Orthodox Communion

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I would bow, rather than genuflect, since the Orthodox do not genuflect.
 
You enter an RC parish by blessing with Holy Water and genuflection.

You enter an Eastern (at least Byzantine) church, whether EO or EC, by reverencing icon’s and lighting a candle at the front which will burn through the liturgy.

hawk
 
Bow! @Nelka, have you attended an Orthodox Liturgy before? If not, enjoy the beauty of the Divine Liturgy and take in what you see, hear, smell and touch!

ZP
 
If you wish to genuflect, no one will think less of you. However, since it is not our tradition to genuflect nor to kneel on Sundays as it is a little Pascha, you may get lots of invitations to coffee hour after liturgy since it will be apparent you are not Orthodox.

I’m not sure how we get a bad rap for being unfriendly, we go out of our way (in my experience) to make visitors feel welcome. So, genuflect, reverence the icons, or both! In any case you are welcome to visit and experience the liturgy of St. John or St. Basil. Please stay for coffee afterwards so the parish you visit gets a chance to chat with you.

Fr. Dcn. John
 
Just a minor point, but we do not use the term “transubstantiation”. That said, our notion of the Real Presence is very similar to the Catholic understanding; we just don’t define the change at consecration as specifically as a Catholic would using that term ( and accidents vs substance). We do firmly believe that the Eucharist is indeed the body, blood, soul, and divinity of our Lord after it is consecrated and remains as such.

Fr. Dcn. John
 
Nelka said:
If a Roman Catholic enters an Orthodox church, do they genuflect?
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No, that is a Western custom and you’d look very awkward doing so.

Cross yourself and make a slight bow toward the altar instead.
 
In Eastern Orthodox practice, you make the Sign of the Cross with three fingers and instead of crossing left to right, you go right to left. And bowing afterwards is customary. In fact you are supposed to bow after each time you cross yourself.
 
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Canvas said:
Eastern Orthodox practice, you make the Sign of the Cross with three fingers and instead of crossing left to right, you go right to left. And bowing afterwards is customary. In fact you are supposed to bow
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That’s typical Byzantine custom, not limited to Eastern Orthodox but also Eastern Catholics.

I’m technically a Roman Catholic. When at my Ukrainian Catholic parish I cross myself in the Byzantine fashion, when at the Roman parish I cross myself in the Latin fashion.

When in Rome do as the Romans, when in Constantinople do as the Byzantines! And above all, respect and reverence the pious customs of both the Orient and the Occident.
 
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Catholics believe that the Orthodox Churches have valid apostolic succession which in turn means that we believe that the Orthodox Churches have a valid Eucharist. The Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches wouldn’t use the word “transubstantiation.” That is Latin theology.

ZP
 
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