www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Going to visit an Orthodox Church

I'm going to visit an Orthodox Church sometime soon. I never have before. Question: when should I go, Divine Liturgy or Vespers?

Also, what tips can you give for a beginner so I don't look dumb?

Start with Vespers. There will be fewer people and the priest will have a bit more time to give to you afterward.

Go with great love in your heart. Don't worry about looking stupid. They will know that you are new. Reverence [kiss, bless yourself and bow] the icon that will be laid atop a table between the entry and the altar, and move to an empty space where you can see the altar and perhaps get close to the cantor or choir so that you can hear well the words. Then just float on the wings of the prayers. And come right back and tell us how it went.

Eli

With all due respect to Eli, I'm going to disagree.

I would suggest going to Divine Liturgy. Get the full immersion into what it means to be Eastern Christian.

But, of course, do what Christ tells you in your heart.

-- John

Why not!

Better yet, go the the vigil service Saturday night, (normally, between 2 1/2-3 1/2 hrs in the Russian practice), and follow up with Divine Liturgy Sunday morning. If you listen, you will hear how everything all blends together and makes sense, and you will be as St Vladimir's envoys were in St Sophia's in Constantinople when they "knew not whether we were in Heaven or on Earth"

May God bless you

Alexandr

Two heads are clearly better than one at a time!!



Eli

Vespers can be good because it is shorter, more lightly attended and you can usually talk to people and/or the priest if you want. There's less going on than on a Sunday morning.

The liturgy is the whole shebang though, so you will get a different experience. Most Orthodox parishes will also have a meal afterwards which is a good time to meet people.

So why pick one, do both!

The only piece of advice I might disagree with a little here is don't feel like you need to do anything with icons, candles, bowing, etc. People will know you're a visitor and they won't expect for you to necessarily know what you're doing. Basically just do what you're comfortable with.

Eventually, if you go often enough, they'll teach you the secret handshake.

Andrew

As a priest (jokingly) once told a friend of mine who was visiting for the first time:

�Crossing yourself with a slight bow towards the altar will generally atone for most blunders.�

:p


~Isaac

I personally went through the curiosity thing too. I first visited an Orthodox church for Vespers because I knew it would upset me not being able to receive the Eucharist. But it does pay to go to both and see the full celebration.