Things to know before attending Divine Liturgy

[Gwendolyn]

Hello, everyone!

As many of you know, I have wanted to attend Divine Liturgy for a very, very long time, but due to severe anxiety and agoraphobia, I have been unable to go by myself. But earlier this week, my (Catholic) priest offered to go with me to Divine Liturgy at the local Greek Orthodox parish!!! I am very excited, but also very, very nervous.

I have at least two weeks before we go, and I am hoping to gather as much info as possible beforehand. I was wondering if maybe you could share with me your experiences of first attending Divine Liturgy as a non-Orthodox, and things that maybe helped you feel more comfortable - things you learned, things that would be helpful for me to know, etc.

Maybe break down the DL for me? Do you have links I can read that explain the Liturgy bit by bit so that I will kind of know what is going on?

I figure comfy shoes are a must And I will remember to cross myself the Orthodox way! Hehe.

How should I behave? Would it be okay for me to stand near the back and just observe what is going on instead of getting really involved?

Thank you for all your help I will also make a post in a couple weeks to tell you about my Orthodox experience!

 

[Joshua G.]

For your listening pleasure...
First Visit To An Orthodox Church 12 Things Part 1 - Our Life in Christ - Ancient Faith Radio
For your reading pleasure...
12 Things I Wish I'd Known - Frederica.com


Josh

 

[Joshua G.]

that's great! How is your priest able to go? Doesn't he have Mass then or is there more than one priest at your parish?

 

[E.C.]

You can cross the RC way if you'd like. No one will force you to cross EO style, but you may get a strange look or two

 

[Mary of Bethany]

Since it's a Greek parish, there will almost certainly be pews, so you'll be able to sit at certain times if you feel the need. There may also be an organ, though it won't be used much. Hopefully there will be a Liturgy book, possibly with both Greek and English, if you're one who likes to follow along.

Basically, just do whatever you are comfortable with doing, and if not, don't. No one will think anything of it, either way. If there are Icons in the narthex to be venerated, just watch and see what others are doing, because different parishes have differing "traditions" when it comes to venerating Icons. You can always light candles and pray. Observe, and take it all in.

I hope it is a blessing for you!

Mary

 

[Dorothea]

That's great, Gwen! Can't add anything other than I hope your first experience is a blessed one.

 

[ArmyMatt]

that's great to hear! yeah, do what you feel comfortable doing, and try not to worry too much. you might get handed blessed bread toward the end, it's not Holy Communion so feel free to take it.

talk to the priest when you are done, and keep us posted!

 

[MariaRegina]

God bless you, Gwen

It is too bad that you could not attend a Catholic Eastern Liturgy because then you will see that the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom is so close to the traditional Gregorian Mass in the way the Holy Service flows. I attended the Divine Liturgy at the local Melkite Catholic Church for two years before going Orthodox.

Many elements of the Divine Liturgy were added back into the Novus Ordo Mass such as processions and litanies with responses. These processions, litanies, concelebrated liturgies, communion under both species, and the Trisagion Hymn (Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal) were deleted from the original Divine Liturgy (Mass) of Pope St. Gregory the Great starting around 800 A.D. In fact, Sister Faustina learned about the Trisagion Hymn when she attended the Eastern Divine Liturgy.

Anyway, relax, enjoy the incense, and realize that you are observing an ancient Eucharistic Service that has not changed much since the sixth century. It will be a wonderful eye-opener for you as it was for me. I cried during my first Divine Liturgy as it was so beautiful, especially the Trisagion Hymn.

 

[Gwendolyn]

that's great! How is your priest able to go? Doesn't he have Mass then or is there more than one priest at your parish?

There is another priest who will be celebrating Mass at our (Catholic) parish that day, so my priest is free to come with me.

Thanks, everyone!

 

[TheCunctator]

Hello, everyone!

As many of you know, I have wanted to attend Divine Liturgy for a very, very long time, but due to severe anxiety and agoraphobia, I have been unable to go by myself. But earlier this week, my (Catholic) priest offered to go with me to Divine Liturgy at the local Greek Orthodox parish!!! I am very excited, but also very, very nervous.

I have at least two weeks before we go, and I am hoping to gather as much info as possible beforehand. I was wondering if maybe you could share with me your experiences of first attending Divine Liturgy as a non-Orthodox, and things that maybe helped you feel more comfortable - things you learned, things that would be helpful for me to know, etc.

Maybe break down the DL for me? Do you have links I can read that explain the Liturgy bit by bit so that I will kind of know what is going on?

I figure comfy shoes are a must And I will remember to cross myself the Orthodox way! Hehe.

How should I behave? Would it be okay for me to stand near the back and just observe what is going on instead of getting really involved?

Thank you for all your help I will also make a post in a couple weeks to tell you about my Orthodox experience!

There was a whole thread not long ago where I wrote about my first experience.

This is what I had to remember:

1) People are a lot nice than you would initially assume.
2) Take the bread they pass out to everyone during Communion. It's not the eucharistic bread, so you can have it.
3)At the end, (at least with what happened to me) people walk towards the altar, kiss the icon, and then kiss the cross the priest is holding when he says "Hello! Christ is in our midst!" If you're uncomfortable with venerating an icon and kissing the cross, don't feel pressured. The priest is nice enough to back off.
4) GO GO GO to Coffee Hour. You might feel a bit awkward at first, but it gets better. Talk to the priest when he joins you in the coffee room.
5) Go early. I don't know if you're prompt or not, but it's always nice to get there a bit earlier and soak up the atmosphere. Besides, you don't want to miss the part when the priest is walking around with the incense.
6)You can avoid "participating" too much. The couple of times I went there, I neither crossed myself nor venerated the icons. No one will notice you, and if they do, they won't care.
7)DON'T leave when you hear 'the doors! the doors!' I'm proud of having caught myself before making that mistake .

I loved both times I went. I really tried to commune with God while I was there, and he met me, so he'll meet you too there if you want it.

And I still have the urge to go. Haven't gone last week, I returned to my old church (not so fun), and I can't go this week because I'm leaving town, but I do want to go next week.

 

[MariaRegina]

There was a whole thread not long ago where I wrote about my first experience.

This is what I had to remember:

1) People are a lot nice than you would initially assume.
2) Take the bread they pass out to everyone during Communion. It's not the eucharistic bread, so you can have it.
3)At the end, (at least with what happened to me) people walk towards the altar, kiss the icon, and then kiss the cross the priest is holding when he says "Hello! Christ is in our midst!" If you're uncomfortable with venerating an icon and kissing the cross, don't feel pressured. The priest is nice enough to back off.
4) GO GO GO to Coffee Hour. You might feel a bit awkward at first, but it gets better. Talk to the priest when he joins you in the coffee room.
5) Go early. I don't know if you're prompt or not, but it's always nice to get there a bit earlier and soak up the atmosphere. Besides, you don't want to miss the part when the priest is walking around with the incense.
6)You can avoid "participating" too much. The couple of times I went there, I neither crossed myself nor venerated the icons. No one will notice you, and if they do, they won't care.
7)DON'T leave when you hear 'the doors! the doors!' I'm proud of having caught myself before making that mistake .

I loved both times I went. I really tried to commune with God while I was there, and he met me, so he'll meet you too there if you want it.

And I still have the urge to go. Haven't gone last week, I returned to my old church (not so fun), and I can't go this week because I'm leaving town, but I do want to go next week.

The week does not seem complete without attending the Sunday Divine Liturgy. Oh, and Tuesday, February 2, is the Purification (Presentation of Christ). At our parish, we celebrate a Vesperal Liturgy on Monday night, Feb. 1, where all the boys (and infants in arm) will take part in procession.

Are you going to attend on February 14 which is not only St. Valentine's Day, but also our Cheesefare Sunday? Some parishes have Forgiveness Vespers that Sunday immediately after the Divine Liturgy or later on in the afternoon.

If you attend on February 21, that is when we celebrate Sunday of Orthodoxy. Many parishes have a procession carrying icons around the church. Other parishes meet at a local Cathedral and celebrate a Pan-Orthodox Vespers service. For example, this year we will be gathering at the Serbian Cathedral in Alhambra, California where four of the local bishops will be present: His Grace Bishop Maxim of the Serbian Orthodox Church, His Grace Bishop Joseph of the Antiochian Orthodox, His Grace Bishop Benjamin of the OCA, and the His Eminence, the Greek Metropolitan of San Francisco.

 

[TheCunctator]

The week does not seem complete without attending the Sunday Divine Liturgy. Oh, and Tuesday, February 2, is the Purification (Presentation of Christ). At our parish, we celebrate a Vesperal Liturgy on Monday night, Feb. 1, where all the boys (and infants in arm) will take part in procession.

Are you going to attend on February 14 which is not only St. Valentine's Day, but also our Cheesefare Sunday? Some parishes have Forgiveness Vespers that Sunday immediately after the Divine Liturgy or later on in the afternoon.

If you attend on February 21, that is when we celebrate Sunday of Orthodoxy. Many parishes have a procession carrying icons around the church. Other parishes meet at a local Cathedral and celebrate a Pan-Orthodox Vespers service. For example, this year we will be gathering at the Serbian Cathedral in Alhambra, California where four of the local bishops will be present: His Grace Bishop Maxim of the Serbian Orthodox Church, His Grace Bishop Joseph of the Antiochian Orthodox, His Grace Bishop Benjamin of the OCA, and the His Eminence, the Greek Metropolitan of San Francisco.

OH there is no way I'm missing the Sunday of Orthodoxy.
I've heard of it and it sounds wicked awesome. NO WAY I am missing that one.

 

[katherine2001]

Maria Regina, please tell +Bishop Benjamin hello from me (Janice Chadwick from Billings) if you get a chance to meet hiim. I have heard great things about +Bishop Maxim also. The members of the mission I formerly attended often go to the Serbian church in Butte (and even though it is OCA, it is served by the Serbian priest in Butte), and they love +Bishop Maxim.

 

[MariaRegina]

Maria Regina, please tell +Bishop Benjamin hello from me (Janice Chadwick from Billings) if you get a chance to meet hiim. I have heard great things about +Bishop Maxim also. The members of the mission I formerly attended often go to the Serbian church in Butte (and even though it is OCA, it is served by the Serbian priest in Butte), and they love +Bishop Maxim.

I hope to go, weather permitting *, and of course, I will say hello for you.

*Creek don't rise

 

[MoNiCa4316]

In fact, Sister Faustina learned about the Trisagion Hymn when she attended the Eastern Divine Liturgy.

I'm just wondering, where did you hear this?

Cause I know the hymn is part of the Divine Mercy chaplet, but she received this from Jesus (in a revelation). I also read that the Trisagion Hymn is an indulgence in the Catholic Church

 

[seashale76]

3)At the end, (at least with what happened to me) people walk towards the altar, kiss the icon, and then kiss the cross the priest is holding when he says "Hello! Christ is in our midst!" If you're uncomfortable with venerating an icon and kissing the cross, don't feel pressured. The priest is nice enough to back off.

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but in most Greek churches there will not be a veneration of the cross after Divine Liturgy. You will likely receive blessed bread from the priest instead of venerating the cross.

 

[Anhelyna]

I'm sure I venerated the cross and I know I received Antidoron from him .

 

[seashale76]

I'm sure I venerated the cross and I know I received Antidoron from him .

Some jurisdictions do things differently. In my parish (Antiochian) we venerate the cross, but the priest doesn't hand out antidoron (we get that on our own after communing and venerating the cross). The few times I've been to Greek parishes I've been given antidoron by the priest, but there wasn't a cross to venerate. I do know they venerate the cross sometimes after Divine Liturgy, but I don't think it the usual occurrence. It is why I asked to be corrected if I'm wrong about it. Gwendolyn is going to be going to a Greek parish, which is why I brought it up.

 

[Apophatic80]

I hope you enjoy your visit.

 

[Anhelyna]

That was my experience in a Greek Parish