Afraid to attend and participate in Divine Liturgy

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MarkHilston25

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I want to go but I am a little unsure about some things. Like I know you don’t genuflect, what to do when I walk in the church,when and where to make the sign of the cross and now,how early should I get there,kissing icons, when to sign before and/or after communion. Maybe i’m making a bigger deal out of this than I should but I want to be respectful and am worried I’ll make a fool of myself. I love my rite and mass and will always go but I want to experience more traditional liturgy. I want to try Tridentine mass also but from video i’ve seen Byzantine looks very beautiful.
 
It is good that you want to be respectful and reverent. However, don’t worry too much about it. Contact the priest or deacon beforehand, and explain your concerns. They will be more than happy to tell you “what to do”, and might even pair you with a parishioner or 2, so that they can help you throughout Liturgy.

Or, just stay towards the back and observe. Whatever makes you more comfortable.

One more thing- yes, the Eastern Churches have their traditions on how they do things (crossing, etc.). However, it isn’t a hard-and-fast rule as is perceived by many. More oft than not, people are more focused on worshiping God than whether their brother or sister is doing something “different”. Go, worship God, and enjoy the heavenly experience. 👍
 
MarkHilston25 said:
I want to go but I am a little unsure about some things. Like I know you don’t genuflect, what to do when I walk in the church,when and where to make the sign of the cross and now,how early should I get there,kissing icons, when to sign before and/or after communion. Maybe i’m making a bigger deal out of this than I should but I want to be respectful and am worried I’ll make a fool of myself. I love my rite and mass and will always go but I want to experience more traditional liturgy. I want to try Tridentine mass also but from video i’ve seen Byzantine looks very beautiful.
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I’d say, just go, find a comfortable seat maybe towards the back and for the most part, when in Constantinople, do as the Byzantines do, so to speak. You won’t make a fool of yourself. I say this as a Latin who also had a first time in a Ukrainian Catholic church. You’ll get the hang of it and the Greeks won’t get you if you do something Romish or fail to reverence the icon of St. Volodymyr the Great. The Eastern Catholics I’ve met in church have been the most welcoming, warmest and friendliest folks to Roman visitors to their churches.
 
Just go and be there. No one will bite your head off if you do not do what other people do. I’ve been to different parishes where traditions and practices are different, even between Orthodox and Eastern Catholic parishes. Nobody looks at me funny and asks, “why don’t you do what everyone else does?” Nobody does what everyone else does. In our parish not everyone comes up to the tetrapod to kiss the icons. In the Orthodox parish I visit, not everyone comes to the front to kiss all the icons. If you are unsure, don’t do it. The only thing you need to remember is during Liturgy, stand when everyone else stands. That is it.
 
porthos11 said:
I’d say, just go, find a comfortable seat maybe towards the back and for the most part, when in Constantinople, do as the Byzantines do, so to speak.
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What? Find a seat? In Constantinople? IS OUTRAGE! 😃
 
ThatOneGuy92 said:
Go, worship God, and enjoy the heavenly experience. 👍
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Best bit of advice I’ve ever read. Wish I had seen this when I was returning to the Church 8 years ago. I think there would have been much steadier knees supporting me as I walked in the Church alone that first time. 😃
 
FAMLIY FIGHT!!! Great Fun!!! 🍿 :bounce: :bounce: :banghead: :knight2: :knight1: :slapfight:
 
MarkHilston25 said:
I want to go but I am a little unsure about some things. Like I know you don’t genuflect, what to do when I walk in the church,when and where to make the sign of the cross and now,how early should I get there,kissing icons, when to sign before and/or after communion. Maybe i’m making a bigger deal out of this than I should but I want to be respectful and am worried I’ll make a fool of myself. I love my rite and mass and will always go but I want to experience more traditional liturgy. I want to try Tridentine mass also but from video i’ve seen Byzantine looks very beautiful.
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How early? That is not a custom of the east, try getting there on Greek Time, 30minutes after the anounced start time.

In the East everything is no so set in stone as the west. People cross themselves at different times, and it is nothing to fear. Same goes for metanoias (sp), bows.

People will bow at different times, and the infirm only nod their heads as they can.

Divine litugy is much more relaxed than the EF. So relax, don’t woory be happy.
 
andrewstx said:
How early? That is not a custom of the east, try getting there on Greek Time, 30minutes after the anounced start time.

In the East everything is no so set in stone as the west. People cross themselves at different times, and it is nothing to fear. Same goes for metanoias (sp), bows.

People will bow at different times, and the infirm only nod their heads as they can.

Divine litugy is much more relaxed than the EF. So relax, don’t woory be happy.
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I echo, these sentiments. The Divine Liturgy, at the parish, doesn’t start until 10:15, or 10:30, even though its’ scheduled at 10am. Plus, I think people can feel less rushed when going to liturgy, in the mornings. There’s a lot involved, prior to the liturgy, anyways.
 
andrewstx said:
How early? That is not a custom of the east, try getting there on Greek Time, 30minutes after the anounced start time.
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BWAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!

But this is so true. The first time I went for Divine Liturgy at my current parish, I arrived 8:25 because Liturgy starts at 8:30. Church looks closed. I waited 5 minutes, nobody was arriving. Then I stepped off the car and opened the door, then I saw the lights were on inside and the priest was doing the proskomide.
 
IrishRush said:
Best bit of advice I’ve ever read. Wish I had seen this when I was returning to the Church 8 years ago. I think there would have been much steadier knees supporting me as I walked in the Church alone that first time. 😃
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Even now, during a time of much spiritual confusion and angst, I keep reminding myself to focus on God, and all will follow. It is tough, but all is possible with God. And I find that if one asks- sincerely and truthfully- for God to help us keep the focus on Him, He is more than happy to oblige and aid us. 😃
 
I think my Greek Orthodox parish must be the only one in the country which starts Orthros early and the liturgy on time. :cool:
 
ConstantineTG said:
What? Find a seat? In Constantinople? IS OUTRAGE! 😃
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Yes, Is Outrage! (Looks at pews in parish installed by otherwise very vostichnik pastor…)

Mark:

Wear comfortable shoes. Nice clothes, with layers.

When you enter, if at a byzantine rite (of whichever nationality), go reverence the icons: the one on the table in the middle of the aisle/nave (the tetrapod), then the icons of Jesus and Mary. Then find a spot.

Candle intentions: If there are big candleholders near the icons, with sand in them, find where the candles for sale are, and place a candle for each intention you pray for (or as many as you will afford) there, lighting them from the central candle, then putting the bottom of the candle into the sand to be held there during liturgy. There might also be roman style votive racks somewhere in the nave.

Crossing yourself: At entry and exit to the nave (and if allowed, the altar), at every mention of the trinity, during the trisagion (Holy God), when blessed, when incensed, and with every lord have mercy is when my parish does so. And when returning to one’s seat after communion.

If subject to allergies, have your antihistamines and/or inhalers with… some people react badly to the incense. More react badly to the often copious flowers present.

Stand when everyone else does. Stay out of the way of the processions - they go from the (as you’re looking on) Left door, around the outside to center back, and up the middle - and the incensation - out the left door, around the outside, up and back the middle, and in the right door.

Stay off the raised step up front - unless a cleric takes you there.

Confession, if going on when you get there, might be in a confessional, might be inside the altar, or might be in front of the Icon of Jesus on the screen or at a side table. If you see a priest with his stole over someone’s head, he’s hearing a confession - leave plenty of space.

If you arrive, with time to spare, and it seems like things have already started, enter, reverence the icons (waiting if a procession is in progress), and find a spot. It might be one of the other liturgical or paraliturgical prayers going. For example, if you arrive between 9:40 and 9:55 at St. Nicholas in Anchorage, you’ll arrive during 3rd Hour prayer… you’re not late for liturgy.

If you’re there early, don’t be surprised if it feels like everyone greets you - you will likely be noticed. Odds are good someone will hand you the needed books, and perhaps also suggest you stand/sit next to person ___, and if you get lost, you can ask them.

If there are chairs or pews, it’s best to be in them.

Certain ethnic parishes have traditional gender separation. If so, you’ll get the clue real quick - just move to the men’s side.
 
Cavaradossi said:
I think my Greek Orthodox parish must be the only one in the country which starts Orthros early and the liturgy on time. :cool:
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Our start on time too. Which is why the priest sometimes have to add the amount of bread on the diskos prior to the procession at the Great Entrance. 😃
 
ConstantineTG said:
Our start on time too. Which is why the priest sometimes have to add the amount of bread on the diskos prior to the procession at the Great Entrance. 😃
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Rev. Fr. James is still “Lutheran-level” punctual. (He’s a convert from Lutheranism.) He gets visibly perturbed if 3rd hour runs past 9:55, when he starts proskomedia…
 
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