Seating for the Faithful is not a Latinization. There are ancient pre-schism rubrics that refer to sitting. For example the Psalms are divided into Kathisma, which means sitting for the people sat when the Psalms were read. We have an ancient service to the Theotokos and Ever Virgin Mary called the Akathist Hymn which literally translates "Not sitting." If the ancient Church of Constantinople had a service called "Not Sitting," that means that the faithful sat at times during services. There are pews in St. Mary's Patriarchal Cathedral in Damascus for the Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch. There are also pews in St.George's Cathedral the Cathedral for the Ecumenical Patriarch. Monasteries have a kind of pew along the sides of the Nave.
Archpriest John W. Morris
Quite right, Father!
It's funny how in both matters pertaining to religion or Faith, a strongly held opinion often is more powerful than are facts. Oh well....
While we are at it, another 'false' charge of Latinizing which we hear all of the time at ACROD, and I am sure that many BCC and UGCC folks hear it as well, is that commemorative liturgies for the intention of the departed are somehow 'un-Orthodox.'
It must be OK though if you are a departed Tsar or member of the immediate Royal Family...Here is a Liturgy celebrated last SUNDAY by the Patriarch of Moscow in commemoration of the departed Romanov's and the 400th anniversay of the establishment of their dynasty. The ektenia prior to the Cherubic hymn is the same as we chant in our liturgies and in the same place. (In ACROD we don't do that on a Sunday....)
The videography is beautiful in HD if you have the CPU to watch, it is worth the time. The closeups on the chalice are stunning and it is well produced.
The more I learn the more I am convinced that many things for which the 'L' charge is hurled out can be found in one or more of the local practices or traditions of various Orthodox communities.
Seating for the Faithful is not a Latinization. There are ancient pre-schism rubrics that refer to sitting.
Dear Very Rev. Father - the original argument wasn't in regard to seating, but pews. Pews are a latin and protestant custom. Seating is a universal option, in India the preferred seating is on the floor/rug/carpet.
Indeed, at Hagia Sophia, while proper seats were available in the mezzanine for the imperial family and the nobility, the people just plopped down on the floor. As for the Kathismata, these monastic readings of the Psalms ("while seated") were originally done in the trapezium, and later removed to Vespers, Orthros and the other Hours.
If our people "plopped" on the floor we would need numerous physical therapists to help them up. Pews make much more sense because you can get an assist by pulling on the seat in front of you. Try that with folding chairs. rofl,,, no rofh (rolling on the floor hurting.
Out West where everyone is young they don't have to be sensitive to this issue.
Pews make much more sense because you can get an assist by pulling on the seat in front of you.
They also lock you rigidly in your place and make it impossible to move about the nave in response to the flow of the liturgy, to say nothing of actually worshiping with your whole body.
The elderly can be provided with chairs and benches, placed around the nave as needed. But pews were, are and will always remain, an abomination. "Take them out and burn them".
If I did not sit down during parts of the Liturgy or liturgical services I would collapse due to an old ankle injury and an essential tremor.
The do so. The Lord does not insist on what we cannot give. But norms should be norms, and exceptions granted liberally, rather than to discard the norm in the name of pragmatism, compassion, or whatever.
People plopping down on the floor again! Think I mentioned before going to a local Antiochean totally anglo convert church where the entire congregation "plopped" on the floor at certain times, like the epistle, sermon, etc. Never saw this before in any other churches, Orthodox of otherwise and it seemed somewhat "oriental"
People plopping down on the floor again! Think I mentioned before going to a local Antiochean totally anglo convert church where the entire congregation "plopped" on the floor at certain times, like the epistle, sermon, etc. Never saw this before in any other churches, Orthodox of otherwise and it seemed somewhat "oriental"
Sitting on the floor during the homily was practiced by parishioners at the former location of Our Lady of Fatima Russian Byzantine Catholic Church in San Francisco. Photo. [byzantinecatholic.org]
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Pews make much more sense because you can get an assist by pulling on the seat in front of you. Try that with folding chairs. rofl,,, no rofh (rolling on the floor hurting. 
