Whether you’ve grown up in the Greek Orthodox church or you’re just starting to attend, you might be asking yourself, “Can anyone attend a Greek Orthodox church?” If you’re looking to start a new life of faith, or you’ve already been attending the church for years, you’ll want to make sure that your new church is as authentic as possible. Here are some things to keep in mind:
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Icons
During the Komnenian period (1081-1185) the cult of icons became popular in the Byzantine world. This practice is still in use today.
An icon is a visual representation of a saint or biblical event. It usually depicts Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, or a holy angel. These icons are meant to be spiritually uplifting and provide a witness to the truth of the Christian faith.
Many icons are also miracle working. They are believed to be created by God’s grace and prayed over by the saint in question. It is said that icons can give messages that cannot be conveyed through the written word.
An icon’s ability to convey theological and spiritual truth is the reason why they are considered an important part of the Orthodox faith. Many Orthodox Christians display icons in their homes. They are also placed in a special area of the church called an iconostasis. This is a room separated from the nave by a screen made of icons. The area in front of the screen is called the Solea. It is the place where most sacraments are performed. The Solea also contains a bishop’s throne and a pulpit.
Communion
Throughout the world, people are arguing about the Eucharist, a sacrament that is a central part of Orthodox life. The Greek Orthodox Church is under scrutiny for its method of communion.
Holy Communion originated at the Last Supper of Jesus Christ. In Orthodox tradition, the bread and wine used for the Eucharist are considered to be “symbols” of the body and blood of Christ.
The Orthodox Church encourages its members to receive the body and blood of Christ as frequently as possible. This is in line with the teachings of the saints and ancient practice of the Church.
During the Great Lent, Eucharistic liturgy is usually prohibited on weekdays. During that period, Orthodox Christians partake in confession and repentance. On certain feast days, the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is used.
Bowing and kneeling
Among the many different religions, kneeling and bowing are considered to be important. In the Bible, Moses and Aaron fell facedown before the Lord to pray.
The Orthodox Church has canons about bowing and kneeling. These canons are included in the Church Typicon and are listed in the books of divine services. While the orthodox do not kneel as prayer postures, bowing is often performed during certain services.
The first prayer of Vespers mentions kneeling. The Mozarabic Breviary also has a set of kneeling prayers.
There are a few exceptions to the prohibition on kneeling and bowing on Sundays. These include the day of Pentecost and the days of the major feasts. For instance, kneeling and prostrations are not prohibited on the Third Sunday of Great Lent. However, a clerical sermon is necessary to teach the faithful the proper conduct.
Kissing the bishop’s or priest’s hand
Greeting a clergy member is a very simple act of respect. They are servants of God and work tirelessly to help save the souls of the flock. During your visit to a Greek Orthodox Church, you should greet the clergy with respect and reverence. This can be done by bowing down and saying “Master, bless.”
Greeting a clergy member is a way to honor the Priesthood. They are icons of Christ. Priests bestow special sanctity on Christians. They offer Holy Gifts during Divine Liturgy. They handle the Blood of our Lord. They prepare the Holy Communion. The laying on of hands dates back to the Apostles in the Orthodox Church.
The proper way to greet a bishop or priest is to bow down, make a sign of the cross, and ask for a blessing. You can also kiss their hand.
Standing up, stand up for Jesus
Traditionally, Orthodox Christians stand during the Church services. This practice symbolizes the spiritual service of the Church in the Old Testament. In addition, this practice is functionally similar to Muslims, who also stand during prayer.
Standing during church services is not an offense. However, if you’re going to stand during the services, make sure you are standing during the Gospel reading and the end of the service. Also, make sure you stand during the Anaphora. This is when the priest gives you a blessing. If you’re not standing during the prayer, you are likely causing confusion to people in the congregation.
In addition to the Gospel reading, the Greek Orthodox Church also has a custom of a homily at the end of the service. This is because the Greek Orthodox Church believes that all the books of the Bible are profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness.
