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Notes -
Does orthodoxy really have such a strong norm towards ‘children must be PERFECT in liturgy or not go’? I ask because Byzantine Catholicism has, uh, thé opposite reputation.
You’ve posted before about the challenge of wrangling little people through Divine Liturgy(and I can sympathize), but Byzantine Catholic services are IME full of children being basically ignored until they start full on screaming. Maybe it’s a difference from thé ‘if you’re married you have to have babies and not stop’ mentality religious Catholics tend to have and orthodoxy is different- but it would surprise me.
No, the children can play nicely while whispering, nap, color, flop about a bit on the rug, or walk in and out as they're able to behave quietly or not. One priest said that he'd rather they were there and screaming than not there, but nobody behaves like they believe him, including his own wife and children.
Mostly, though, if we can't receive Communion, can't hear or concentrate on the prayers, can't sing, can't hear the sermon because we spend it either suppressing child activity or in a different room, then where are we even doing?
Edit: We'd probably do better if we had a specific goal, and should probably go talk to a priest about it. I know.
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