anglomedved

We went to the early morning liturgy at Chartres cathedral last Sunday. A mass all in Latin, with the exception of the readings and sermon, which were in French.

The service had been tucked away early at 9.15, before the main mass (in French) at 11.00, advertised as a 'Gregorian' mass. The Gregorian itself was nothing to write home about. But it was the rest I so enjoyed. It gave a sense of continuity in keeping with a building which speaks of continuity. It would have been out of place in a new church on a housing estate, but here, in one of the most historic buildings of French Christendom, it was right. Indeed it was was right for almost 100 people, which is a big number at that time of the morning.

I did not take communion. As an Orthodox deacon it's against the rules. But this is one of those situations where the dividing line between the two confessions feels paper thin.