Church etiquette
This guide is meant for personal reflection, not as a means of judging others. Keep in mind that there are different traditions among the Orthodox faithful. In Orthodoxy, there is a wider acceptance of individualized expressions of piety. Variations in behaviour with pious intent should not be confused with disrespectful behaviour. If you are uncertain about something, note the worshippers around you, or feel free to ask the priest.
Entering the church
When entering an Orthodox church, reverently make the sign of the Cross.
Continue through the narthex reverently and light your candle. Candles represent the light of Christ and the flame of the Holy Spirit. Candle-stands are in the narthex for your candle to burn.The faithful then venerate the icons. Note that icons of Christ, the Theotokos, our Patron Saint Catherine and the saints commemorated each day are offered for veneration.The Orthodox Church teaches that it is proper to venerate, not worship, icons. The acceptable way to do this is to kiss either the hands or feet of the saint depicted in the icon, or the scroll, the Gospel book, or the hand cross a saint is holding.
The faithful can then make their way into the nave (the main body of the church). In the Orthodox Church, seating is not reserved. The first pew on the left is sometimes reserved for families commemorating the passing of a loved one, while the first few rows on the right are reserved for the Sunday School students. These seats will have ‘reserved’ signs on them.
Try to be punctual
The Orthodox Divine Liturgy begins when the priest intones, “Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” We need to arrive early enough to receive this blessing. If you arrive during the service, please ensure you enter the church reverently. Try not to interrupt the Liturgy by your entrance.
Remain stationary in the narthex:
- If the Priest is facing the congregation
- If the Priest censes the congregation
- During the Small Entrance (Priest carries out the Holy Gospel)
- During the Great Entrance (Priest carries out the Holy Gifts)
- During the readings of the Epistle and the Gospel
- During Consecration of the Gifts
- During the Creed and the Lord’s Prayer
- During the sermon
Standing or sitting?
Traditionally, Orthodox Christians stand throughout the Divine Liturgy. For practical purposes, pews are provided for the faithful to rest at certain times. If you need to be seated during the service, feel free to do so. Try to stand at these times:
- When the Liturgy begins, and the priest gives the blessing;
- During the Small and Great Entrances
- When the priest is censing the icons and congregation
- During the Gospel reading
- During the recitation of the Creed and the Lord’s Prayer
- At the Anaphora
- For Holy Communion
- At the final Blessing
Receiving Holy Communion
Orthodox Christians are invited to receive Holy Communion if they are properly prepared. Please allow children to receive Holy Communion first. The Sunday School students and their teachers should follow them. All others who are prepared to do so may then approach the holy chalice. Please be very careful not to bump or push the priest offering Holy Communion so that the Body and Blood of Christ is not desecrated.
To avoid offense, please do not approach for Holy Communion if you are not Orthodox.
Pious customs and practices
In the Orthodox Church, there are many pious customs and traditions that are an important part of our worship.
- Crossing oneself - To a certain extent, when to cross oneself is according to personal piety, and not an issue of dogma. It is always appropriate to cross oneself at the mention of the Holy Trinity - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; whenever entering or leaving the church; at the beginning of the Liturgy; when passing in front of the altar; when venerating an icon, the Gospel, or the cross; and at times for personal petitions. It is not necessary to cross oneself when the priest is giving a blessing or censing the congregation. Instead, one should bow to receive the blessing. One should also not cross near the chalice, before or after receiving Holy Communion, as it is possible to hit the chalice with your hand.
- Bowing - Orthodox Christians bow to the priest at his blessing, censing the congregation and when he asks forgiveness before the Great Entrance and again before Holy Communion. It is traditional for the Orthodox faithful to bow and cross themselves when they enter and leave the church, and when they pray before the icons.
- Kneeling - There are times when kneeling or making a prostration is practiced in the Liturgy, the most notable being at the Consecration of the Holy Gifts. However, kneeling and prostration is prohibited during the Paschal season, from Pascha to Pentecost, in honour of the Resurrection.
- Touching the priest’s vestments - For some, it is a tradition to touch the hem of the priest’s vestment or phelonion as he passes by in the Great Entrance with the Holy Gifts. This custom imitates the woman who was healed by touching the hem of Christ’s robe. When touching the hem of the priest’s phelonion, one should be careful not to step in front of the procession, to pull or tug on the garment, or to push anyone away.
Children
Christ said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:14). It is possible for young children to remain in church throughout a service. Please be patient with them (and their parents!) if they become restless. It is difficult enough for parents to bring children to church. Do not make it more difficult by agitating children further. Eventually, children will be able to focus for longer periods during services. Help them learn that they are visiting God’s very special house, and they will need to have very special manners there. You will be surprised how quickly they can learn!
Respectful behaviours
Remember that you are in church to worship God. The priest says, “With the fear of God and faith and love, draw near.” Let this be the way you approach your worship.
- Refrain from socializing during the Liturgy - Save your greetings and conversations for after the service. We are in the Liturgy to greet God with our prayers and worship, not to distract others.
- Mobile devices – The use of mobile phones is never proper during the Liturgy. If you have a professional reason to carry one for emergencies, keep it on silent, and sit near the doors so that leaving for an emergency will not be a distraction to others. Otherwise, turn off your phone before entering the sanctuary.
- Lipstick – It is best not wear lipstick while taking Holy Communion, or when kissing the cross, an icon, the priest’s or bishop’s hand, or any sacred object.
- Church attire – Respectful attire is an important part of attending Orthodox services. Please be dressed respectfully and modestly so as to present yourself to God without being a distraction to others. Some women have the pious tradition of covering their heads. Hats should not be worn in church.
Receiving ‘antidoron’
It is customary to receive antidoron – “blessed bread” at the end of the Divine Liturgy. While antidoron is not Holy Communion, it is blessed bread, and as such should be eaten carefully so that crumbs do not fall. Both adults and children should always remember to treat and consume the antidoron with respect. Many faithful eat a portion of antidoron every morning as a blessing.
Greeting Orthodox clergy
It is not appropriate to merely shake the hand of an Orthodox clergyman. In the Orthodox tradition, the faithful usually take the bishop's or priest's right hand as though to shake it, but instead kiss it. We kiss his hand to honour the fact that his hand holds the Holy Gifts. If the Priest is holding the Gospel, Cross or other Holy Object, venerate the object first and then his hand.