By way of introduction...

[Thomas_Didymus]

Hello,
I've been lurking for a bit, and thought I'd introduce myself. My name's Tom, and I'm from the UK. I'm afraid the orthodox marker isn't completely accurate - I'm more an enquirer than a believer at this stage, but I've really enjoyed reading many of the posts here - they've been very helpful.

Apologies if there's something here I've missed - but is there a good guide to the liturgy for complete beginners, who've yet to step inside an orthodox church? And keeping up my lurking ways, would people in general object if I lurked at the back of a service and just watched?

Many thanks,

Tom.

 

[Cradle]

Hi there mate .

would people in general object if I lurked at the back of a service and just watched?

Not at all.

I live in the UK. Whereabouts do you live? I can tell you where to find your closest Orthodox Church and give insight on what might be better for your situation (e.g. more english in the liturgy).

PS If you don't feel comfortable revealing your location, feel free to PM .

 

[Thomas_Didymus]

I'm in london - I believe St Botolph is mainly english lang.?

Thanks, Tom.

 

[Cradle]

We have an english member - NewToLife - who I believe worships at St Botolph's, he should be able to tell you more.

God with you on your journey and may we sinners never disappoint you .

 

[NewToLife]

I do worship in St Botolph's as Cradle has said. We are totally English speaking and celebrate the Divine Liturgy every 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month at 11am ( though it's best to check before visiting just in case of cancellation ).

After the liturgy we have lunch together as a parish and as a visitor you would be welcome to join us. This would give you a chance to meet some of us and find out more about Orthodoxy in general and St Botolph's in particular if you want to.

I'm attaching a link to the deanery so that you can see more;

http://www.antiochian-orthodox.co.uk/index.html

Also you may be interested in knowing that there is a pan-Orthodox initiative in London currently to offer something along the lines of an Orthodox Alpha course. It will run from October at the Cathedral of the Divine Wisdom, Moscow Road. The following link has more details of it;

http://www.iocs.cam.ac.uk/theway.html

I hope to see you at St Botolph's sometime.

Chris

 

[Michael G]

Tom,
Welcome to TAW. From your lurking I am sure you have seen the vast majority of us who regularly log on here are converts ourselves, so feel free to lurk and read and ask questions and give your input. I am a convert to Orthodoxy, having spent a year in Roman Seminary and half way through that year beginning to realize that I was in the wrong place and the wrong Church. Also, I can't speak for the Orthodox in England as I am in Ohio, but most Orthodox Churches are very open to visitors and inquirers. I am sure you are more than welcome to attend any Orthodox Church which is in London although the Eucharist is reserved for those who are Chrismated Orthodox. I would suggest however that instead of lurking after liturgy you introduce yourself to the priest and one or two of the parishoners, they might be more than willing to help you as you proceed in your inquiry. Again, welcome to TAW and please visit with us in the Taverna!

 

[Grand_Duchess-Elizaveta]

Hi, Thomas! We love new people! I'm actually still considered an inquirer too, though I feel very serious about Orthodoxy and have already committed my life to it. It's very exciting to see how much the Orthodox Church seems to be growing in the UK. Feel free to ask whatever you need to ask. If we can't answer, we can usually at least give you a link where you can find the info. you need. And I'm really glad we have a couple of wonderful, helpful Brits who are willing to help you find the right Church. God bless you, Cradle and NTL!

 

[Cradle]

I'm not a Brit . But anyway.

This one took me time to figure out.

God bless you, Cradle and NTL!

In our corner of the planet, NTL is a telecoms company .

http://www.ntl.com/index.html

You seriously had me confused for a while .

 

[Matrona]

Apologies if there's something here I've missed - but is there a good guide to the liturgy for complete beginners, who've yet to step inside an orthodox church? And keeping up my lurking ways, would people in general object if I lurked at the back of a service and just watched?

Many thanks,

Tom.

Hi Tom! Welcome to TAW!

Since you haven't gone to a liturgy yet, here's a good guide for a first-timer: http://www.frederica.com/orthodox/o12th-mrb.html Let us know if you have any questions.

In Christ,
matronushka

 

[Thomas_Didymus]

Many thanks for the welcome, the links, and the blessings (I seem to have acquired 600 of them from somewhere... thankyou!). Bit disturbed to find that my health is only 20/100 though!

One more question - do orthodox churches have service books, or are you expected to bring your own?

Tom.

 

[Grand_Duchess-Elizaveta]

I'm not a Brit . But anyway.

This one took me time to figure out.



In our corner of the planet, NTL is a telecoms company .

http://www.ntl.com/index.html

You seriously had me confused for a while .

LOL! I see I'm not the only one who's a little slow in the morning. Wait....actually it's not morning where you're at.....not sure what your excuse is then. But it's certainly not the first time I've confused someone!

I know you're not technicaly a Brit, but you're behavior in here sometimes seems a little Brittish. You're a bit reserved according to U.S. standards. We hardly hear from you unless you're feeling cheeky. (J/K)

 

[NewToLife]

St Botolph's provides a copy of the Divine liturgy as do other Orthodox churches i have visitted here in the UK. St Georges cathedral in Euston for instance use a book with the text in multiple languages (including English ) so that speakers of various languages may follow the liturgy.

 

[NewToLife]

In our corner of the planet, NTL is a telecoms company .

Oddly I work in telecoms and have done virtually my whole working life.

 

[countrymousenc]

Welcome, Thomas

 

[Suzannah]

Many thanks for the welcome, the links, and the blessings (I seem to have acquired 600 of them from somewhere... thankyou!). Bit disturbed to find that my health is only 20/100 though!

One more question - do orthodox churches have service books, or are you expected to bring your own?

Tom.

Dear Tom,

I too didn't realize my health was in such imminent danger! LOL! This must be a new feature at CF. Erwin, the owner of the website is always coming up with new ideas to entertain us....


Anyway, I'm sure you will find service books at the church...you don't have to bring your own. Here is a link to a book that I found very helpful in understanding the Liturgy:
http://www.light-n-life.com/shopping/order_product.asp?ProductNum=LIVI150

God bless you and welcome to TAW...I hope you will share the journey with us and that you will enjoy it here...
Love,
Suzannah

 

[Akathist]

Most churches have the divine liturgy in little books. You might have to ask for one. In my church they have pews and they put two to a pew and have a stack in the back where the candles are for sale for those who want to borrow one.

You don't have to be Orthodox to light a candle. Often there is a candle holder near the back as well as the ones near the iconstasis. That way if someone doesn't want to come up front, they can light a candle in the back.

When I first visited, the Priest told me not to try to follow along in the book. The books can be a bit confusing and he thought it is best to just "absorb" the experience without trying to figure our where we were in the book.

 

[Basileus]

Welcome!

I'm not British but my family rode the boat over...

Oh...and tell Batman to get off the Palace walls...shouldn't he be fighting crime or making a new movie or something...

 

[katherine2001]

In the parishes I've been to, you don't usually have to buy candles. They're kept in a basket and you can put a donation in the basket to help pay for them.

Please feel free to participate in the service except for going up for Communion. You can light candles, cross yourself, venerate the icons, and kiss the cross at the end of the service if you feel comfortable doing them. I came from a Baptist background, so I didn't feel comfortable doing any of those things at first. Just do these things when you feel you want to do them. Don't feel like you have to do them or you'll stick out like a sore thumb. You won't.

By the way, welcome to TAW!

 

[Rick of Wessex]

Hi, Tom. Welcome!

In XC,
Rick

 

[Mary of Bethany]

Hi, Tom.


Welcome to our little corner of CF. Sit down and stay a while.