Kirkin' on the air RIGHT NOW

**A Dhuglas** · 6th December 05, 01:07 PM

Downloaded it and listened just now. Thank you for letting us know about it. It's been a long, long time since I've heard a liturgy presented almost entirely in plainchant! Very interesting.

You've spiked my curiosity: is there source for the "Kirkin' " tradition/liturgy to which you could direct me? I'm tempted to run it by the pastor of my Church. It would be a real change for the still predominantly German Lutheran congregation to absorb but they've adjusted to me so anything's possible :grin: I'll certainly forward him the link as I'm sure he'll enjoy the service as much as I did.

BTW - on the webpage for the service link: the image to click is to the left of the text not the right.

**Prester John** · 6th December 05, 01:18 PM

haha OOPS

I fixed the right/left thing.

As for the actual "kirkin'" part, it's really just a blessing of tartan, and from what I can tell varies from place to place. Cajunscot and a few others sent me the programs from their churches' kirkin', so for me it was easy to simply celebrate the appropriate service in the Orthodox tradition for St. Andrew, with a blessing at the end.

Now, I'm hearing from Orthodox priests who either play the pipes or own kilts! What a happy surprise!

I even hear that there is an Orthodox parish somewhere on the west coast that has alot of kilt wearers and Scottish folks. Not what most people think of when they think of Orthodox Christianity, but Orthodoxy is American too. Something which is often forgotten.

**macwilkin** · 6th December 05, 01:34 PM

You've spiked my curiosity: is there source for the "Kirkin' " tradition/liturgy to which you could direct me? I'm tempted to run it by the pastor of my Church.

The origin of the Kirkin' service is found in the Second World War; Dr. Peter Marshall, pastor of the New York Ave. Presbyterian Church, and Scottish immigrant from Coatbridge, which is near Glasgow, held a service for British war relief in 1941 entitled "The Kirkin' of the Tartans". Dr. Marshall was a member of the St. Andrew's Society of Washington DC, and soon the society began to participate, and in the 1950's, the service was moved to the National (Episcopal) Cathederal in Washington, where it has been held ever since. It is a Scottish-American church parade -- there is a quite a bit of myth and legend on the Internet (surprise, surprise) about the service dating from the Jacobite Rebellions, but there is no documentation for it.

Cheers,

Todd

**A Dhuglas** · 6th December 05, 01:37 PM

Originally Posted by Prester John

Not what most people think of when they think of Orthodox Christianity, but Orthodoxy is American too. Something which is often forgotten.

I confess I was surprised to see you're from the Orthodox Church. I associate the tradition with what I've seen/experienced: Russian and Greek Orthodox. It's good to hit a double-take moment now and again -- keeps one awake.

**MacMullen** · 6th December 05, 01:41 PM

Thanks for posting the service, John. Very nice liturgy. I assume that was yourself making announcements at the end of the service?

**Sherry** · 6th December 05, 01:45 PM

Ain't the internet great?! What a nice side benefit of putting the service online.

Sherry

**Prester John** · 6th December 05, 01:48 PM

Yeah, that's my nasal twangy voice. Fr. Dragan has a great voice, but I was the one miked up.

My deacon also has a great voice, but he wasn't celebrating that night.

The choir also, was much better in person than that little mike could pick up. They were out of the loft, which has several good microphones, and down on the floor in the nave - we didn't know how many people we would have.

Next year, everything will be as normal.

**Southern Breeze** · 6th December 05, 02:07 PM

Thanks for posting it, the sevice was very nice. I downloaded it and saved it on C.D.

**Valencian Kilted** · 6th December 05, 02:16 PM

After listening to the downloaded service, I only can express my gratitude and high respect to another brother from a brother church. I know that maybe the distance between our two ways of living our faith has been growing and increasing through the centuries, and maybe it is also today based mostly on "political" reasons much more than in religious matters, but the message is still there, don't you think?...

Also as a former semminarist (from 15 to 18 years old), it was nice also to listen again what we call a "Misa Cantata", that is something more exceptional in our tradition, and more reduced to special occasions and dates of the liturgic year.

Any way, into the Catholic church are included (at least nominally) the ortodoxian churches as Oriental Catholic Church, so I think that maybe somebody left a door opened looking to the future!. Let's hope that the good wishes will be made real someday, and this includes also all the branches that grew from the same tree after the appearance of protestantism and all its derivations,.. though this seems to be much more difficult to concilliate!

It was a nice experience for me to share those moments with you and your congregation, father. As St. Francis of Assis said: "May Lord guide and bless you, may Him show you His face and give peace to you!" (maybe the translation is not good at all, but my "spanglish" from the mediterranean is quite limited, sorry!)

Salutations to you all!

T O N O

**Prester John** · 6th December 05, 02:37 PM

Thanks Tono

Just FYI, Francis of Assisi was quoting an Old Testament blessing, probably Exodus (off the top of my head. I'll find the reference later!)

I agree that it is a deep shame that the Roman and Orthodox Churches are moving farther apart, rather than closer together. For what it's worth, most of us, especially those of us who did not grow up Orthodox, were very happy, and not a little relieved, with the election of Pope Benedict.