Hello
There's a similar thread in OBOB but I was interested in getting the Orthodox perspective.
I saw these quotes about kneeling on Sundays:
We consider it forbidden to pray on bended knees on the Lord's Day. (Tertullian, 210)
There are many other observances in the Church which, though due to tradition, have acquired the authority of the written law, as, for instance, the practice of not praying on bended knees on Sunday. (St. Jerome, 330)
I was given an Orthodox article which said that the Orthodox don't kneel to pray on Sundays, but that doesn't mean there's never any worship where people touch the ground with their knees. I hope I understood that correctly (please correct me if I'm wrong ).
I was wondering if there is more information on this, and - whether kneeling during worship is acceptable on Sundays, to the Orthodox? am I understanding the article correctly, that there is a distinction between prayer and worship?
Also are there differences in how kneeling is seen in the East and the West? I know in the Mass, personally when I kneel it's not out of penance, it's just out of reverence to give honour to the Blessed Sacrament. We genuflect/kneel before the Blessed Sacrament (in worship), and stand for the other prayers and the Gospel, and sit for the other readings and the responsorial psalms.
What about in an Orthodox church? I'm trying to understand these canons better and what they're actually saying. If kneeling during prayer as a penance is what is forbidden, what about kneeling during worship, or without penance.
I'm interested in your responses thanks!
God bless
ps: here's the article: Should we kneel: a response
There's a similar thread in OBOB but I was interested in getting the Orthodox perspective.
I saw these quotes about kneeling on Sundays:
We consider it forbidden to pray on bended knees on the Lord's Day. (Tertullian, 210)
There are many other observances in the Church which, though due to tradition, have acquired the authority of the written law, as, for instance, the practice of not praying on bended knees on Sunday. (St. Jerome, 330)
I was given an Orthodox article which said that the Orthodox don't kneel to pray on Sundays, but that doesn't mean there's never any worship where people touch the ground with their knees. I hope I understood that correctly (please correct me if I'm wrong ).
I was wondering if there is more information on this, and - whether kneeling during worship is acceptable on Sundays, to the Orthodox? am I understanding the article correctly, that there is a distinction between prayer and worship?
Also are there differences in how kneeling is seen in the East and the West? I know in the Mass, personally when I kneel it's not out of penance, it's just out of reverence to give honour to the Blessed Sacrament. We genuflect/kneel before the Blessed Sacrament (in worship), and stand for the other prayers and the Gospel, and sit for the other readings and the responsorial psalms.
What about in an Orthodox church? I'm trying to understand these canons better and what they're actually saying. If kneeling during prayer as a penance is what is forbidden, what about kneeling during worship, or without penance.
I'm interested in your responses thanks!
God bless
ps: here's the article: Should we kneel: a response
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