Orthodox worship is different! Some of these differences are apparent, if perplexing, from the first moment you walk in a church. Others become noticeable only over time. Here is some information that may help you feel more at home in Orthodox worship—twelve things I wish I’d known before my first visit to an Orthodox church.
1. What’s all this commotion?
Orthodox worship is a continuous flow. Matins/Orthros blends directly into the Divine Liturgy. Worshippers arrive throughout the service and proceed to make their private devotions, lighting candles and venerating icons. This is not out of disrespect, but represents a faith that is personal and living rather than merely formal.
2. Stand up, stand up for Jesus
We stand for nearly the entire service. It is the traditional posture for prayer and attentiveness before God. If you need to sit, you are welcome to do so—there are chairs/pews available, and no one will mind or judge you.
3. In this sign
We make the sign of the cross frequently: when the Trinity is invoked, when venerating icons, etc. We hold our right hand with thumb and two fingers pressed together (Trinity) and two fingers flat to the palm (two natures of Christ), crossing from right to left. Don’t worry about getting it wrong; you don’t have to follow suit as a visitor.
4. What, no kneelers?
Instead of kneeling on kneelers, we make prostrations—kneeling down and bringing our foreheads to touch the floor, then standing back up. This is a common posture of humility during Lent and specific points in the liturgy. Standing with bowed head is also perfectly appropriate.
5. With love and kisses
We kiss (venerate) things: the icons when entering, the cross at the end of the service, and the chalice. Before Communion, we exchange the Kiss of Peace (“Christ is in our midst” / “He is and shall be”). It is a sign of mystical unity, not socializing.
6. Blessed vs. consecrated bread
Only prepared Orthodox Christians may receive Holy Communion (the Eucharist). However, anyone may receive the blessed bread (antidoron) distributed at the end of the service. It is a sign of welcome and fellowship.
7. Confession and the Creed
There is no general confession prayer during the Liturgy; instead, Orthodox make regular, private confessions to their priest (referred to as “Father”). In the Nicene Creed, we recite the original version without the later Western addition of the “filioque” (“and the Son”).
8. Music, music, music
Orthodox worship is sung continuously, traditionally a cappella (without instruments). The choir leads the congregation in harmonic or chant styles. The liturgy itself is essentially one continuous song.
9. More is always more
Orthodox prayers are not concise. If there is a longer way to say something, the Liturgy will use it. When you hear “Let us complete our prayer to the Lord,” expect to stay standing for quite a while longer!
10. Our champion leader
We show immense love and veneration for the Virgin Mary (referred to as the “Theotokos,” Mother of God). We ask for her prayers and the prayers of all the saints, whose icons surround us, reminding us of the cloud of witnesses worshiping alongside us.
11. The three doors
The icon wall (iconostasis) shields the altar area. It has three doors: the central “Royal Doors” (used only by the clergy during the eucharistic procession) and two flanking “Deacons’ Doors” (decorated with icons of angels) used by other altar servers.
12. One Church, many ethnicities
Although you see Greek, Russian, and Antiochian parishes, they are all one unified Orthodox Church, holding to the exact same moral and dogmatic standards. The names identify the bishop holding authority over the parish. At Holy Apostles, we are under the Antiochian Archdiocese and conduct our services in English.