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The '''Western Rite''' is a strand of Orthodox Christian worship based on the minority liturgical traditions of tradition within the ancient pre-[[Great Schism|Schism]] Orthodox Church of the West. Western Rite Orthodox Christians hold in common the full Orthodox faith in common with their brethren of the [[Byzantine Rite]]but celebrate Western forms of liturgy. Liturgical diversity, both between and at within the East and West, was common before the [[Great Schism]], yet not as diverse as like in today's time. At present, all of the [[bishop]]s who care for such [[parish]]es are themselves followers of the Byzantine Rite.

In 1864, 44-year-old [[Joseph Julian Overbeck]], was [[chrismation|chrismated]] into the [[Orthodox Church]]. Overbeck was a former German [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] priest from Germany who had left the priesthood, after becoming disillusioned with papal supremacy, . He became Lutheran and later married, was [[chrismation|chrismated]] into before joining the [[Orthodox Church]]. He then published, in In 1866, he published ''Catholic Orthodoxy and Anglo-Catholicism'' , which contained the groundings for his work for the next twenty years. A year later, be began publishing a periodical, ''Orthodox Catholic Review'', aimed at putting forward Orthodoxy and rejecting Catholicism and Protestantism.

The year 1867 saw Overbeck, with 122 signatures from the Oxford Movement, petition the Church of Russia for the establishment of a Western Rite church in full communion with the Eastern Rite. A seven-member synodal commission was then formed, and invited Overbeck to attend. The idea was approved, and Overbeck set about submitting a draft of the proposed Western liturgy. The base of Overbeck's submission was the so-called "Tridentine Mass" of 1570, which added in an epiclesis and the Trisagion hymnto the Tridentine [[Mass]]. This rite was submitted in 1871, and was examined and approved by the commission. Overbeck focused his efforts on the Old Catholic movement, who had rejected Papal Infallibility. He continued to engage in polemics with Catholics, Anglicans, and Orthodox converts using the Byzantine riteRite.

In 1876, Overbeck issued an appeal to the various Holy Synods, travelling traveling to Constantinople in 1879. There he met the Ecumenical Patriarch, who authorised authorized him to deliver sermons and apologeticscreate apologetical material. In 1881, he had some success was had when the Ecumenical Patriarchate agreed that the West had a right to a Western church and rite.

However, it went no furtherhis successes did not establish the Western Rite. Overbeck's marriage after his Catholic ordination was a canonical impediment to his ordination to the Orthodox priesthood, ; the Holy Synod of Greece vetoed his scheme amongst the Orthodox Churches, pressuring Constantinople to retract its previous endorsement; the ''Orthodox Catholic Review'' ended its run, ; and by 1892 , he admitted failure due . Overbeck reposed in 1905. One Western Rite parish briefly entered communion with the Orthodox Church in the Nineteenth Century. In 1890, a Swiss Old Catholic parish in Wisconsin pastored by Fr. Joseph Rene Vilatte approached Bp. Vladimir (Sokolovsky) about being received into Orthodoxy. Bishop Vladimir received them on May 9, 1891; however, Fr. Vilatte was consecrated to the episcopacy by hierarchs of the [[Church of Greece Antioch (Syriac)|Syriac Orthodox Church]] in India, among them Metropolitan [[Julius of Goa|Alvares Mar Yulios]] of the timeGoa, on 29 May 1892. Overbeck reposed in 1905He eventually led his parish back into Old Catholicism.

[[Image:Fon-du-Lac CircusAlexander_Turner.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Episcopalian Consecration of Reginald Weller as co-adjutor bishop of Fond-du-Lac, 1900Former Antiochian Western Rite Vicar General Fr. Alexander Turner celebrating Mass.]]

The Western Rite continued. In 1890, a Swiss Old Catholic parish in Wisconsin, pastored by Fr Joseph Rene Vilatte, was received by Bp. Vladimir (Sokolovsky); however, Fr. Vilatte soon led the church into the Syrian Orthodox ("Jacobite") church, then back into Old Catholicism. In 1911, Arnold Harris Mathew, an Old Catholic bishop, entered into union with the Patriarchate of Antioch, but parted ways left the Church soon after. In 1926, the six-parish ''Polish Catholic National Church'' was received into the Polish Orthodox Church. It celebrated the Liturgy of St. Gregory, and flourished as Orthodox until wiped out by the Nazis. [http://occidentalis.blogspot.com/2004/09/western-rite-history-part-five.html] [http://occidentalis.blogspot.com/2004/09/western-rite-history-part-four.html]

St. Tikhon's involvement in the Western Rite has been one more enduring. While he was Bishop bishop of the Russian mission in America, some Episcopalians were interested in the possibility of joining Orthodoxy while retaining some form of the Anglican liturgicsliturgy. St. Tikhon, sending sent the 1892 Book of Common Prayer to the Holy Synod, asked asking about the possibility, as well as the circumstances under which they would permit this. According to Fr. Edward Hughes, St. Raphael of Brooklyn composed the letter of inquiry. In 1904, the Holy Synod admitted its possibility, including edits necessary for its use in an Orthodox manner. It concluded that such edits "can be carried out only on the spot, in America," and found it "desirable to send the 'Observations' themselves to the Right Rev. Tikhon, the American Bishop." Between communications, the Episcopalians who had petitioned withdrew. Thus, St. Tikhon could not receive any Episcopalians before returning to Russia in 1907. However, his involvement lay the groundwork for the reception and liturgics approved liturgy of some parishes in the [[Western Rite Vicariate]] [http://occidentalis.blogspot.com/2004/09/western-rite-history-part-five.html] and later the [[Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia|Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR)]].

The Antiochian Archdiocese received has presided over the most stable and successful group of Western Rite parishes, . The Archdiocese received the [[Society of Clerks Secular of St. Basil]], in 1961. Upon reception, they the SSB became the [[Antiochian Western Rite Vicariate]], and their leader, [[Alexander Turner]], becoming an Orthodox priest and the Vicar-General of the Vicariate until 1971. At his repose, Fr . Paul W.S. Schneirla became Vicar-General. On January 1, 2009, Fr. Schneirla retired, and Fr. Edward Hughes became Vicar-General of the Western Rite.

Besides the parishes that were in the former Society, other parishes have been received into the Western Rite Vicariate of the Antiochian Archdiocese, especially because ofthe of the theological and practical devolution of the The Episcopal Church U.S.A(TEC). Added to this, several Western Rite missions have been founded, some growing into full parish status.

The Church of Russia received a New York Old Catholic community in 1962 as Mount Royal Monastery, which later moved to from Woodstock, New York, to St. Nicholas Cathedral in New York City under Archbishop John (Wendland) of the Russian Exarchate of North America. LaterIn 1975, this community was received by the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, under Archbishop Nikon (Rklitzsky)of ROCOR and was again relocated. In 1993, after the retirement of the Abbot, Dom Augustine (Whitfield) of Mount Royal, the monastery prior of Mount Royal, Fr. James (Deschene) was renamed blessed to found Christ the Saviour Monastery ("Christminster" colloquially) and moved to Providence, in Rhode Island, under Bishop [[Hilarion (Kapral) of SydneyNew York|Hilarion of Manhattan]] (since transferred). It is in the process As of moving 2007, Christminster relocated to Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Its present abbot is Dom [[James (Deschene)|James Deschene]].

Western Rite Orthodoxy, in [[Orthodoxy in Australasia|Australia and New Zealand]], has arisen mostly from Anglican and Continuing Anglican communities. Archbishop Metropolitan [[Hilarion (Kapral) of New York|Hilarion (Kapral) of Sydney, ]] of ROCOR, received some communities under his omophorionomophor; while others have been received by Bishop [[Gibran (Ramlawey) of Australia and New Zealand|Gibran]] and Metropolitan Archbishop [[Paul (Saliba) of Australia and New Zealand|Paul]], both under the Church of Antioch.

Some The [[Oriental Orthodox]] churches also have some Western Rite parishes are also in the Oriental Orthodox churches. The Syrian patriarchate of Antioch consecrated Antonio Francisco Xavier Alvarez as Archbishop of Ceylon, Goa , and India in 1889, authorizing a Roman rite diocese under him; in 1891, the Syrians consecrated the aforementioned Joseph René Vilatte as archbishop for the American Old Catholics.Vilatte, however, returned to the Roman Catholic Church at the end of his life. Many independent churches now claim to be under his "succession". ==Liturgy in the Antiochian Western Rite Vicariate==

==Liturgy==North American Western Rite parishes in the Antiochian Western Rite Vicariate generally follow one (or sometimes both) of two types of traditional Western liturgical traditions(and sometimes both). The majority celebrate the [[Liturgy of St. Tikhon of Moscow]], which is commonly accepted to be an adaptation of the [[Eucharist|Communion]] service from the 1928 Anglican ''Book of Common Prayer'' and ''The Anglican Missal in the American Edition,.'' as their Sunday liturgy[http://members.cox.net/stgregoryoc/history. htm#fifteen] Until 1977, all Western Rite Vicariate parishes celebrated only the [[Liturgy of St. Gregory the Great]], which is a modified form of the ancient [http://www.latin-mass-society.org/msshst.htm Tridentine Mass of Rome] (that is, familiar to the Mass as revised and authorized by the Roman Catholics before the liturgical reforms Catholic Council of Vatican II in the 1960sTrent). Many parishes within the Western Rite Vicariate continue to celebrate the Gregorian liturgy. However, Since most WRV AWRV parishes celebrate more than one weekly liturgy, and many of the Tikhonite parishes that celebrate the Gregorian liturgy Liturgy of St. Tikhon on Sunday celebrate the Liturgy of St. Gregory on weekdays. The complete Roman rite of Benediction is also authorized.

The Western Rite liturgy has much , depending on its type, makes less repetition use of the litanies than its corresponding elements in the Byzantine rite, and generally has a more brisk, succinct manner to itRite. Celebrants wear distinctive Western vestments, and the faithful follow pious devotional customs particular to their tradition, as well.

By far the largest group of Western Orthodox parishes is represented by the [[Western Rite Vicariate]] of the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]]. Other Antiochian Western Rite parishes exist in the [[Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia and New Zealand]]. The [[Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia]] (ROCOR) also has a small number of Western Rite parishes in addition to two three monasteries: one located in Canada, one located in Tasmania , and another one in Rhode Island which follows Benedictine liturgical traditions. The former, St. Petroc Monastery, uses the [[Sarum Rite]] liturgy in EnglishFlorida. Missions and Parishes parishes of the ROCOR Western Rite in use either the Archdiocese Rite of Sydney use either that monastery's recension St. Gregory in one of varying uses (Sarum, Christminster, Mount Royal, or Overbeck), the Sarum Liturgy Gallican Rite, or "The English Liturgy," an English Use service based upon the Sarum Use but which adapts a few elements of the 1549 Anglican ''Book of Common Prayer'' but incorporating certain elements . Christminster Monastery in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, is a Western Orthodox [[Rule of St. Benedict|Benedictine]] monastery, which celebrates the Liturgy of St. Gregory. St. Petroc Monastery in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, celebrates the [[Sarum Use]]. St. Petroc has a number of dependencies that follow its liturgical usage, as found in the ''Saint Colman Prayer Book''.  Dom Augustine (Whitfield), the [[abbot]] of the Monastery of Mount Royal from 1963 until retirement, once remarked to St.[[John Maximovitch]] that it was difficult to promote Western Rite Orthodoxy, whereupon the saint replied: "Never, never, never let anyone tell you that, in order to be Orthodox, you must also be eastern. The West was Orthodox for a thousand years, and her venerable liturgy is far older than any of her heresies." [http://www.christminster.org/history.htm][[Image:Confeitor.jpg|left|thumb|Hieromonk Aidan (Keller, ROCOR) celebrating a Sarum liturgy.]]In 2008, Metropolitan [[Hilarion (Kapral) of New York|Hilarion]] of ROCOR [http://theyorkforum.yuku.com/sreply/12977/t/Western-Rite-Orthodox-News.html blessed] Hieromonk David (Pierce) to assist Dom Augustine Whitfield "in the continuation of the work of Mt. Royal" at Hieromonk David's monastery, Holyrood, in Florida. Hieromonk David utilizes the ordinary compiled by Mount Royal monastery, and is preparing for publication of the books of the Mount Royal use.

The [[abbot]]In late 2008, Metropolitan Hilarion received a hieromonk of the Milan Synod, Dom Augustin Father Aidan (WhitfieldKeller), who led and blessed the latter monastery publication of a new edition of Mount Royalhis seminal work, now named [[Christminster (Providence''Old Sarum Rite Missal'' for his personal prayers, Rhode Island)|Christminster]] (or Christ the Savior Monastery), into communion with while he serves a Byzantine parish in ROCOR, once remarked to St. His liturgy had previously been blessed by the Western Archdiocese of the [[John MaximovitchMilan Synod]] that it was difficult to promote Western Rite Orthodoxy, whereupon the saint replied: "Never, never, never let anyone tell you that, in order to be Orthodox, you must also be eastern. The West was Orthodox for a thousand years, and her venerable liturgy is far older than any of her heresies." [http://www.christminster.org/history.htm]

It should Western rite communities can also be noted that there found which are a number of groups who follow various Western ritesnot or, so-calledare no longer, and may call themselves Orthodox but are not part of or in communion with the historic mainstream [[Orthodox Church]].

The [[Orthodox Church of France]] was once cared for by St. [[John Maximovitch]] and later by the [[Church of Romania]]—also uses a Western Rite liturgy based on ancient Gallican liturgical materials, with some Byzantine supplements. The Orthodox Church of France currently functions as an independent body, and is not recognized by any of the Orthodox Churches in communion with the ancient patriarchates[[List of autocephalous and autonomous churches|mainstream Orthodox Church]].

In addition, the [[Holy Synod of Milan]], an [[Old Calendarist]] groupSynod (and therefore not in communion with the [[List of autocephalous and autonomous churches|mainstream Orthodox Church]]), has a number of communities (including one under the central direction of the monasteryand Archdiocesan center, in the United States, in [[The Abbey of the Holy Name (West Milford, New Jersey, the )|Abbey of the Holy Name]]) which worship according to Western rites, including a restored its own version of the [[Sarum RiteUse]], which differs significantly . This recension is different from that the version of the Sarum Rite used in within ROCOR. Neither is it recognized by nor in communion with any [[autocephalous or autonomous Orthodox Church]]before 2008.

The Western Rite in the Orthodox Church is not without its critics. Objections are made in regards to desire for liturgical uniformity within Orthodoxy and fears that the Western Rite vicariates or similar Western Rite practices have produced a para-ecclesiastic organization would produce division within the Church. Some question the sincerity of Western Rite parishes converts, just as all or mostly-convert groupssome question the conversions of those within the Byzantine Rite. Finally, some complain about a lack of organic liturgical continuity for , or will not attend a Western Rite [[Eucharist]]. However, no Orthodox parish may deny the Eucharist to visiting faithful of the canonical Western Rite troubles some , regardless of their feelings about the concept of Western Rite Orthodoxy. There have been no schisms within the episcopacy of the Orthodox ChristiansChurch regarding the issue of Western Rite parishes.

Whether the Western Rite will survive grow in the its acceptance by Orthodox Church and be accepted by the majority Christians who follow the Byzantine Rite remains yet to be seen. In the meantime, the Byzantine Rite Orthodox bishops who oversee Western Rite parishes—and many who oversee no Western Rite parishes—continue to declare their Western flocks to be true Orthodox Christians and regard them as fully in communion with the rest of the Church. On the other hand, some Byzantine Rite Orthodox Christians do not recognize the Orthodoxy of those in the Western Rite (despite their being under the jurisdiction of Byzantine Rite bishops with whom they themselves are in communion), and will not attend the [[Eucharist]] at Western Rite parishes, declaring them to be "Roman Catholics," "[[schism]]atics," or "reverse [[Uniates]]." However, no Orthodox parish may deny the Eucharist to visiting faithful of the canonical Western Rite, regardless of their feelings about the concept of Western Rite Orthodoxy. There have been no schisms within the episcopacy of the Orthodox Church regarding the issue of Western Rite parishes.

* [[Antiochian Western Rite Vicariate]]

* [[Christ the Savior Monastery (Providence, Rhode Island)|Christ the Savior Monastery]], USACanada

* [http://web.archive.org/web/20070425132558/http://www.orthodoxresurgence.co.ukcom/Petrocpetroc/ Saint Petroc Monastery ROCOR Tasmania] (archive)

* [http://memberswww.coxstgregoryoc.netorg/frnicholaslinks/western-rite-parish-directory/parishes.htm Antiochian Western Rite Parishes] (North America, with links to parish sites)* [http://www.rwrv.org/ Russian Western Rite Vicariate]

* [http://memberswww.aolstgregoryoc.comorg/FrNicholasarticle/the-divine-liturgy.htm -according-to-the-rite-of-saint-gregory/ Text of the Liturgy of Saint Gregory]* [http://orthodoxanglican.net/downloads/tikhon.PDF Text of the Liturgy of Saint Tikhon], though not in its authorized form.* [http://web.archive.org/web/20070208083242/http://www.orthodoxresurgence.co.ukcom/Petrocpetroc/sarum.htm Text of the Sarum Rite Liturgy] as corrected for use within [[ROCOR]] by His Grace Archbishop Hilarion (archive)* [http://webwww.archiveorthodoxresurgence.orgcom/web/20070515074421petroc/english.htm Text of the English Liturgy]*[http://www.orthodoxresurgenceorthodoxie.cofree.ukfr/Petroc/englishthe_divine_liturgy_of_saint_germanus.htm Text of the English Divine Liturgyaccording to Saint Germanus of Paris]] (archive)* [http://www.stmichaelwhittier.org/resources/osboff7.pdf Office and Prayers of the Oblates of St. Benedict] (PDF) - Western Rite oblates.* [http://www.allmercifulsavior.com/Liturgy/Liturgics.html Liturgical Texts Project] (PDF) - Compilation of numerous liturgical texts.*[http://www.antiochian.org/sites/default/files/ordinary_and_canon_rite_of_st_gregory.pdf The Ordinary and Canon of the Mass], according to the Rite of St. Gregory of Great, revised 2012 translation blessed for use by Metropolitan Philip of the Antiochian Archdiocese of North America.*[http://media.wix.com/ugd/144b2c_20fb156e03c34f56a6dc312f73f9888d.pdf The Order of the Divine Liturgy According to the Restored Ancient Roman Rite of St. Gregory the Great], authorized by the [[Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia]].*[http://media.wix.com/ugd/144b2c_a2ca284c5a934ec0af6e0a8fe6404ba7.pdf The Liturgy of the English Church], approved for Orthodox usage by the [[Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia]].*[http://media.wix.com/ugd/144b2c_f7a90a42b99e4fe9879d2aebe641ad20.pdf The Ordinary of the Sarum Liturgy], approved for Orthodox usage by the [[Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia]].

===BookBooks===

* [http://web.archive.org/web/20070513122757/http://www.orthodoxresurgence.co.ukcom/ Orthodox Resurgence] Movement for Western Christians seeking reception in the Orthodox Western Rite. (archive)

* [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Occidentalis/ Occidentalis]: Dedicated to promoting Yahoo discussion group on the "Old Sarum Rite Missal" published Western rite; moderated by a monk formerly Father Aidan (Keller).* [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Orthodoxwest/ Orthodoxwest]: Yahoo discussion group on Orthodoxy in the West and sponsored by the Eastern Archdiocese of the Milan Synod; moderated by Father Symeon (Bensimon-Kilmer).