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Unique Traditions

ClimacusClimacus Shipmate
in Ecclesiantics
Talking with a subdeacon in the Chaldean church I was reminded the Church of the East (Assyrians not in communion with Rome unlike Chaldeans) have a sacrament called Holy Leaven. It is a tradition that a part of the bread from the Last Supper was saved and has been passed down and a part of this is mixed with other ingredients and used as part of the baking of every bread for the Eucharist.

What traditions are unique to your church? Either denomination or individual church?

Comments

  • Bishops FingerBishops Finger Shipmate
    In the Church of England, anything (however surreal or bizarre) which is done at least three times becomes a Tradition™, as in *We've always done it*.

    :wink:
  • TruronTruron Shipmate
    in the south west it is more like once a custom and twice tradition 😳
  • ForthviewForthview Shipmate
    The German city of Trier (or Treviri or Treves or Augusta Treverorum) has an almost unique tradition inasmuch as it claims to be the custodian of the 'Seamless Robe of Christ'
    (der heilige Rock zu Trier) ,It may have been brought to Trier by St Helena,the mother of Emperor Constantine, after her famous trip to the Holy Land from where she brought many religious artefacts to Europe.
    We only have definite showings of the Robe from the 12th century and it played quite an important role in the disputes between Catholics and Lutherans at the time of the Reformation.
    With the secularisation of the independent prince bishopric of Trier during Napoleonic times the robe was taken to and kept in the Rhine fortress of Ehrenbreitstein.
    Since its return to Trier in 1844 it has been shown on a number of occasions,the last few being in 1996,2006 and 2012 with the next projected major showing being in 2033 (anniversary of the crucifixion of Christ).
    Over the centuries it has been necessary to repair the Robe and it is now difficult to say how much (if indeed any) of it comes from the Robe which, according to the story in the New Testament ,the soldiers cast lots for.
    What I like is the present day explanation of the Catholic diocese of Trier of the value of the Robe. It presents it as a symbol of the unity of the undivided Church.
  • OblatusOblatus Shipmate
    As to how traditions begin, I recall a Requiem for a deceased acolyte. I served as crucifer, seated next to the torchbearers. As they came back with their torches after the eucharistic prayer and put them in the corner, one torchbearer forgot to extinguish his candle. It stood there in its stand, burning alone, as we proceeded to line up to receive Communion. After Mass, we discussed in the sacristy how we were sure there was now a tradition of leaving one torch burning during Communion to represent The Lost Acolyte. We enjoyed this idea, but alas, it didn't catch on.
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