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**biannaruh** · 10-21-2009, 06:21 AM

One comment made by the parents of teens at a dinner party here in Athens I was at the other day, is that church services are way too early for teens (who medical science has proved need more morning sleep). I don't think it would be a strange thing to have a later Divine Liturgy here and there. I heard that the Metropolis was going to do this (have two DL's, the latter one being for the sake of the youth) on Sundays, but you hear alot of things here in Greece that never materialize, and right now there are renovations being done on the Church, and they have moved to another church temporarily, so there is no way to check.

I find your comment interesting, Alice. Many of my Greek friends (some admittedly of an older generation) grew up with the practice of their local church serving two liturgies on any Sunday, and very often, on weekday feasts as well. This wasn't only in cities and large towns, but even in villages. Even in comparatively small communities, it was not unusual for there to be at least one church which had two (and sometimes three) consecrated altars, so, if there were two priests available, an early and a later liturgy could be canonically served. Even here in Australia, I know of Holy Week services held very early in the morning (depending on the parish, beginning between 6AM and 7.30AM), which are surprisingly well-patronised, particularly by working folks who can attend, and still get to work on time, or be only slightly delayed.

10-21-2009, 06:21 AM	#17
biannaruh Join Date Nov 2005 Posts 445 Senior Member	One comment made by the parents of teens at a dinner party here in Athens I was at the other day, is that church services are way too early for teens (who medical science has proved need more morning sleep). I don't think it would be a strange thing to have a later Divine Liturgy here and there. I heard that the Metropolis was going to do this (have two DL's, the latter one being for the sake of the youth) on Sundays, but you hear alot of things here in Greece that never materialize, and right now there are renovations being done on the Church, and they have moved to another church temporarily, so there is no way to check. I find your comment interesting, Alice. Many of my Greek friends (some admittedly of an older generation) grew up with the practice of their local church serving two liturgies on any Sunday, and very often, on weekday feasts as well. This wasn't only in cities and large towns, but even in villages. Even in comparatively small communities, it was not unusual for there to be at least one church which had two (and sometimes three) consecrated altars, so, if there were two priests available, an early and a later liturgy could be canonically served. Even here in Australia, I know of Holy Week services held very early in the morning (depending on the parish, beginning between 6AM and 7.30AM), which are surprisingly well-patronised, particularly by working folks who can attend, and still get to work on time, or be only slightly delayed.
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