What happens at an EO service?

The amount of congregational participation can vary greatly. I've heard of parishes where only the choir sings, responds during litanies, etc. At our parish, the whole congregation sings and is led by the choir.

If you are going on a Sunday, you should see the Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom (it's his edition that we normally use on Sundays, though the Liturgy itself goes back to St. James.)

If you are going to a Greek or Arab church, they will most likely use Byzantine music, yes. If its American (OCA) or Slavic, it may be more "choral."

The Divine Liturgy is the central service of the Church. It is our main celebration, coming together as a common people, and includes Communion as the high point.

I think you will enjoy reading this article, which explains the origin of the Liturgy and also the form--it gives an outline if you scroll down enough. Introduction to the Divine Liturgy — Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

For more general info about services and he Church, consider "paging" through this short book series. It has a page or so on each of the topics it lists for each book. OCA - The Orthodox Faith

Finally, this is a nice article that fills you in on some of the practical aspects to attending worship at an Orthodox Church. 12 Things I Wish I'd Known - Frederica.com

Wow, that is a full question!

I am sure someone here knows the definition by Church teaching and the original Greek. The secular definition has to do with performing the duties of citizens, which has its place too. The liturgy is design to restore our "citizenship" in the Kingdom of God. My priest explains it as "the peoples work with God."

It actually begins before it begins in a manner of speaking. The parishonate prepares through fasting and prayer from the night before, and the clergy perform a service prior to the liturgy to prepare themsleves, the offerings, and the eucharist. Only after that is completed can you have a liturgy.

THere is veneration of icons by the parishoniers before the liturgy begins and candles are lit. The service is not spoken, but rather sung (chanted) and the priest and the parish participate (sometimes only the choir). There are readings from a member of the parish, and the gospel by the priest. There are prayers offered for everyone in the body and outside it. There are hymns. There is incense durring certain portions, and bells. The Eucharist is offered. There is a sermon (homilie, lecture, teaching whatever you want to call it). We have a blessing at the end and everyone goes up and venerates the icons and cross and recieves bread.

Of course a lot of crossing oneself through out!

Oh, and a very basic outline looks like this:

Hymns, Psalm-based Hymns, Litanies (petitions)
Reading of the Epistle
Reading of the Gospel
short sermon on the Gospel
more Litanies and prayers
The Creed
more prayers, especially concentrating on the Eucharist
The Our Father
Communion (for prepared people only--preparation include baptism in the Orthodox Church)
Thanksgiving hymns and dismissal

nearly everything is sung or chanted, either way.

choirfiend said:

Oh, and a very basic outline looks like this:

Hymns, Psalm-based Hymns, Litanies (petitions)
Reading of the Epistle
Reading of the Gospel
short sermon on the Gospel
more Litanies and prayers
The Creed
more prayers, especially concentrating on the Eucharist
The Our Father
Communion (for prepared people only--preparation include baptism in the Orthodox Church)
Thanksgiving hymns and dismissal

nearly everything is sung or chanted, either way.

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Most excellent summary, sister!

In a very basic sense the Divine Liturgy (DL) is in 2 parts: the 1st part is the Liturgy of the word (preaching) & the 2nd part is the DL of the Eucharist. The first part culminates with scripture readings (usually chanted) of a NT espistle (usually St. Paul) by a deacon, subdeacon, layperson & then the Gospel reading chantedby the priest (at least in our Antiochian church) & then the homily. The second part is preparation for partaking of the Eucharist preceded by the hymn of the Cherubim, the Creed, the Lord's prayer, a general confession & then partaking of the Eucharist. Actually, there is much more but with some variation I believe among different Orthodox Churches.

In our USA Antiochian Church, most of the DL is in English although we rotate at various weeks through hymns with fair portions of an archaic Arabic, a little Slavonik, & a little Greek. So for ex. during the Trisagion in the first part of the Liturgy, we will hymn "holy, holy, holy.." in English one week & "Quduson, quduson, quduson.." in an archaic Arabic another week.

Just an FYI, but in more ancient times, the service was split in two. An Orthodox Christian would stay for the entire service while the catechumens would have to leave before the mysteries were performed.

Litany of the Catechumens - OrthodoxWiki

Biblically speaking, what you will see is from the OT Tabernacle and Temple worship, and the heavenly worship when revealed. Revelation and Hebrews are the two most liturgical books, and you will hear a lot of the Psalms.

and Liturgy means work of the people.

What happens at the Divine Liturgy?

Answer: You experience the Living God

inconsequential said:

The amount of congregational participation can vary greatly. I've heard of parishes where only the choir sings, responds during litanies, etc. At our parish, the whole congregation sings and is led by the choir.

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I attended an Antiochian congregation for a while and it had very little congregation participation. Is there a way of knowing before visiting a particular parish if it has more congregational participation?

Tigger45 said:

I attended an Antiochian congregation for a while and it had very little congregation participation. Is there a way of knowing before visiting a particular parish if it has more congregational participation?

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Certain jurisdictions/traditions are better known than others for congregational participation. For example, the American Carpatho-Rusyn Orthodox Diocese (ACROD) is famous for its high level of congregational participation--this is mostly due to our unique Prostopinije plainchant, which anyone (no matter how musically deficient or unlearned) can follow along with like a pro.

Of course, this doesn't mean that every ACROD parish will have high congregational participation--it's just statistically more likely. I know each parish has varying levels of congregational participation, even (i.e. especially ) within the various jurisdictions.

LJCTAM said:

Love Revelation and Psalms

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indeed, kinda can't escape them in an Orthodox service

LJCTAM said:

Reading Psalms is the beginning of how I became a Chrsitan in the first place

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pretty sweet I must say. there is an Antiochian Orthodox Christian who was persecuted by Muslims and left in solitary when he was en Egypt. I will never forget that he said he survived because his Orthodox Jewish grandmother made him memorize the Psalms.

LJCTAM said:

Anyone who has read those under the heart's microscope has been through something(s).

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yep the Psalter was the primary book of many of the desert ascetics (and still is). so it makes sense that we in the world would use a lot from the Psalms in our services.