Which Orthodox jurisdiction....

[kit]

Caught ya!

 

[xenia]

I am a member of a ROCOR parish. I would say some of the differences between a ROCOR church and all the others I've visited are:

No pews
No organs (I've only see a few organs in other churches, though)
Women in skirts/ dresses with scarves; men w/ long sleeves (usually)
Slavonic chanting, of course, in four-part harmony
You must go to confession before each reception of Communion
All-Night Vigil instead of vespers (only lasts 2 hours, not all night!)
Converts usually received by baptism, not just chrismation
"Tea" instead of "Coffee hour"
Bearded and pony-tailed clergy
Deacons are very prominent in the Liturgy
little breads (prosphora) bought by the people and sent up to the altar, with prayers
The priest's phelon (vestment) has a high back
Different hat for the clergy (more conical, less stove-pipelike)
Always on the Old Calendar
People kiss the chalice after receiving Communion

But as has been noted, Orthodox is Orthodox.

 

[kit]

I am a member of a ROCOR parish. I would say some of the differences between a ROCOR church and all the others I've visited are:

No pews
No organs (I've only see a few organs in other churches, though)
Women in skirts/ dresses with scarves; men w/ long sleeves (usually)
Slavonic chanting, of course, in four-part harmony
You must go to confession before each reception of Communion
All-Night Vigil instead of vespers (only lasts 2 hours, not all night!)
Converts usually received by baptism, not just chrismation
"Tea" instead of "Coffee hour"
Bearded and pony-tailed clergy
Deacons are very prominent in the Liturgy
little breads (prosphora) bought by the people and sent up to the altar, with prayers
The priest's phelon (vestment) has a high back
Different hat for the clergy (more conical, less stove-pipelike)
Always on the Old Calendar
People kiss the chalice after receiving Communion

But as has been noted, Orthodox is Orthodox.

Well let's face it, ROCOR is more specifically Russian. It makes a particular point about being Russian. It also really largely gave way to the OCA.

 

[E.C.]

Due to the EOC phenomena one is liable to find parishes that don't always fit the expected aesthetic. Then of course there are GOARCH parishes that do their best to adapt and blend into their surroundings such that they could pass for any custom.

Whenever I visit one side of the family in Spokane, WA I always have to remind myself that there is more Slavonic than Greek there due to the large Ukrainian population in the parish lest I die of shock.

Same can be said for a fair amount of parishes across the US. It seems to be a trend that ethnic Arab parishes have an icon of St. Patrick of Ireland!

 

[kit]

Whenever I visit one side of the family in Spokane, WA I always have to remind myself that there is more Slavonic than Greek there due to the large Ukrainian population in the parish lest I die of shock.

Same can be said for a fair amount of parishes across the US. It seems to be a trend that ethnic Arab parishes have an icon of St. Patrick of Ireland!

It really does seem that in our lifetimes we are seeing an American Orthodox "ethnicity" take shape. That hackneyed melting pot motif. Sort of like what Lutheran Synods and Catholic parishes had occur a century ago.

 

[All4Christ]

Well let's face it, ROCOR is more specifically Russian. It makes a particular point about being Russian. It also really largely gave way to the OCA.

Yea, a lot of the ROCOR characteristics can be found in the OCA, though not the confession each time before communion and always baptism for converts.