Getting involved in a local church can be one of the most spiritually fulfilling experiences you can have, especially if you’re interested in joining the Greek Orthodox Church. Fortunately, there are many ways to get started. This article will help you understand what you need to do in order to become a part of this wonderful community.
Baptism
Getting baptized is one of the most important steps in converting to the Greek Orthodox Church. It is a rite of passage which gives the newly baptized a membership in the Kingdom of Heaven. The process is often referred to as personal Pentecost.
The Orthodox Church believes that young people are important members of the Church. They are viewed as the children of God, and they are given the opportunity to learn about the faith and participate in the sacramental life of the Church. In order to do so, they are required to attend classes and take part in the sacrament of baptism.
The Orthodox Church believes that baptism is a rite of passage and should be undertaken by all members of the Church. Those who wish to participate in the Orthodox Church should make arrangements well in advance of their baptism.
Besides baptism, adults who wish to be members of the Church should also take the time to participate in the sacrament of chrismation. During chrismation, a person receives the Holy Spirit.
Iconostasis
Symbolism plays a large role in the icons of Greek Orthodox churches. Many of the icons were created with the intercessory prayers of saints. The icons are arranged on the Iconostasis in elaborate patterns. The icons are numbered from 1-12.
The icons vary in size and shape. Some are small while others are large. The number of icons on an Iconostasis varies by the size of the church and the nature of the screen.
The iconostasis of the Eastern Orthodox Church is usually divided into three areas. These are the Royal Doors, the Holy Doors, and the Deacon’s Doors. The Royal Doors are the central doors of the iconostasis. These doors are where the Holy Eucharist is celebrated. The icons of the four evangelis are set over these doors. The Annunciation to the Most Holy Theotokos is also placed at the center of the Holy Doors.
The Holy Cross is placed at the top of the Iconostasis. This represents salvation. The deacons’ doors, or angel doors, are the doors to the sanctuary. The inscription, “Deacon’s Doors,” means that only deacons are allowed to enter the sanctuary behind the iconostasis.
Communion with everyone else
During the Greek Orthodox liturgical service, the congregants line up to receive the priest’s blessing. During this time, each individual in the congregant group should kiss the hand of the priest holding the cross. This gesture is meant to honor the fact that the hand holds Holy Gifts.
The priest then blesses each individual by name. Then he distributes the antidoron, or blessed bread. The antidoron is a round loaf of bread imprinted with the church’s seal. The remainder of the bread is cut and placed in a large basket.
The Orthodox church treats the Eucharist with more piety than other churches. It is believed that the Eucharist is the nuptial chamber where the marriage of Christ and His Church is consummated. It is also considered a holy sacrament because it signifies a commitment to a worshipping community.
The Orthodox Church also has several other pious traditions. One example is the Matins service, which is usually an hour long. The service consists of prayers and readings.
Conversion to Orthodoxy
Getting baptized into Orthodoxy is not a routine procedure. It requires a lifetime commitment. If you are not ready for this, stay away from Orthodoxy. However, if you are active in the Church, you may want to consider it.
In the mid-1980s, a small stream of evangelical Protestants began to convert to Orthodoxy. These converts were motivated by a desire for historical roots, an interest in mystery and a non-fundamentalist approach to faith. The majority of these converts were from the core 20 percent of former Protestant churches.
Many of these converts are young men who are looking for a traditional approach to worship. They are also interested in doctrinal conservatism. They are also looking for a way to escape modern Christianity.
They are also looking for something different on Sundays. They are seeking a way to escape megachurch Christianity and mainline Protestantism.
A former leader of Campus Crusade for Christ, Peter Gillquist, was one of the leaders of this group. Gillquist was confirmed into the Antiochian Orthodox Church along with 200 evangelicals.
