is to appeal to the “politically Correctness” and be English.
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During Ottoman Oppression of Orthodoxy the hidden schools taught our children to chant the Ipermacho, how many of our kids know and love the hymn? Let alone chant it?  We as individuals are responsible for our dwindling number. Our poor choices in lifestyle. Not the liturgical language of the Church.
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What we need is a Mystical Renewal. Let’s relinquish sentimentalism first.

Romans 8:26-28King James Version (KJV)26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.