Getting Back into Orthodox Christianity

[Slouching East]

I am a former Catholic and Protestant who has been looking into Eastern Orthodoxy. 10 years ago I started my journey, but left for foolish reasons. I've been away from Jesus and the Church long enough, and I just want to come home.

A priest from the Greek Orthodox church in my town invited me to come to their Pascha service. What do I need to know before attending? It's been a while since I have been in an Orthodox church, so I am just nervous that I am going to do something wrong.

Any help is very much appreciated. Thanks so much!

 

[ArmyMatt]

ask that local priest for advice, since he knows the parish.

glad you are coming back!

 

[Chesterton]

What do I need to know before attending?

Wear comfortable shoes.

 

[Lukaris]

In the Antiochian Church ( & other jurisdictions I presume) we have the Nocturne Service ( starting at 10:00 PM) immediately preceding the Lord’s resurrection. As that service concludes, we gather literally outside the narthex front door entrance to the church. The priest reads from the Bible and then the priest portrays the Lord knocking at ( & down) the gates of hell while reading from & in exchange with a parishioner from Psalms 24:7-10 ( western #). The stone is rolled away (theologically) & we proceed to worship the risen Lord in the Divine Liturgy at midnight.

This is a very general summary of around 3 hours of worship with a few minor but pivotal details in my description. Most of the Nocturne service is reasonably followable. The only difficulty I personally have is when we receive our vigil candles shortly before we proceed outside to the front steps of the church outside the church as we proceed to the Lord’s resurrection. Thankfully ( for me) I am in the choir and we proceed as a unit. Over 15 years Orthodox & I still get confused at this point.

On Pascha at 11:00 AM, there is an Agape service which I confess to rarely attend & have forgotten most of the content.

 

[prodromos]

Wear comfortable shoes.

Being a Greek parish, there will be plenty of seating available.

 

[prodromos]

I am a former Catholic and Protestant who has been looking into Eastern Orthodoxy. 10 years ago I started my journey, but left for foolish reasons. I've been away from Jesus and the Church long enough, and I just want to come home.

A priest from the Greek Orthodox church in my town invited me to come to their Pascha service. What do I need to know before attending? It's been a while since I have been in an Orthodox church, so I am just nervous that I am going to do something wrong.

Any help is very much appreciated. Thanks so much!

If you can, try to attend as many of the services you can leading up to Pascha, particularly in the final week. There are bilingual service books for Holy Week if the services are held in Greek, but it can still be a struggle to follow. At this stage I would just try and soak up as much as you can without necessarily understanding everything. Things will start to click more as you get more accustomed to the liturgy.

 

[ArmyMatt]

I’ll add stretch, drink water, get some rest Saturday, and bring your appetite.

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

And get used to incense fumes

I’ll add stretch, drink water, get some rest Saturday, and bring your appetite.

 

[Phronema]

I am a former Catholic and Protestant who has been looking into Eastern Orthodoxy. 10 years ago I started my journey, but left for foolish reasons. I've been away from Jesus and the Church long enough, and I just want to come home.

A priest from the Greek Orthodox church in my town invited me to come to their Pascha service. What do I need to know before attending? It's been a while since I have been in an Orthodox church, so I am just nervous that I am going to do something wrong.

Any help is very much appreciated. Thanks so much!

You've already gotten a lot of great advice in this thread. I'll just add that there's no need to be nervous whatsoever. You really can't do anything wrong so please enjoy yourself as it'll be a wonderful experience I'm sure.

 

[ArmyMatt]

You've already gotten a lot of great advice in this thread. I'll just add that there's no need to be nervous whatsoever. You really can't do anything wrong so please enjoy yourself as it'll be a wonderful experience I'm sure.

yep.

 

[Slouching East]

Wow, thank you all ^-^ I can't wait to go!

 

[ArmyMatt]

Wow, thank you all ^-^ I can't wait to go!

I can’t wait to hear what you think!

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

Just make sure to set a trip to the doctor before going to the Divine Liturgy----Dr. Scholl's.

Wow, thank you all ^-^ I can't wait to go!

 

[~Anastasia~]

Our parish tends to have a good many visitors so no one really notices if you’re not doing the exact same thing as anyone else. I’d just say - if it’s a Greek parish, don’t sit in the very front so you can more easily tell when others sit/stand.

 

[ArmyMatt]

I’d just say - if it’s a Greek parish, don’t sit in the very front so you can more easily tell when others sit/stand.

great point

 

[Light of the East]

Just make sure to set a trip to the doctor before going to the Divine Liturgy----Dr. Scholl's.

Uh huh . . . AIN'T FUNNY, GURNEY!!!

Perhaps for someone who doesn't have back or foot issues, but it is a real offering up to Christ for me to stand for Liturgy for 2 or more hours. And we have a BIGGIE coming up this Thursday at the reading of the Gospels.

OUCH!!!!

 

[Anhelyna]

I don't stand for the 12 Gospels - just not possible for me .

Fr does NOT expect it - you do what you can and anyone who makes any comments should be referred to the priest

 

[Light of the East]

I don't stand for the 12 Gospels - just not possible for me .

Fr does NOT expect it - you do what you can and anyone who makes any comments should be referred to the priest

I do know that. I just try to really do as much as I can before my back just gives out and I have to sit for a quick spell. Also do my stretches beforehand to help out. Father and Subdeacon Nick (the choir director) both understand and there is a small stool for choir members who need a break.

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

I’m 6’5” 265 lbs. And I have bad feet and a bad back. I will say truthfully Orthodoxy has enriched my soul but it has NOT been physically good to me

Uh huh . . . AIN'T FUNNY, GURNEY!!!

Perhaps for someone who doesn't have back or foot issues, but it is a real offering up to Christ for me to stand for Liturgy for 2 or more hours. And we have a BIGGIE coming up this Thursday at the reading of the Gospels.

OUCH!!!!

 

[Light of the East]

I’m 6’5” 265 lbs. And I have bad feet and a bad back. I will say truthfully Orthodoxy has enriched my soul but it has NOT been physically good to me

Oh, boy! I feel for you, brother!