Page:Uniate Eastern Churches.pdf/211

Rh Mysteries in the Greek language with Latin ceremonies." That is a great exaggeration. The prayers and the chief ceremonies were always Byzantine. As Latin elements we have first the use of azyme bread. This is certainly a very grave matter, by far the gravest of all. Nothing could be more opposed to Byzantine use. Another important latinization is the adoption of feasts from the Roman Calendar. Ever since Pope Gregory XIII (1572-1585) reformed it in 1582 the Italo-Greeks have followed this Gregorian Calendar. Indeed, at first they were the only Uniates on whom it was imposed by authority; the others have adopted it later, some only the other day (see p. 221). However, this is but a small point. There is nothing essential to any rite in such a matter as the Julian or Gregorian calculation of the year; it is obviously most desirable that all Catholics should, for instance, keep Easter on the same day. The whole Byzantine cycle of feasts and fasts could remain unchanged, though calculated in the Gregorian manner.

Much more vital is that the Italo-Greeks keep a number of Roman feasts. The chief of these are St Joseph on March 19, All Saints on November 1, All Souls on November 2, Corpus Christi; they also have our Lady of the Rosary on the first Sunday of October, St Michael in Monte Gargano on May 8, the Sacred Heart (Friday after the octave of Corpus Christi) and some Western Saints, whose names look odd in Greek letters. Less important was the use of Roman vestments. Further, they say the Filioque in the Nicene Creed; the priest at baptism does not confirm the child; but it is confirmed later by a bishop. There is no Ikonostasion in most of their churches; they have side-altars, solid statues, Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, and other popular devotions