More questions from me

[Loukuss]

OK, what is the Divine Liturgy?

There is a greek orthodox church I am thinking of going to tomorrow morning. I'm not greek. How awkwards could this be?

Thanks,

Lucas

[Happy Orthodox]

Better find out if the service is in English, otherwise you'll be lost. But you could probably still look at the iconography... :D

Check this out before you go: http://www.frederica.com/12-things/

During service you don't have to do anything. Just stand (or sit) in the back and observe. During service there's not much talking, so, don't think that people are unwelcome if they don't answer your questions. All questions and talks are for the coffee hour (mmmm foooood.... Greeeek fooood... *streches her hands and follows the hypnotizing smell*). Yes, the food's great.

Just relax and try to hear what the priest and the choir is saying/singing. Pray, humble yourself.

Orthodox Church building is actually a different dimention, it is a peice of Heaven. When you cross the doorstep, you enter Paradise, and leave earth with all its cares. You are standing before the very Throne of God with reverence and awe. The people and the Priest are participating in the worship that Angels offer to God eternally, and all parts of the Orthodox service reflect that. There is a different time there, it's not linear, it's eternal, Heavenly time. Lots of repetitions kinda make you understand that better. It might feel a bit formal, but that is to the fleshly eye. The service is full of reverence toward the Most High Whom we gathered to worship in communion, it is full of humility. You cannot grasp the Liturgy from the first visit. As one Orthodox deacon put it, Orthodoxy is a religion for grown-ups spiritually. So, as you progress in your faith, things start to be revealed to you in more depth, at their own pace, however God permits. After a few times of visiting you will start to understand a lot more by God's grace. That's how everything goes in Orthodoxy :)

I would suggest visiting the archives here: www.ourlifeinchrist.com (http://www.ourlifeinchrist.com) They have their last programms on the Liturgy. Each show is 1 hour long.

God bless!

[Jacob4707]

Here is a lengthy article about the Divine Liturgy:

http://www.goarch.org/en/ourfaith/articles/article7117.asp

and here is the text of the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, the one used most Sundays (I think about 10 Sundays a year they use the Liturgy of St. Basil):

http://www.goarch.org/en/Chapel/liturgical_texts/liturgy_hchc.asp
(http://www.goarch.org/en/multimedia/audio/liturgy.asp#lit)

[Loukuss]

Thanks guys!

I appreciate it.

I'm excited for tomorrow morn!:clap:

[Happy Orthodox]

Hey, Lucas, do you have any updates? How did it go?

[Shubunkin]

oh, I can't wait to hear of the experience! :)

[DonVA]

Same here! Maybe he's still there? :D

[MariaRegina]

He talks of his first Divine Liturgy experience here:

http://www.christianforums.com/t3778751-ok-im-back-again.html

[OnTheWay]

I don't know, the Greek Church usually has the worst rep for being ulta-ethnic. My personal experience with the Greek parish in Seattle has been the exact opposite though. I'd recommend calling the priest and speaking with him about it.

[repentant]

Greek Church is not ultra ethnic...nothing wrong with using the original language..;)

[irishseventysix]

I don't know, the Greek Church usually has the worst rep for being ulta-ethnic. My personal experience with the Greek parish in Seattle has been the exact opposite though. I'd recommend calling the priest and speaking with him about it.
We're a Greek parish and we're at least 80% converts. Some of us were Prots, some RCC, some Jews. We have Russians, Romanians, Serbians, and Lebanese at our parish, too. Of course, we're a mission parish in Portland, OR, and we've only been around 8 years.

The other Greek church in town is very ethnic, with probably the reverse true of its demographics (20% converts, 80% cradle).