Pilgrimage Liturgies
Cyprian
Shipmate
Pilgrimage to holy shrines, tombs, wells, springs, and other holy places is a core part of the spiritual life of many Christians.
When I was Eastern Orthodox, one of my favourite paraliturgical offices was the General Moleben. It is incredibly flexible and, with a little forethought and planning, can be adapted very easily to give honour to any particular saint. It is customarily prayed in a processional form on the patronal feast of a church but lends itself very well to pilgrimages to holy sites, of which we are blessed to have many in the British Isles.
One thing I lamented when I was received into the Western Orthodox communion was that we didn't seem to have an equivalent. I think the traditional western custom when making a pilgrimage to some holy shrine or other, has generally been to celebrate a votive Mass of the saint. However, there are situations where it might not be feasible to travel with everything needed for the Mass (including a portable altar in some cases), or else the pilgrimage might be a priestless group, family, or individual that still wants to pray.
So I compiled an office of veneration, sought and gained episcopal blessing for it, and had it published in our parish prayer book.
It follows the following structure:
We prayed it last week on our parish pilgrimage, although we omitted certain prayers which had already been prayed at the Mass immediately preceding this office (Yes, we offered the Mass as well, because more is more).
Do you have any particular customs that you follow for prayer and devotion on pilgrimage, whether on private pilgrimage or as part of your wider church tradition?
When I was Eastern Orthodox, one of my favourite paraliturgical offices was the General Moleben. It is incredibly flexible and, with a little forethought and planning, can be adapted very easily to give honour to any particular saint. It is customarily prayed in a processional form on the patronal feast of a church but lends itself very well to pilgrimages to holy sites, of which we are blessed to have many in the British Isles.
One thing I lamented when I was received into the Western Orthodox communion was that we didn't seem to have an equivalent. I think the traditional western custom when making a pilgrimage to some holy shrine or other, has generally been to celebrate a votive Mass of the saint. However, there are situations where it might not be feasible to travel with everything needed for the Mass (including a portable altar in some cases), or else the pilgrimage might be a priestless group, family, or individual that still wants to pray.
So I compiled an office of veneration, sought and gained episcopal blessing for it, and had it published in our parish prayer book.
It follows the following structure:
- The Opening.
- (during Paschaltide) the Paschal Acclamation.
- Psalm 150 (intoned by 2 cantors).
- Psalm 149 (and, if desired, psalms 14 & 32 LXX) chanted by the people, under an antiphon honouring the saint.
- The Ecclesatical Psalm (a prayer of supplication to the saint, chanted in the form of a psalm), again, under an antiphon honouring the saint.
- A short responsory
- A biblical reading
- A long responsory
- A Gospel reading
- The veneration of the shrine/relics/tomb &c by the people, during the singing of the Great Antiphon of the saint.
- Trisagion, Our Father, Collect of the saint & general intercessions and other prayers, as desired.
- The Closing
- The Office Hymn of the saint.
We prayed it last week on our parish pilgrimage, although we omitted certain prayers which had already been prayed at the Mass immediately preceding this office (Yes, we offered the Mass as well, because more is more).
Do you have any particular customs that you follow for prayer and devotion on pilgrimage, whether on private pilgrimage or as part of your wider church tradition?
Comments
How wonderful! We have a pilgrimage "hitlist" and Durham is definitely on it. If you ever come back to these shores, we'd be happy to have you join us on a pilgrimage.
May I just say, as well, how delighted I am to see you here. I don't post very often these days so you may well be very active here and I just haven't noticed, but seeing your screen name brought back many happy memories of the old boards in the early noughties.
Aw thank you ☺️ ❤️ Glad to be back!
Two of my favourite novels are Two steps forward and Two steps onward by Graeme Simsion and Anne Buist, fictional stories based on Camino routes they have walked.
Sorry for the tangent!!
Thank you for that, it's been good to read them through again. I wonder if it's possible for them to be accessed as a collection through the Ship's main page?
Surely you mean 'in' Yorkshire?
You wouldn't say 'At Madison County' or 'At Arizona' or 'At New Jersey' ... 😉
Besides, if you went to Jarrow, it's in Tyne and Wear and Lindisfarne is further north, in Northumberland.
Sorry to be pedantic ...
Durham is in County Durham.
But as you were ...
@Cyprian, I had no idea the Western Rite didn't have provision for the pilgrimage prayers you describe. But then, I don't know much about the Western Rite other than some Eastern Orthodox are very cranky about it and dismissive of it ... but then they can be cranky and dismissive of almost anything and everything.
Our Metropolitan has authorised its use in certain circumstances.
Good to see you posting and reconnecting with CM. Peace and blessings to you both.