Kirkin' on the air RIGHT NOW

**Prester John** · 6th December 05, 08:01 AM

Okay, boys and girls, as per your request, here it is.

The first Orthodox Kirkin' O' The Tartan...ever.

Click here and follow the link to hear it in mp3 format: kirkinothetartan.mp3

With thanks to Pipe Major Tim Wiley, who wore his Royal Stewart kilt with Akron District Pipe band uniform, and Archpriest Dragan Filipovich, rector of St. George Serbian Orthodox Church in Canton, who simply would not be put off, but concelebrated with me!

Please email me if you liked it, and share your comments. It matters.

**GMan** · 6th December 05, 10:54 AM

Wow! Even though it is not my Spiritual tradition, I found that very uplifting. Thank you so much.

**Sherry** · 6th December 05, 12:04 PM

The page isn't displaying for me. I'll have to try later.

Sherry

**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.