Standing during Mass question

[Bonnie]

I would like to attend an Eastern Rite church in a nearby city but standing is an issue for me. Does everyone stand during the entire Mass or do you sit down sometimes? During the standing times is it acceptable for someone who is a bit infirm to sit during part of it?

Thanks for being here!

 

[Splagchnizomai]

If you are unable to stand, you should sit.

 

[Miserissima]

In my limited experience, I have seen people stand and sit at the requisite times, but I have also encountered people with health issues who stand only twice during the Divine Liturgy (once at the Gospel and once near the Eucharist – I am still learning so I am sorry that I cannot give you the exact part of the Order of the Divine Liturgy when this happened).

I have a fussy toddler and no one minds when I sit with him during the standing parts, although I do take cues from those who sit throughout most of the Divine Liturgy to know exactly when I need to stand with my son.

 

[Leon_Bloy]

When I go to Eastern liturgy, there is both standing and sitting. If you can’t stand, it’s OK to sit.

 

[Bonnie]

Thanks everyone!

I got concerned because when people around here talk about the Eastern Rites they always mention the standing. I got to wondering if there were even pews/chairs to sit on.

My fears aren’t too far-fetched. I went to a funeral at a Protestant church & got there late. The usher wouldn’t let me sit down until the minister’s prayer was finished - & was he ever long-winded! I’ve got to learn to be pushier about my needs.

 

[iohanne]

I got to wondering if there were even pews/chairs to sit on.

Most Eastern Catholic and Eastern Orthodox parishes in the west do have pews but there are some which do not. I believe the Russians are most likely the ones to not have pews. I would double-check before going, just in case.

 

[andrewstx]

I would like to attend an Eastern Rite church in a nearby city but standing is an issue for me. Does everyone stand during the entire Mass or do you sit down sometimes? During the standing times is it acceptable for someone who is a bit infirm to sit during part of it?

Thanks for being here!

It is very acceptable for the infirm to sit down.

Even the most traditional Orthodox churches without pews will have seats on the sides for the infirm.

I have had a stroke and have trouble standing for long periods, so I sit for all but the most sacred parts of the Liturgy.

 

[5Loaves]

My fears aren’t too far-fetched. I went to a funeral at a Protestant church & got there late. The usher wouldn’t let me sit down until the minister’s prayer was finished - & was he ever long-winded! I’ve got to learn to be pushier about my needs.

Others have addressed already that you certainly can sit as needed. (Even the most disabled will try to stand during the Great Entrance and the consecration.)

Unlike your funeral experience or some Latin Churches, in my experience in the East, Catholic or Orthodox, people are not concerned about what you are doing, unless you are being completely inappropriate-- talking, walking aimlessly, eating a sandwich… LOL. There’s no posture police. I am most familiar with the Russians and Greeks, some with the Melkites. Many of these parishes in fact have people from many different backgrounds, and the practice as to sitting and standing varies with these different backgrounds. In my parish we have, that I know of, Russian Greek Catholics, Ukrainian Greek Catholic, Byzantine Catholic, Serbian Orthodox, and Latin Catholics. Some sit almost all the time, so stand the whole time, some sit until the Great Entrance and stand after that, We just don’t kneel, on Sundays. Other than that posture varies. I have seen this in every parish I have been in around here.