The Orthodox Church

The Orthodox Church, with its history that dates back to the origin of Christianity, is rich in tradition and the beauty of its ritual. The roots of Orthodoxy are traced to the original teachings of Christ during His days on earth. Its ritual adheres to the tenets established by the Twelve Apostles and the early meetings of the hierarchy in Ecumenical Councils.

The strength of the Orthodox Church is shown by its survival through many periods of persecution and its subsequent growth through the centuries. It is a faith of divine beauty in which the worshipers find tranquillity in the prayers, solace in the ritual, and inspiration in the music.

The Gospel of Christ was first preached and practiced in the lands surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. It was in these eastern regions of the old Roman Empire that the Christian faith matured in her struggle against paganism and heresy. The Good News of Christ was intended for all mankind. "Go forth and teach all nations" was the mandate of Christ. St. Paul, the "apostle to the nations", established the Christian Church in Greece. The church he founded still exists today and is known as the Greek Orthodox Church.

The first Greek Orthodox arrived in the New World in 1768, establishing a colony near the present city of St. Augustine, Florida. One of the buildings in which these immigrants gathered for worship is still standing. It has been dedicated as the St. Photius Shrine by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. The Shrine, named for a great missionary of the Orthodox Church, honors those first Orthodox immigrants. It also bears witness to the presence of Orthodoxy in America from the earliest days of its history. The next group of Orthodox Christians were Russian Orthodox missionaries who established a mission on Kodiak Island, Alaska, in 1794.

From time to time questions arise about the Orthodox Church and our Liturgy. Here is a brief explanation:
The first thing you may notice is that most or all of the people are standing. In the beginning, Christians stood rather than sat because this has always been the preferred posture for prayer. Through the years, as churches evolved, some have added seating. In the Orthodox tradition, the faithful stand through most of the worship service. In fact, many Orthodox Churches only will have enough seating for the infirm and elderly.

A close second of things noticed, is the appearance of the Priest and the place of worship. Everything from the music to the sweet smell of incense to the beautiful icons adorning the walls is meant to bring us closer to God. Everything you may see, hear, taste, feel, and smell has a time-honored meaning and a purpose in the Service. Since God wants us to offer our entire being to Him in worship and service, every one of our senses are also asked to participate in heavenly worship.

During the course of the service, an Orthodox Christian will make the sign of the cross MANY times. These are usually when the Trinity (The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) or the Theotokos (The Mother of God) are mentioned, or after venerating (kissing) an icon. As with almost everything, there is a special way to do it. We use our right hand with the thumb, index finger, and middle finger pressed together to represent the Trinity, and the last two fingers pressed to the palm. They represent the two natures of Jesus - fully God and fully Man. The cross is made by touching the forehead, chest, right shoulder and left shoulder and ending up over the heart. Some Orthodox Churches (notably the Russian Orthodox) even bow slightly.

The kiss is another action firmly rooted in Orthodoxy. When we enter into the church, it is customary to venerate or kiss the icon near the door (and any others you would like to). This shows love and respect as does a kiss on the cheek (and sometimes BOTH cheeks) when greeted. You will also see the faithful kiss the Priest's right hand from time to time. This, too, is an act of veneration. The people are venerating the High Priesthood of Christ, of which the parish priest is simply a participant in. None of this kissing or veneration should be confused with worship. Orthodox Christians worship only God.

During the last part of the Liturgy, after the Sermon, the priest prepares Communion. In order to take Communion, you must be Orthodox.. Which branch of the Orthodox Church you belong to is immaterial. You simply have to have been Baptized and Chrismated. The bread for the Communion is specially baked by a parishioner. It is a simple recipe, but just prior to baking, it is impressed with a special seal. During preparation before the liturgy, the priest cuts out a section of the seal and sets it aside. This portion is called the "Lamb".

During the Liturgy it is consecrated as the Body of Christ and the wine is also consecrated as the Blood of Christ. These are combined and when communion is taken, the Priest places in our mouth a small portion of both wine and bread. After Communion is received, we file by an Alter Server who is holding a basket with the remainder of the loaf of bread, which has been cut into pieces and blessed.

Another thing you will notice is the music. These melodies have come down virtually unaltered since the beginning of Christianity and have not lost any of their beauty. The congregation sings some of them, and the Chanter and Choir sing the rest. By the end of the Liturgy, some of the responses that are sung will be familiar enough for you to join in. Don't be afraid; everyone is encouraged to sing. God gave you the voice you have and it is sweet music to His ears.

Most of the service will take place at the Altar, which is behind the iconostasis, or wall of Icons. This wall has three doorways. Only the Priest or a Deacon bearing the Eucharist is permitted to use the opening in the center. All others who enter the Altar area use the 'Deacon Doors' which are on either side. Only those who have a special function within the Service are permitted into the altar, and only after receiving a special blessing.

Another attribute of the Orthodox worship is that it is long. The original Liturgy was said to have lasted over five hours. Today, the Divine Liturgy will last about an hour and a half most Sundays. Before the Liturgy, however, is Orthros and before that, the Priest must prepare the "Lamb" (from the bread) and his service of preparation also includes prayers while putting on his vestments. By the time you arrive (no, you're not late), the Priest has already been in the Altar for about an hour and a half.

One of the core beliefs of the Orthodox faith has to do with the Theotokos, or Mother of God. Since she was the way that God became Man, she holds a special place in our faith. When we pray "Holy Theotokos, save us", we are asking that she intercede for us, or carry our prayers to her Son, Jesus with motherly boldness. Because of her sanctity and special place in the life of her Son, her prayers and intercessions on our behalf are especially powerful.

Another thing you may want to be aware of is how we address our Priest and his wife. The priest is not greeted with a handshake, but we ask him for a blessing. It is Jesus who blesses us through His priests. He is also addressed by his first name alone. For example, we address our priest as Father Theodore. The wife of the priest also is held in high regard and given the title of Presbytera. If you attend other Orthodox Churches, you may hear the Priest's wife referred to as Matushka (Russian) or Khouria (Arabic).

Since its beginnings, the Orthodox Church has welcomed people from all walks of life. One thing that you will notice as you go to different Orthodox Churches is the unity we share. While differences in language, music and architecture may exist, you will notice that the faith, theology and holy Services are identical.