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 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.{{westernrite}}

:''Main article: [[Western Rite in the Nineteenth Century]]''In 1864, 44-year-old [[Joseph Julian Overbeck]], a former German [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic]] priest who had left the priesthood and later married, was [[chrismation|chrismated]] into the [[Orthodox Church]] at the Russian Embassy Chapel in London. Overbeck was a Syriac scholar and professor in Bonn former [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] priest from Germany who had become left the priesthood after becoming disillusioned with the papal claims of supremacy. Two years after his chrismationHe became Lutheran and married before joining the Orthodox Church. In 1866, he published ''Catholic Orthodoxy and Anglo-Catholicism'', in which he developed contained the schema with which he was about to begin groundings for his work for the next twenty years. In 1867A year later, be began publishing a periodical, he published the first issue of the ''Orthodox Catholic Review'', a periodical which "aimed at setting forth the truth of Catholic putting forward Orthodoxy as opposed to Popery and rejecting Catholicism and Protestantism, clearing its way through the heap of rubbish stored up by both parties for centuries past." Overbeck regarded both the Papacy and the Church of England to be on the verge of collapse.

In March of The year 1867saw Overbeck, with 122 signatures from the Oxford Movement, Overbeck circulated a petition to the [[Holy Synod]] of the [[Church of Russia]] explaining his designs and requesting for the establishment of a Western Rite church in [[full communion]] with the Eastern Rite of the Orthodox Church. A seven-member synodal commission was then formed, saying, "we are Westerns...and must plead an inalienable right invited Overbeck to remain Westernsattend." In September of 1867 the petition, with some 122 signatures—mainly Tractarian clerics (the "Oxford Movement")—The idea was sent to the Russian synod. Upon receiptapproved, and Overbeck set about submitting a synodal commission was formed, comprised draft of seven members under the Metropolitan of St. Petersburgproposed Western liturgy, inviting Overbeck which added an epiclesis and the Trisagion hymn to attend the deliberationsTridentine [[Mass]]. Accompanying him This rite was Fr. Eugene Popoff (chaplain of the Russian embassy submitted in London)1871, and the two were present in January of 1870 when the scheme was examined and approvedby the commission. Overbeck was then requested focused his efforts on the Old Catholic movement, who had rejected Papal Infallibility. He continued to submit a draft of engage in polemics with Catholics, Anglicans, and Orthodox converts using the Western liturgy for examinationByzantine Rite.

The liturgy which Dr. In 1876, Overbeck developed for issued an appeal to the Russians was based on the 1570 Roman rite of Pope Pius Vvarious Holy Synods, but also included a brief [[epiclesis]] and the [[Trisagion]] hymn after the ''Gloria'', "traveling to Constantinople in remembrance of our union with the Orthodox Church1879." Returning There he met the Ecumenical Patriarch, who authorized him to Russia in January of 1871, Overbeck submitted the ritedeliver sermons and create apologetical material. In two long sessions of 1881, he had some success when the commission, Ecumenical Patriarchate agreed that the liturgy was examined West had a right to a Western church and then approved for userite.

Over However, his successes did not establish the next few years, Western Rite. Overbeck mainly focused on the development of the Old 's marriage after his Catholic movement in Europe (which had gone into [[schism]] from Rome over ordination was a canonical impediment to his ordination to the new [[dogma]] of [[Papal Infallibility]] promulgated at the First Vatican Council), probably hoping to find fertile ground for Orthodox priesthood; the establishment Holy Synod of Greece vetoed his liturgical usescheme amongst Orthodox Churches, a Western liturgical rite within pressuring Constantinople to retract its previous endorsement; the ''Orthodox ChurchCatholic Review'' ended its run; and by 1892, he admitted failure. In his magazine, he engaged Overbeck reposed in polemics with both Roman Catholics and Anglicans, as well as Orthodox converts who used the Byzantine rite1905.

One Western Rite parish briefly entered communion with the Orthodox Church in the Nineteenth Century. In 18761890, he reiterated his design and issued an ''Appeal to the Patriarchs and Holy Synods of the Orthodox a Swiss Old Catholic Church''parish in Wisconsin pastored by Fr. Joseph Rene Vilatte approached Bp. Vladimir (Sokolovsky) about being received into Orthodoxy. Three years laterBishop Vladimir received them on May 9, he travelled 1891; however, Fr. Vilatte was consecrated to Constantinople to meet the Ecumenical Patriarch, episcopacy by hierarchs of the [[Ioachim III Church of ConstantinopleAntioch (Syriac)|Ioachim IIISyriac Orthodox Church]], who gave him authorization for delivering sermons and addresses in defense of Orthodoxy. In August of 1881India, the among them Metropolitan [[Church Julius of ConstantinopleGoa|Alvares Mar Yulios]] appointed a commission to examine the scheme and made the announcement that "an agreement of Goa, on certain points has already been reached," recognizing the right of the West to have a Western church and rite as had existed before the [[Great Schism]]29 May 1892. He eventually led his parish back into Old Catholicism.

Much to Overbeck's disappointment, no further developments occurred. He had hoped to be a ===The Twentieth Century===[[priestImage:Alexander_Turner.jpg|right|thumb|Former Antiochian Western Rite Vicar General Fr. Alexander Turner celebrating Mass.]] within the Orthodox Church, but his marriage after his Roman Catholic :''Main article: [[ordinationWestern Rite in the Twentieth Century]] was seen as ''In 1911, Arnold Harris Mathew, an impedimentOld Catholic bishop, rendering him ineligibleentered into union with the Patriarchate of Antioch but left the Church soon after. He became somewhat paranoid in his later yearsIn 1926, especially regarding the Greeks in London as hostile toward him. The six-parish ''Orthodox Polish Catholic ReviewNational Church'' ended its run in 1885, and seven years later he admitted that his project had failed, saying that he had had "Hopes entertained with joy by all was received into the truly Polish Orthodox, recommended and pushed forward by Church. It celebrated the Holy Synods Liturgy of RussiaSt. Gregory, Romania and Serbia, approved by Patriarchs of Constantinople, Alexandria, Jerusalem, but finally crushed and destroyed flourished as Orthodox until wiped out by the veto of the Greek Synod!" He died in 1905, his dream unfulfilledNazis. [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 more enduring. While he was bishop of the Russian mission in America, some Episcopalians were interested in the possibility of joining Orthodoxy while retaining some form of the Anglican liturgy. St. Tikhon sent the 1892 Book of Common Prayer to the Holy Synod, asking about the possibility. According to Fr. [[Georges Florovsky]] wrote: Edward Hughes, St. Raphael of Brooklyn composed the letter of inquiry. In 1904, the Holy Synod admitted its possibility, including edits 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 was not just a fantastic dream"desirable to send the 'Observations' themselves to the Right Rev. Tikhon, the American Bishop." Between communications, the Episcopalians who had petitioned withdrew. The question raised by Overbeck was pertinentThus, even if his own answer St. Tikhon could not receive any Episcopalians before returning to it was confusedly conceivedRussia in 1907. And probably However, his involvement lay the vision groundwork for the reception and approved liturgy of Overbeck was greater than his personal interpretationsome 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)]]."

There has been a significant [[Orthodox Church of France|Western Rite movement in France]], the largest remaining group thereof being the ''Union des Associations Cultuelles Orthodoxes de Rite Occidental'' (UACORO - the Union of Western Rite Orthodox Worship Associations).  ====The Twentieth CenturyUnited States====In The Antiochian Archdiocese has presided over the most stable and successful group of Western Rite parishes. The Archdiocese received the twentieth century[[Society of Clerks Secular of St. Basil]] in 1961. Upon reception, two significant the SSB became the [[Antiochian Western Rite Vicariate]], and their leader, [[Alexander Turner]], becoming an Orthodox movements have occurred, building on priest and the principles established by Vicar-General of the work of DrVicariate until 1971. At his repose, Fr. Paul W.S. Schneirla became Vicar-General. On January 1, 2009, Fr. OverbeckSchneirla retired, one in France and Fr. Edward Hughes became Vicar-General of the other in the United StatesWestern Rite.

====France====[[Image:Kovalesky-Maximovitch.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Bp. [[Jean (Kovalesky) of Saint-Denis]] and St. [[John Maximovitch]] Besides the parishes that were in 1964]]In 1937the former Society, the [[Church of Russia]] other parishes have been received a small group under into the former Liberal Catholic bishop, Louis-Charles (Irén&eacutee) Winnaert (1880-1937), dubbing them ''l'Eglise Orthodoxe Occidentale'' ("Western Orthodox Church"). The work Rite Vicariate of Winnaert was continuedthe Antiochian Archdiocese, though not without some occasional conflict, by [[Jean (Kovalesky) especially because of Saint-Denis|Evgraph Kovalesky]] (1905-1970) the theological and Lucien Chambault (later known as ''Pére Denis''), the latter practical devolution of which oversaw a small Orthodox Benedictine community in the rue d'Alleray in Paris. Also associated with them was the former Benedictine monk, Archimandrite Alexis van der Mensbrugghe The Episcopal Church (1899-1980TEC), who favorably viewed the restoration of the ancient Roman rite cleansed of medieval accretions and supplemented by Gallican and Byzantine interpolations. In 1948Added to this, he published his ''Liturgie Orthodoxe de several Western Rite Occidental'' and in 1962 the ''Missel Orthodoxe Rite Occidental''missions have been founded, some growing into full parish status.

After 1946The Church of Russia received a New York Old Catholic community in 1962 as Mount Royal Monastery, which later moved from Woodstock, New York, to St. Nicholas Cathedral in New York City under Archbishop John (Wendland) of the [[Orthodox Church Russian Exarchate of France|Eglise Orthodoxe de France]] North America. In 1975, this community was developed received by Kovalesky specifically with Archbishop Nikon (Rklitzsky) of ROCOR and was again relocated. In 1993, after the intention to restore retirement of the ancient [[Gallican Rite|Gallican usage]] Abbot, Dom Augustine (Whitfield) of the pre-[[Charlemagne|Carolingian]] Roman riteMount Royal, basing his work on the letters prior of StMount Royal, Fr. James (Deschene) was blessed to found Christ the Saviour Monastery ("Christminster" colloquially) in Rhode Island, under Bishop [[Germanus Hilarion (Kapral) of ParisNew York|GermanusHilarion of Manhattan]](since transferred). As of 2007, a 6th century [[bishop]] of Paris. During this troubled periodChristminster relocated to Hamilton, the Orthodox community in Paris went through several [[jurisdiction]] changesOntario, but eventually FrCanada. Alexis returned to the Its present abbot is Dom [[Church of RussiaJames (Deschene)|James Deschene]] and was consecrated to the episcopacy in 1960, continuing his Western Rite work under the auspices of the Moscow Patriarchate.

Meanwhile, the Moscow Patriarchate's Western rite withered and came to an endRite Orthodoxy, but Bishop Jean's church continued to thrive, though after St. John's death in 1966[[Orthodoxy in Australasia|Australia and New Zealand]], they were again on canonical hiatushas arisen mostly from Anglican and Continuing Anglican communities. Bishop Jean died in 1970, and then in 1972 the Metropolitan [[Church Hilarion (Kapral) of New York|Hilarion (Kapral) of RomaniaSydney]] took the Eglise Orthodoxe de France of ROCOR received some communities under its [[omophorion]]. Gilles Bertrand-Hardy was consecrated as his omophor; while others have been received by Bishop [[Germain Gibran (Bertrand-HardyRamlawey) of Saint-DenisAustralia and New Zealand|Germain de Saint-DenisGibran]], and the restored Gallican rite became the regular liturgy used in the many small French Orthodox Metropolitan Archbishop [[parishPaul (Saliba) of Australia and New Zealand|Paul]]es established throughout France. The full splendor of that liturgy can be seen in , both under the Cathedral Church of St. Irén&eacutee in Boulevard Auguste-Blanqui in Paris. In 1994, after a lengthy conflict with the Romanian Holy Synod regarding various canonical irregularities, the Eglise again found itself in canonical limbo, where it remains to this day. The Romanian patriarchate established a [[deanery]] under Bishop Germain's brother Archpriest Gregoire to minister to those parishes which chose to stay with RomaniaAntioch.

In Other small groups following the late 1990s, negotiations had Western Rite have been underway with the [[Church of Serbia]] for the Eglise to come under its jurisdictionreceived, but NATO's bombing of Kosovo in 1999 abruptly ended those hopesusually have either had little impact, as France was then seen by the Serbians as complicit in its persecution by the Westor have declared their independence soon after their reception.

====The United States====[[Image:Alexander Turner.jpg|right|frame|Fr. [[Alexander TurnerOriental Orthodox]] at the offertory]]In 1961, members churches also have some Western Rite parishes. The Syrian patriarchate of the [[Society Antioch consecrated Antonio Francisco Xavier Alvarez as Archbishop of the Clerks of St. Basil]] (mainly centered Ceylon, Goa, and India in 1889, authorizing a Roman rite diocese under him; in Mount Vernon1891, New York) were received into the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] by Metropolitan [[Antony (Bashir) of New York]]. The Society had been led up to that time by Syrians consecrated the uncanonical but widely respected Bishop [[Alexander Turner]] (''naforementioned Joseph Renée'' Paul Tyler Turner), who upon the reception of his group Vilatte as archbishop for the [[Western Rite Vicariate]]American Old Catholics. Vilatte, however, became a canonical priest of returned to the Orthodox Roman Catholic Church and continued to guide the group as its Vicar-General. Fr. Alexander died in 1971, and the Western Rite Vicariate continued under at the leadership end of Frhis life. Paul W.S. Schneirla, who remains the Vicar-General Many independent churches now claim to the present timebe under his "succession".

Besides the original communities associated with the Society, a number of other parishes have been received into ==Liturgy in the Antiochian Western Rite Vicariate of the Antiochian Archdiocese, particularly as the theological and practical devolution of the [[Episcopal Church U.S.A.]] picked up speed in the latter half of the twentieth century and the beginning of the twenty-first. Additionally, several Western Rite missions have been founded, some growing into full parish status.==

In 1995, North American Western Rite parishes in the Antiochian Western Rite Vicariate generally follow one of two types of traditional Western liturgical traditions (and sometimes both). The majority celebrate the [[Church Liturgy of St. Tikhon of AntiochMoscow]] also established a British Deanery , which is commonly accepted to absorb converts be an adaptation of the [[Eucharist|Communion]] service from the Church 1928 Anglican ''Book of EnglandCommon Prayer'' and ''The Anglican Missal in the American Edition.''[http://members.cox.net/stgregoryoc/history.htm#fifteen] Until 1977, though not all Western Rite Vicariate parishes celebrated only the [[Liturgy of St. Gregory the Great]], which is a modified form of the [http://www.latin-mass-society.org/msshst.htm Tridentine Mass] (that is, the Mass as revised and authorized by the Roman Catholic Council of those Trent). Many parishes use within the Western RiteVicariate continue to celebrate the Gregorian liturgy. Since most AWRV parishes celebrate more than one weekly liturgy, some following many of the parishes that celebrate the Liturgy of St. Tikhon on Sunday celebrate the ByzantineLiturgy of St. Gregory on weekdays.

====Elsewhere====Other small groups following the The Western Rite have been received into liturgy, depending on its type, makes less use of the litanies than the Orthodox ChurchByzantine Rite. Celebrants wear distinctive Western vestments, but usually have had little impact or sometimes declared their independence subsequent and the faithful follow pious devotional customs particular to their canonical reception. Western Rite parishes were established in Poland in 1926 when six parishes formerly of the Polish National Catholic Church (an Old Catholic communion) were received into the Orthodox Churchtradition, but that movement largely dwindled during World War IIas well.

The [[Holy Synod development of Milan]], an [[Old Calendarist]] group not currently in [[full communion]] with the mainstream Orthodox Church and affiliated with current use within the [[Florinites]], has a few communities (including one monastery) in the United States which worship according to Western rites, including a restored [[Sarum RiteVicariate]].is of particular note:

Further, :Metropolitan Antony was well aware that the [[Oriental Orthodox]] have also done some Western Rite was "a workfor specialists. In 1889" The new Western Rite usage of the Archdiocese was to be guided by "a Commission of Orthodox Theologians, " an advisory committee of qualified clerics or laymen to advise the Metropolitan and determine "the [[Church mode of reception of Antioch (Jacobite)|Syrian]] patriarchate groups desiring to employ the Western Rite, and the character of Antioch consecrated Antonio Francisco Xavier Alvarez the rites to be used, as well as Archbishop the authorization of official liturgical texts." The first WRV Commission, convened by Metropolitan Antony in 1958, was composed of CeylonFathers Paul Schneirla, Goa Stephen Upson, [[Alexander Schmemann]] and India[[John Meyendorff]]. Schneirla, authorizing a Roman rite diocese under him. AdditionallySchmemann, and Meyendorff in particular had seen the Western Rite up close in 1891France, as it had been approved in the Syrians consecrated Joseph René Vilatte Russian Ukase of 1936. Schneirla recalls Schmemann's work in particular as archbishop for being key, as he was familiar with the Liturgical Movement within the Roman Catholic and Anglican communions. Schmemann was particularly instrumental in joining together the separate Rites of Initiation of the Rituale Romanum – Baptism, Confirmation and First Holy Communion – into one unified rite, according to the American Old CatholicsOrthodox understanding.

==Liturgy==North American :In January of 1962, the official Western Rite parishes generally follow one (or sometimes both) of two types of traditional Western Directory was issued, "establishing liturgical traditions. About 75% use usages and customs and discipline," drawing on principles gleaned from the [[Liturgy of St. 1904 Moscow Synodal response to Saint Tikhon of Moscow]], which is an adaptation the authorization of the [[Eucharist|Communion]] service from the 1928 Anglican ''Book Western Rite offices by Metropolitan Gerassimos (Messarah) of Common Prayer'' Beirut, and ''The Anglican Missal in the American Edition1932 Russian Ukase of Metropolitan Sergius.'' The remaining 25% use the [[Liturgy of Sthttp://occidentalis. Gregory the Great]], which is a modified form of the Tridentine Mass known to Roman Catholics before the liturgical reforms of Vatican II in the 1960sblogspot. The complete Roman com/2004/09/western-rite of Benediction is also authorized-history-part-eight.html]

The liturgy has much less repetition than its corresponding elements in Ironically, before his committed and pivotal involvement with the architecture of the current usage of the Byzantine riteWestern Rite, and generally has Fr. Schmemann had criticized it in a response to a more rational1958 article Fr. Schneirla wrote in ''The Word''.[http://www.schmemann.org/byhim/westernrite.html] However, after his criticisms, succint manner Fr. Schmemann worked to it. Celebrants wear distinctive establish the Western vestmentsRite Vicariate and, later still, and taught at the faithful follow pious devotional customs particular to their tradition, as wellWestern Rite seminary in Paris.

The By far the largest group of Western Orthodox parishes is represented by the [[abbotWestern Rite Vicariate]] who led this monastery, named of the [[Christminster (Providence, Rhode Island)|ChristminsterAntiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] (or Christ . Other Antiochian Western Rite parishes exist in the Savior Monastery), into communion with ROCOR once remarked to St[[Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia and New Zealand]]. The [[John MaximovitchRussian Orthodox Church Outside Russia]] that it was difficult (ROCOR) also has a small number of Western Rite parishes in addition to promote three monasteries: one located in Canada, one in Tasmania, and one in Florida. Missions and parishes of the ROCOR Western Rite Orthodoxyuse either the Rite of St. Gregory in one of varying uses (Sarum, Christminster, Mount Royal, or Overbeck), whereupon the saint replied: Gallican Rite, or "NeverThe English Liturgy, never" an English Use service based upon the Sarum Use but which adapts a few elements of the 1549 ''Book of Common Prayer''. Christminster Monastery in Hamilton, never let anyone tell you thatOntario, Canada, in order to be is a Western Orthodox[[Rule of St. Benedict|Benedictine]] monastery, you must also be easternwhich celebrates the Liturgy of St. Gregory. The West was Orthodox for a thousand yearsSt. Petroc Monastery in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, and her venerable liturgy is far older than any of her heresies."celebrates the [[http://membersSarum Use]].cox St.net/kelticnordic/historyPetroc has a number of dependencies that follow its liturgical usage, as found in the ''Saint Colman Prayer Book''.htm]

The Dom Augustine (Whitfield), the [[Orthodox Church abbot]] of the Monastery of FranceMount Royal from 1963 until retirement, once remarked to St. [[John Maximovitch]]—which is currently of ambiguous status with regard that it was difficult to world promote Western Rite Orthodoxy, but at one time 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 cared Orthodox for by Sta thousand years, and her venerable liturgy is far older than any of her heresies." [http://www.christminster.org/history. htm][[John MaximovitchImage:Confeitor.jpg|left|thumb|Hieromonk Aidan (Keller, ROCOR) celebrating a Sarum liturgy.]] and later by the In 2008, Metropolitan [[Church Hilarion (Kapral) of RomaniaNew York|Hilarion]]—also uses a of ROCOR [http://theyorkforum.yuku.com/sreply/12977/t/Western -Rite liturgy based on ancient Gallican liturgical materials-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.

It should also be noted that there are In late 2008, Metropolitan Hilarion received a number hieromonk of groups who follow various Western rites the Milan Synod, Father Aidan (Keller), and may call themselves Orthodox but are not part blessed the publication of a new edition of or his seminal work, ''Old Sarum Rite Missal'' for his personal prayers, while he serves a Byzantine parish in communion with ROCOR. His liturgy had previously been blessed by the Western Archdiocese of the [[Orthodox ChurchMilan Synod]].

==An Orthodox Unia?==The situation of Western Orthodox parishes has been compared by some with the analogous status of autonomous [[Uniate]] churches under the [[Roman Catholic Church]]. For centuriesrite communities can also be found which are not or, are no longer, there have been hierarchical churches in [[full communion]] with and in subjection to the [[Vatican]], but which the [[Pope]] allows to follow liturgical customs and rules like those of the mainstream [[Orthodox Church]], (e.g., they confirm newly baptized infants via [[chrismation]], they have married [[priest]]s, their churches have [[iconostasis|iconostases]], etc.). Additionally, as the Uniates share a common dogmatic requirement with Latin Rite Catholics, the Western Rite Orthodox share the same faith as their Byzantine Rite brethren.

HoweverThe [[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 in communion with the [[List of autocephalous and autonomous churches|mainstream Orthodox Church]]. In addition, the [[Holy Synod of Milan]], unlike an [[Old Calendarist]] Synod (and therefore not in communion with the [[UniatesList of autocephalous and autonomous churches|mainstream Orthodox Church]]), has a number of communities (under the central direction of the monastery and Archdiocesan center, the [[The Abbey of the Holy Name (West Milford, New Jersey)|Abbey of the Holy Name]]) which worship according to Western rites, including its own version of the [[Sarum Use]]. This recension is different from the version of the Sarum Rite used within ROCOR before 2008. ==Criticism==:''Main article: [[Western Rite Criticism]]''The Western Rite in the Orthodox congregations Church is not without its critics. Objections are not mainly made in regards to desire for liturgical uniformity within Orthodoxy and fears that the Western Rite would produce division within the Church. Some question the sincerity of Western Rite converts, just as some question the conversions of those within the result Byzantine Rite. Finally, some complain about a lack of large-scale ecclesiastical political machinations and organic liturgical continuity, or will not attend a Western Rite [[schismEucharist]] but rather . However, no Orthodox parish may deny the Eucharist to visiting faithful of the canonical Western Rite, regardless of their feelings about the concept of small-scale genuine conversion to Western Rite Orthodoxy . There have been no schisms within the episcopacy of the Orthodox Church regarding the issue of Western Rite parishes. Whether the Western Rite will grow in its acceptance by individuals Orthodox Christians who follow the Byzantine Rite remains to be seen. In the meantime, the Orthodox bishops who oversee Western Rite parishes—and congregationsmany 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.

* [[Antiochian Western Rite Vicariate]]

* [[Western Rite Service Books]]* [[Liturgy of St. Gregory Tikhon (text)]]* [[Saint Petroc Monastery (Cascades, Australia)|Saint Petroc Monastery]], Australia* [[Christ the Savior Monastery (Providence, Rhode Island)|Christ the GreatSavior Monastery]], Canada* [[Vestments]]* [http://www.stcolumbamonastery.org St. Columba of Iona Orthodox Monastery (USA, Massachusetts)]

* [http://www.antiochian.org/western-rite/ Western Rite Vicariate of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]* [http://www.orthodoxresurgence.com/petroc/ Saint Petroc Monastery ROCOR Tasmania] * [http://www.christminster.org Christ the Savior Monastery ROCOR Rhode Island]* [http://www.occidentalorthodox.org.uk/ Worldwide directory of canonical Western Rite Orthodox communities]* [http://www.stgregoryoc.org/links/western-rite-parish-directory/ Antiochian Western Rite Parishes] (North America, with links to parish sites)* [http://www.rocor-wr.org/ ROCOR Western-rite Communities] (ROCOR Western-rite Communities homepage with Links to parishes)

* [http://memberswww.stgregoryoc.org/article/the-divine-liturgy-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://www.orthodoxresurgence.com/petroc/sarum.htm Text of the Sarum Rite Liturgy] as corrected for use within [[ROCOR]] by His Grace Archbishop Hilarion *[http://www.aolorthodoxresurgence.com/FrNicholaspetroc/liturgyenglish.htm Text of the English Liturgy ]*[http://orthodoxie.free.fr/the_divine_liturgy_of_saint_germanus.htm Text of the Divine Liturgy according to Saint GregoryGermanus of Paris]] *[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.saintpeterorthodoxantiochian.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.htm Text 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 Saint TikhonRussia]].

===Books===* ''[http://www.authorhouse.com/BookStore/ItemDetail.aspx?bookid=23809 Children of the Promise: An Introduction to Western Rite Orthodoxy]'', by Fr. Michael Keiser. ISBN 9781418475826* ''[http://www.authorhouse.com/BookStore/ItemDetail~bookid~40659.aspx Offering the Lamb: Reflections on the Western Rite Mass in the Orthodox Church]'', by Fr. Michael Keiser. ISBN 9781425970819* ''[http://books.google.ca/books?id=s8nfEy1H8QcC&source=gbs_navlinks_s Liturgies of the Western Church]'', by Prof. Dr. Bard Thompson. ISBN 9780800614287* ''[http://www.archive.org/details/MN41674ucmf_0 The Ancient Liturgies of the Gallican Church]'', by Rev. J. M. Neale, 1855. ''(In Latin with some English notes)'' ===Introduction and History===<!-- * [http://www.receive.org/index.php?submenu=23 An Introduction to Western Rite Orthodoxy]: Interview with Fr. Paul Schneirla and Fr. Michael Keiser on [http://www.receive.org/ Come Receive the Light] (audio) Sent message to Seraphim Danckaert at OCN to see whether this is online. ~Magda --->* A Short History of the Western RiteVicariate, by [http://occidentalis.blogspot.com/ Benjamin Andersen]: [http://occidentalis.blogspot.com/2004/09/short-history-of-western-rite.html Part 1], [http://occidentalis.blogspot.com/2004/09/western-rite-history-part-two.html Part 2], [http://occidentalis.blogspot.com/2004/09/western-rite-history-part-three.html Part 3], [http://occidentalis.blogspot.com/2004/09/western-rite-history-part-four.html Part 4], [http://occidentalis.blogspot.com/2004/09/western-rite-history-part-five.html Part 5], [http://occidentalis.blogspot.com/2004/09/western-rite-history-part-six.html Part 6], [http://occidentalis.blogspot.com/2004/09/western-rite-history-part-seven.html Part 7], [http://occidentalis.blogspot.com/2004/09/western-rite-history-part-eight.html Part 8], [http://occidentalis.blogspot.com/2004/09/western-rite-history-part-nine.html Part 9](permission required)* [http://www.occidentalorthodox.org.uk/ Occidental Orthodox Christianity] Dedicated to the furtherance of the Western Rite within canonical Orthodoxy.

*[http://memberswww.coxchristminster.net/kelticnordicorg/write.htm Western Orthodox Christians: Who Are They?], from [[Christminster(Providence, Rhode Island)]], a Benedictine Monastery under [[ROCOR]]*[http://www.christminster.org/history.htm History of Christminster]

===ApologiasVideo===*[http://westernorthodox.blogspot.com/2009/01/video-fuller-christmas-eve-mass-with.html Video] of Dom James Deschene celebrating Midnight Mass for Christmas 2009 at the Oratory of our Lady of Glastonbury, the chapel attached to Christminster Monastery.*[http://stpaulsorthodox.org/Media/SaintPaul.wmv Video] on the Western Rite from St. Paul Orthodox Church, Houston, Texas ===Apologiae===* [http://westernorthodox.blogspot.com/2006/03/message-from-metropolitan-western-rite.html Met. PHILIP (Saliba)'s Promise]: Western Rite churches will not be Byzantized.

* [http://www.westernorthodox.com/Lux-Occidentalis Lux Occidentalis(PDF)] ''The Orthodox Western Rite and the Liturgical Tradition of Western Orthodox Christianity, with reference to The Orthodox Missal, Saint Luke's Priory Press, Stanton, NJ, 1995'' by the Rev'd John Charles Connely (PDF)

* [http://occidentalis.blogspot.com/ Occidentalis - A Weblog of Orthodox Catholic Christianity in the Western Rite tradition](permission required)* [http://www.holy-trinity.org/modern/western-rite/sergius.html On the Question of Western Orthodoxy], by Patriarch [[Sergius I (Stragorodsky) of Moscow]] in a letter to [[Vladimir Lossky]]*[http://http://westernorthodox.blogspot.com/search/label/Anti-WR%20Criticism Dealing with Anti-WR Criticism], from the Western Orthodoxy blog.

* [http://www.holy-trinity.org/modern/western-rite/tsichlis.html The Western Rite - Some Final Comments], by Fr. [[Steven Peter Tsichlis* [http://www.holy-trinity.org/modern/western-rite/sergius.html On the Question of Western Orthodoxy], by Patriarch [[Sergius I (Stragorodsky) of Moscow]] in a letter to [[Vladimir Lossky]]