I am trying out different churches. I have tried Catholic, Lutheran, Baptist, Methodist, and Non Denominational. There’s just one more that I want to try, the Orthodox Church. As of now, I am leaning heavily on Catholicism, but I still want to try the Orthodox Church. I am quite familiar with how Catholic Mass works, so here are my questions.
1: How are the teachings different between the two?
2: How is the Mass at the Orthodox? What do you have to do?
All answers are greatly appreciated!
The Orthodox liturgy holds A LOT of mystical elements that determine how everything is don. If you don’t study what is going on you will perhaps be completely lost at the processions, the numerous ektenias, the entrances etc. A lot goes on behind the altar as well and the priest is constantly reciting prayers in preparation for each part of the mass while the Deacon, the choir/ chanters and the people are singing or doing something else.
Because it is much longer, you will have parishes where people just come and go or they show up just towards the end which is something that bothered me immensely.
You may also come across Orthodox parishes where no one receives Communion as some hold to a teaching that frequent Communion is not desirable. Their fasts are also very intense and take up about half the year (Lent, Christmas fats, the Apostle’s fast the Dormition fast etc. And we are talking fasting with no dairy, meats or meat br-products. You also have to fast with no food or water from the night before Communion.
Another striking difference is their resembaknce to many Judaic aspects. The Old Testament is quite prevalent, along with some of it’s not so charitable laws I. E some don’t want to pray with or for their enemies, the woman is considered impure after she five birth so she is not allowed to attend the Litrugy for 40 days after a delivery, in some parishes woman can’t receive Communion while on their menses etc), their God is still very similar to the Old Testament God and as such they are always fearing the last judgement, His punishments, His wrath etc. There is a lot of Don’ts, a lot of “I’m unworthy”, “I the terrible sinner” in their prayers and services. Their asceticism on the one hand makes them proud (it’s hard not to fall into spiritual pride when you do much more fasting and prayer than everyone else) and it also makes them forget that above all, God loves His children.
In the States I didn’t find it so bad, in Eastern Europe however, wow!
Lastly, a central part to Othodoxy is Anti-Catholicism. In going to their Bible studies and participating in thei social circles I was so disheartened to see how much anti-Catholicism fuels what they do and hownthey do it,
I do appreciate the richness of Orthodox tradition but to be honest, in practice, it is following the letter, not the Spirit of the Law.
Oh, and might I add, there is no centralized teaching so one priest will tell you contraception in marriage is ok, another will say it depends on the circumstances, another will tell you you are going to hell . Likeise with many other subjects.
