First Orthodox Service

[Rusty T]

Well, I did it. I went to my first Orthodox service and it was so different, but felt so right. The closest Orthodox church is 2 hrs away, but I found an Orthodox monk who has a hermitage in the area. He is also an ordained priest and sometimes hosts Orthodox Christians for services. I've been speakin with him and corresponding and finally went for Holy Friday services. My wife asked me later what it was like - I said, 'Take every service we've ever been to in Pentecostal circles - and forget about them. It was like nothing I've ever been to." Now you have to understand I've never been to any liturgical-based church, so that in itself was different, but the atmosphere of the service was indescribable. It was dark and mysterious - candles and incense filled the place. The Icons on the walls constantly reminded me why I was there and who I was there to worship. If I found my mind wondering, I only had to glance at an Icon and quicky my mind was focused on the service.

Everything was chanted and sung - beautiful words and hymns. So much scripture was gone over I felt overwhelmed, but saturated. All-in-all it was wonderful. I wasn't in some beautiful cathedral, but in the small chapel of a run-down hermitage - but it was like I had stepped back in time several hundred years. It felt as if I was in the Middle East - with the Byzantine chants - and the foreign smells.

All I can say is I'm going back. I'm seriously considering converting. I've been reading voraciously and following Orthodox practice on fasting and prayer. I've never felt closer to God - but Lord, have mercy on me a sinner.

tizzi

[elysian]

Well, I did it. I went to my first Orthodox service and it was so different, but felt so right. The closest Orthodox church is 2 hrs away, but I found an Orthodox monk who has a hermitage in the area. He is also an ordained priest and sometimes hosts Orthodox Christians for services. I've been speakin with him and corresponding and finally went for Holy Friday services. My wife asked me later what it was like - I said, 'Take every service we've ever been to in Pentecostal circles - and forget about them. It was like nothing I've ever been to." Now you have to understand I've never been to any liturgical-based church, so that in itself was different, but the atmosphere of the service was indescribable. It was dark and mysterious - candles and incense filled the place. The Icons on the walls constantly reminded me why I was there and who I was there to worship. If I found my mind wondering, I only had to glance at an Icon and quicky my mind was focused on the service.

Everything was chanted and sung - beautiful words and hymns. So much scripture was gone over I felt overwhelmed, but saturated. All-in-all it was wonderful. I wasn't in some beautiful cathedral, but in the small chapel of a run-down hermitage - but it was like I had stepped back in time several hundred years. It felt as if I was in the Middle East - with the Byzantine chants - and the foreign smells.

All I can say is I'm going back. I'm seriously considering converting. I've been reading voraciously and following Orthodox practice on fasting and prayer. I've never felt closer to God - but Lord, have mercy on me a sinner.

tizzi

It sounds like a blessed experience: welcome to not only the beauty of the Orthodox Tradition (that I have only read about) but to the beauty of liturgical worship as well.

For those of us who are visually oriented, art enhances the experience of worship and puts our focus back on God when we find our minds wandering. It is NOT idolatry as some Protestant traditions claim or fear (sadly enough even some Lutheran churches were influenced by pietism movements to get rid of Crucifixes, statuary and other visual art :frown: ) The liturgy has a place for not just the visual arts but also for engaging all of the senses as we worship and we are served by God. We see the Crucifix (yes my church does have a Crucifix..) as well as the empty Cross- we also see the art in paintings, in icons, in stained glass. We hear the music- whether it be chants, bells or baroque/classical/traditional hymnody, or songs of praise with guitars, drums and keyboards. We touch the water in the font as we come forward for Communion, as we remember being claimed by God in Baptism. We taste the elements of bread and wine and ponder the great Mystery that is the Lord's Supper. We smell the incense (for us only on major holy days like Easter and Christmas Eve.)

Again, Tizz, I am so happy for you to have been able to have such an experience, and on Good Friday, no less. I am wondering if the Orthodox Good Friday service is similar to the traditional Tenebrae service (service of shadows) observed by RC's and most liturgical Protestants. Here's a description (http://www.kencollins.com/question-39.htm) of a Tenebrae service. (This guy is Methodist I think, but it's nearly identical to the format Lutherans- and RC's for that matter use.) If that is true then the Sunday liturgy is likely quite a bit different (and shorter) than the Good Friday service.

I hope you get to go to an Orthodox Sunday liturgy soon, and that you can clue us in on that too!

[Amazing Rando]

Well, I did it. I went to my first Orthodox service and it was so different, but felt so right. The closest Orthodox church is 2 hrs away, but I found an Orthodox monk who has a hermitage in the area. He is also an ordained priest and sometimes hosts Orthodox Christians for services. I've been speakin with him and corresponding and finally went for Holy Friday services. My wife asked me later what it was like - I said, 'Take every service we've ever been to in Pentecostal circles - and forget about them. It was like nothing I've ever been to." Now you have to understand I've never been to any liturgical-based church, so that in itself was different, but the atmosphere of the service was indescribable. It was dark and mysterious - candles and incense filled the place. The Icons on the walls constantly reminded me why I was there and who I was there to worship. If I found my mind wondering, I only had to glance at an Icon and quicky my mind was focused on the service.

Everything was chanted and sung - beautiful words and hymns. So much scripture was gone over I felt overwhelmed, but saturated. All-in-all it was wonderful. I wasn't in some beautiful cathedral, but in the small chapel of a run-down hermitage - but it was like I had stepped back in time several hundred years. It felt as if I was in the Middle East - with the Byzantine chants - and the foreign smells.

All I can say is I'm going back. I'm seriously considering converting. I've been reading voraciously and following Orthodox practice on fasting and prayer. I've never felt closer to God - but Lord, have mercy on me a sinner.

tizzi

That's awesome, Tizzi! If you've searched your heart and believe with all your soul that this is where God would have you worship, then by all means, dive in head first! No use fighting it if that's where you feel God's leading you. :smile: