On this, the 8th Sunday of Pascha, we commemorate Blessed Augustine, bishop of Hippo (430), the Prophet Amos (8th c. B.C.), St. Jonah, metropolitan of Moscow (1461), Ven. Gregory and Cassian, abbots of Avnezhk (1392), Martyrs Vitus, Modestus and Crescentia, at Lucania (ca. 303), Martyr Dulas of Cilicia (4th c.), St. Dulas the Passion-berarer, of Egypt, St. Jerome of Stridonium (420), Blessed Lazarus, Prince of Serbia (1389), and St. Ephraim, Patriarch of Serbia (14th c.). Seventh Tone.
(Editor's Note: The following article was first printed in Word magazine, the official publication of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of New York and all North America. The author is Father David Barr, Pastor of Holy Resurrection Church in Tucson, Arizona, a parish of the Antiochian Archdiocese.)
In the Orthodox Church there are a lot of customs and traditions that are important parts of our worship. Some are cultural; some are pious customs. Some are essential; some are not. From time to time we address some of these various etiquette issues to inform our communities how we can best understand each other and work together to worship the all-Holy Trinity.
The traditional posture for prayer and worship in the Orthodox Church has been to stand. In the Orthodox "old countries" [and in our church, as well] there usually are no pews in the churches. Chairs or benches on the side walls are usually reserved for the elderly and the infirm.
When should one sit and stand? First of all, it is fully acceptable (and even preferable) to stand for the entire service.
When should you definitely stand? Always stand during the Gospel reading, the Little and Great Entrances, the Anaphora, the distribution of Communion, the special services for a Memorial or the Artoklasia, whenever the priest gives a blessing, and the dismissal.
When is sitting appropriate? Traditionally the Orthodox sit only when the Psalter Kathismata are read [at Vespers and Matins] or an Old Testament Reading [at Vespers]. When in doubt, stand; it is never wrong to stand during the services.
The time to arrive at the temple is before a service starts. For some unknown reason, however, it has become customary - or rather a bad habit - for some individuals and families to come late. If you arrive after a service begins, try to enter the temple quietly and observe what is happening. If a scripture selection is being read, or an entrance is taking place, or during the Anaphora and Consecration, wait until it is finished to quickly find a place. If the celebrant is delivering a sermon, stay in the back of the temple until he has finished. Try not to interrupt a service by your entrance.
By the way, the best way to avoid the problem is to arrive on time - then you do not have to wonder whether it is appropriate to enter or not. People who arrive late for the Divine Liturgy should not partake of the Eucharist (i.e., go to Holy Communion).
In some Orthodox cultures, crossing one's legs is taboo and considered to be very disrespectful. In our North American there are no real taboos concerning crossing one's legs, and we tend to do so to get comfortable when sitting. Should we cross our legs in the temple during services? No. Not because it is wrong to ever cross your legs, but because it is too casual, and too relaxed, for being in the temple. Just think about it, when you get settled into your favorite chair at home, you lean back, cross your legs, and then your mind can wander anywhere it wants to.
Remember, sitting in the temple is a concession to human weakness; not the normative posture for prayer. Crossing your legs is an even further surrender to laxity. You surely do not want to get too relaxed and let your mind wander off too much. In fact, when you sit in the temple, sit attentively - and not too comfortably When sitting in the temple, keep your feet flat on the floor, ready to stand at attention (which, after all, is precisely what "Let us be attentive!" means).
In and out? It is the name of a hamburger place in Los Angeles; it should not characterize the traffic pattern through our temples during services. It sometimes seems that our temples must have a revolving door at the entrance; it is used by both children and adults. Use the restroom before coming to the temple; or immediately upon arrival if your journey was lengthy. You should not need to get a drink of water during the services - especially if you plan to receive Communion. Do not come to the temple in order to go to the fellowship hall; come to pray.
When you enter the temple it is customary to venerate the holy icons. Newcomers to the Church are often confused or perplexed about venerating icons. In a very traditional temple there will be an icon on a stand at the entrance or in the center of the nave; this icon is venerated first. Then the icon of Christ which is to the right, before the iconostasis, is venerated, followed by those icons that are accessible on the south (right) side of the temple. Crossing over to the north side of the temple, the icon of the Theotokos which is to the left, before the iconostasis, is venerated, followed by those icons that are accessible on the left (north) side of the temple.
It is customary when venerating an icon, especially the principal icons, to make two reverences (sign of the cross followed by a bow), sign of the cross a third time followed by kissing the icon, then a final reverence (sign of the cross followed by a bow).
When venerating (kissing) an icon, pay attention to where you kiss. It is not proper to kiss an icon on the face; after all, you wouldn't go up and kiss the Lord or His Mother on the lips, would you? Rather, you would kiss their hand. Pay attention to what you are doing. When you approach an icon to venerate it, kiss the Gospel, scroll, or hand cross in the hand of the person depicted, or kiss the hand or foot.
As you venerate an icon, show the proper respect due to the person depicted; the same respect you would show them in person. Remember: blot off that lipstick first!
Isn't it great to come to the temple and see friends and family members? But wait until the coffee hour to say "Hi" to them. It just is not appropriate to greet people and have a conversation with them during the services. Besides being disrespectful towards God, it is rude towards the other people in the temple who are trying to worship. Talk to God while in the temple through your prayers, hymns, and thanksgiving - and to your friends in the fellowship hall afterwards.
[Editor's note: It is also inappropriate to carry on long conversations with people in the Temple BEFORE Liturgy, because even then the priest has already begun the service - the service of Proskomidia, at which he is preparing the Gifts for the Eucharist and remembering the names of the faithful, living and departed. To have conversations in the church during this time is distracting to the priest.]
Did you know that the proper way to greet a bishop or priest is to ask his blessing and kiss his right hand? How do you do this? Traditionally, one approaches the bishop or priest with the right hand over the left hand and says, "Master (if a bishop, or 'Father' if a priest), bless." In the Byzantine tradition in this country, the faithful usually take the bishop's or priest's right hand as though to shake it, but instead kiss it.
It is not appropriate to merely shake the hand of the bishop or priest, because, after all, they are not "just one of the boys." When you kiss their hands, just as when you kiss an icon, you show reverence and respect for their holy Office which is to be an iconographic icon of Christ, the one High Priest. Moreover, they are the ones who bless and sanctify you, and who offer the Holy Gifts on your behalf in the Divine Liturgy. So, the next time you greet your bishop or priest, do not shake his hand, ask for his blessing.
Remember the time when people put on their "Sunday best" to go to church? In fact, dress clothes were often referred to as "Sunday clothes." This is not all that common today; in fact all too often the dress in our temples has become too casual. In all the areas of our lives, we should offer Christ our best; and the same is true of our dress. We should offer Christ our "Sunday best," not our everyday or common wear. And we should dress modestly, not in a flashy way that would bring attention to ourselves - and certainly not in a provocative or alluring way. Our dress should always be becoming to a Christian - especially in the temple [Editor's note: This principle, and the guidelines below, apply not only to Sundays, but every time we enter the Lord's temple, no matter what day of the week!].
Here are some general guidelines:
If you are going someplace after the services where you need to dress casually, bring a change of clothing with you and change after the fellowship hour. Remember to use your best judgment and good taste when dressing for the services. After all, you do not need to be seen by everyone else - you go to meet and worship God.
You can always tell where the young children have been sitting in the temple. The telltale signs are graham cracker crumbs, cheerios, and animal crackers. Parents sometimes bring snacks or juice along for children during the services. Such activity is disrespectful of the sacred services and disruptive to others in attendance.
At the very most, a bottle may be brought for very small children and babies. Eating snacks (or even whole meals) is totally inappropriate. Young children should be fed before the services. Children who are going to receive Holy Communion should learn to fast from midnight by the age of seven.
By the way, chewing gum in church is a NO-NO for everyone.
After receiving Communion, and also at the end of the Divine Liturgy it is customary to receive a piece of Antidoron - the bread that was left over when the Holy Gifts were prepared prior to the Liturgy. While Antidoron is not Communion - the Body of Christ - it is nonetheless blessed and should therefore be eaten carefully so that crumbs do not fall all over the place. After receiving Holy Communion, take one piece of Antidoron (you do not need four or five pieces) and when you return to your place - or get to a place where you can stop for a moment - eat the bread trying not to drop any crumbs. And monitor your children as they take Antidoron and teach them to eat it respectfully. [Editor's note: If you or your children do drop any crumbs accidentally, be sure to eat them (yes, even off the floor).]
North American society in the late 20th century is rather casual in its approach to life. Do not allow this prevailing attitude to enter into your Orthodox Christian piety. Always remember that you are in the temple to worship God, the Holy Trinity. The priest proclaims, "With fear of God, with faith and love, draw near;" let this be the way you approach all of worship. If you do, you will probably have good Church etiquette.