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Today, more and more people decide to attend church. Of course this is very good. After all, the increase in the number of parishioners indicates to us nothing other than the strengthening of the Orthodox faith. When starting to attend church, not all people know how to behave in church. In this article we will tell you in detail how to properly visit an Orthodox church for the first time and what you need to do in it.
General rules of conduct in church
The church charter is a huge collection of rules to which clergy and Christians who visit the temple are subject. In the Orthodox world these dogmas are revered in a special way. For novice parishioners, there is even a Sunday school that teaches how to behave correctly as a churchgoer.
General rules of conduct in church
Appearance
Going to church is an important event for any Christian believer. The Temple of the Lord does not accept frivolity or a condescending attitude, and therefore, before going there, one must bring oneself into a form that complies with the regulations. For women and men, the rules are significantly different, but absolutely all parishioners must have a cross on their body, given to them at baptism. It is worth remembering that church is not a place for entertainment or dating, and therefore you need to look modest.
Rules for women
According to church canons, women are allowed to enter the temple only with their heads covered and in long skirts or dresses. During services they occupy the left side of the parish, and during monthly allocations they stand closer to the door, not approaching the altar. The same rule applies to those who have recently given birth. They are allowed to attend church only on the 40th day after giving birth, when the priest will read a cleansing prayer over them. Orthodox dogma prohibits women from:
- wear clothes that are too short or tight;
- wear revealing dresses that excessively expose the body (including a deep neckline);
- do bright, provocative makeup;
- use strong perfume.
Rules for men
The church is more lenient towards the stronger sex, but there are also restrictions for men:
- Before entering the temple, you must remove your headdress;
- clothing must be neat and clean;
- It is not allowed to wear a robe or tracksuit;
- the face should be thoroughly shaved;
- several hours before attending church you should not drink alcohol or smoke.
Men tend to occupy the right side of the ward. Similarly to women, they must behave respectfully, modestly, not talk loudly, and not disturb other parishioners.
Bows and sign of the cross
In front of the main gate of the temple, it is customary to make the sign of the cross followed by bowing the head. The same is done inside the church if there is a service. All actions are performed by parishioners synchronously at certain moments of the service:
- while singing the glory of Jesus Christ or the Holy Trinity;
- when proclaiming the phrases: “Lord, have mercy” and “Give, Lord”;
- at the end of the ceremony.
Rules for making the sign of the cross
When starting a prayer, finishing it, lighting a candle or approaching holy images, it is also necessary to cross yourself and bow. In this case, the action is performed slowly, thoughtfully, following certain rules:
- cross themselves with their right hand;
- the hand is folded into three fingers, connecting the first three fingers together;
- movements are made from right to left;
- first they touch the forehead, then the navel, and end with the right and left shoulders;
- Having completed the sign of the cross, they bow from the waist.
You need to bow only after the hand has completely lowered, so as not to break the cross being created on the body.
Author's advice
Appeals to priests and laity
It is customary to behave quietly in church, but sometimes there is a need to communicate with other parishioners or the priest. This can be done in a low voice, maintaining a respectful intonation. If someone else's shortcoming is noticed, you cannot ridicule or humiliate the person. You should approach him and delicately point out the error.
Temple servants are addressed according to their rank. During the greeting, the church charter does not allow a handshake from the side, but you can bow your head and put your lips to the right hand of the holy father. It is also strictly forbidden to interrupt the priest from worship or prayer. You should wait until the end of the ceremony and then make your request.
Is it necessary to come to the Liturgy on an empty stomach, even if you do not receive communion?
The custom of coming to the Divine Liturgy on an empty stomach goes back to ancient times - to the first centuries of Christianity. Then the believers partook of the Holy Mysteries of Christ at every Liturgy. In fact, the deep meaning of participation in the Eucharist is precisely the communion of each of us with the Body and Blood of Christ. This is why this great Sacrament is served. But, of course, for a worldly person and especially a family person, this is almost impossible at every Liturgy. And yet we must strive to receive communion more than the required minimum (four times a year - during Lent), because the Body and Blood of Christ have enormous power. They burn away our sins and infuse life into us, connecting us with God. One could even probably say that it is in the Sacrament of Communion that the rebirth and resurrection of a person takes place!
The custom of not eating or drinking anything before the Divine Liturgy still remains, even if you do not receive communion. After all, in the temple you can drink holy water, eat a prosphora or antidor. These holy items are also consumed with specific prayer on an empty stomach.
Moreover, experience shows that it is quite difficult to pray to God with a full belly. I even know one sexton who ate heavily before the all-night vigil and was barely able to finish reading the Six Psalms in the morning.
But, of course, cases in life can be different. There are certain categories of people who need to eat: ulcer sufferers, diabetics, pregnant women and nursing mothers. There are hypertensive crises when you need to take a pill in the morning to get to the temple for worship. For example, if such a person wants to take communion (and he is unable to stand through the entire Liturgy on an empty stomach), then he can ask the priest, and the priest will confess him before the service and give him communion with the spare Gifts, and then he can calmly eat and stand through the Liturgy.
But there is also a “slippery” moment here. You need to learn to look into yourself and understand when you are really sick, and when you are simply amusing and pampering your loved one, hiding behind a loophole of relief.
In general, even if a person does not receive communion, it is still advisable to come to the Divine Liturgy on an empty stomach. After all, this also involves your personally completely feasible sacrifice to God. When you, like a candle, both spiritually and physically, like a hollow vessel, stand before God, not burdened by earthly thoughts or the need to digest food at the moment. And the grace of the Holy Spirit flows freely into you without hindrance...
How to venerate icons
Just coming to church and venerating the holy image is not enough. In Orthodoxy there is a whole ceremony of applying to the divine faces:
- approaching the icon, they make the sign of the cross twice;
- they are applied with their lips to the lower corner of the shrine;
- at the end, they cross themselves again and move away, so as not to delay the queue of those wishing to touch the image.
However, there are icons that are exceptions to the generally accepted rules:
- waist - kiss the hand of the saint;
- crucified Christ - kissed at the feet of the Savior;
- miraculous images - hair is revered.
A woman should have her head covered in the temple
Candles for health are usually placed in any candlesticks.
Reverence before the holy image
Dressing correctly
Men should enter the temple with their heads uncovered, which is a sign of reverence and humility before the Lord. Married Christian women always wore headscarves, which was an indicator of the husband's power to which they were subordinate. But in the temple, the pious tradition applies to all female representatives, so wearing headscarves is mandatory for unmarried women as well. If for some reason a parishioner finds herself without a headdress, you should contact the worker in the shop - all churches have special shawls and scarves for visitors. It is acceptable to wear a hat, beret or other headdress in church.
You cannot come to a holy place in dirty clothes or drunk. Every parishioner must wear a pectoral cross and wear appropriate attire for the holiday. Short skirts, extravagant T-shirts or shorts are inappropriate. No one will make a comment if a woman comes wearing trousers, although it is advisable to look festive and gender-appropriate for Christmas.
How to pray correctly
The main rule when reading a prayer book is to understand the essence of what is written. To do this, priests recommend going to church more often and attending services. It is best if it is a liturgy. During the rite, it is necessary to carefully observe the priest, listen to his speeches, and repeat the signs of the cross or bows after him.
If there is a need to light a candle and pray yourself, you need to wait until the end of the service. You can turn to any holy image. The prayer is usually recited by heart, but beginners are allowed to write down the words on a piece of paper. It is also allowed to read texts from the Holy Scriptures.
Rules of Church Relations
When meeting with a priest, you should take his blessing and then start a conversation. At subsequent meetings with him on this day, there is no need to take a blessing. Also, when saying goodbye to a priest after a long conversation with him or a common matter, it is customary to take a blessing.
When contacting a priest by phone, you need to start the conversation by asking for a blessing with the words: “Father, bless” or “Father (name), bless.”
When meeting laypeople, three times a Christian kiss or mutual bow is customary. The usual church greeting on holidays: “Happy Holidays!” Entering the house: “Peace to this house.” Answer: “We accept in peace.” Wishes for the journey, for the journey: “Guardian Angel!”, “God bless you!”, “Mother of God bless you!” An accepted wish for those eating food: “An angel at the meal!” Answer: “Invisibly to come.” For service, attention, help, as well as for refreshments, it is customary to thank with the words: “God bless!”, to which they usually answer: “For the glory of God!”
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Rules during worship
Any sacred ceremony takes place strictly according to established canons and has a certain ceremony. Interfering with its order, let alone interrupting it, is strictly prohibited. Behavior during any church service should not violate the rules:
- turn off or put your mobile phone on silent mode;
- do not distract other parishioners from prayer;
- perform worship while standing on your feet, preferably in one place;
- if you came with a small child and he cried, leave the temple to calm him down;
- on Sundays and church holidays, replace the usual bows with bows;
- pass the lit candle over your left shoulder;
- During the priest’s speeches, fold your hands into a boat and lower your head.
During services, men are on the right side of the hall, and women are on the left.
The phone needs to be put on silent mode
Let's sign ourselves with the sign of the cross
For those who are going to church for the first time, you should know: the sign of the cross is performed with the right hand. To do this, you need to put three fingers together, and press the little finger and ring finger to the palm. Fingers placed together symbolize faith in the Holy Trinity. And those bent and pressed to the palm confirm that Christ is Lord and at the same time a man.
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The sign of the cross begins from the forehead. In this way we seem to sanctify our thoughts. The second point of the sign of the cross is the abdomen, the solar plexus area. This is how we sanctify our feelings. Next, we move to the right and then the left shoulder, as if asking the Lord for strength to do good deeds. Having performed the sign, one should bow to the waist.
Communion rules
According to the rules, the Sacrament of the Eucharist must be celebrated every Sunday and on church holidays. Only those parishioners who went through Confession the day before and then listened to a prayer of permission are allowed to participate in the ritual. Only children under 7 years of age have the right to receive communion without prior preparation. It is recommended that children be introduced to the Orthodox charter from the first months of life, immediately after baptism.
Before Communion, it is necessary to resolve all conflicts and make peace with family and friends. Starting in the evening, it is not allowed to drink, eat, smoke, swear, or drink alcohol. Men celebrate the Eucharist first, women follow, and children come last. While standing in line to see the priest, you must not talk or discuss other parishioners. The sacrament goes as follows:
- first they approach the Bowl of Gifts, standing in the prescribed line;
- Having tasted the Blood and Flesh of the Savior, they apply their lips to the Holy Relic;
- they kiss the Cross that the priest is holding;
- sign themselves with the sign of the cross, and then step aside so as not to disturb other believers.
The Temple of the Lord does not accept frivolity or a condescending attitude.
The Church Charter was invented for a reason. Every action carried out in the Temple of the Lord is dedicated to the Almighty. All prayers, signs of the cross and bows are designed to draw the Creator’s attention to His children. That is why it is so important to respect the established Orthodox canons without violating unshakable dogmas.
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When not to go to church
The question of when not to go to church interests mainly women. There is an opinion that during menstruation, a woman should not cross the threshold of the temple. Church ministers confirm this rule. And, they explain it, in accordance with the teachings of Christ. According to church canons, when receiving communion, a person tastes the flesh and blood of Christ, and becomes sacred at the moment of union with shrines. And, in a woman, this holy blood immediately flows out, the priests consider this unacceptable. Therefore, it is forbidden for a woman to receive communion during her period. And, at the same time, it is not recommended to come to the temple.
Another question that interests women is when can they go to church during pregnancy. The Church considers pregnancy and the child inside the mother to be blessed by God, a sacred miracle, and does not impose any ban on prayers or presence in church. On the contrary, he calls on pregnant women to pray to the Mother of God, and to the saints who protect mother and child.
What time should I come to church?
In the church, there are absolutely no restrictions on the time of visiting temples. The church is open from the morning, from the moment the matins begin, until the evening. At night, visiting the temple is not encouraged, because the temple is an institution like any other. You need to understand the difference between communication with God, which you can have constantly, and visiting a temple, where there are certain hours for visiting. At night, churches are open on holidays, for example, Christmas, Epiphany. At any time when you can go to church, you will come for prayer, and do everything that is necessary. And at night, church ministers sleep, just like any other person.
Sometimes it happens that a person’s soul is drawn to church, but many are not familiar with the basics of Orthodoxy and do not know how to behave in church. But the temple of God is open to everyone.
An Orthodox Christian, first of all, needs precisely the desire for faith and the awareness of what a person receives through faith: the immutable true and perfect benefits of spiritual communion with God and eternal life. The essence of prayer is filling the mind and heart with the highest, giving knowledge of God.
In addition to personal prayer, all Orthodox believers need prayer in the Temple during Divine services.
Church Receptions
In the practice of the Orthodox Church, the organization of ceremonial receptions is accepted. They are usually held during major Orthodox holidays. The buffet does not require seating and lasts no more than two hours. Guests serve themselves.
But for a festive lunch or dinner, invitations are sent out in advance. It is always customary to begin meals with common prayer. Greeting speeches are usually exchanged between only two people: the host of the celebration and the main guest.
The rules of good manners do not approve of the appearance of a lady in a trouser suit, but it is acceptable to come to a celebration without a headdress. You can only take bread with your hands: break it off into small pieces.
Fruits are cut into small slices; they cannot be bitten off. Don't eat off the knife; Do not use a spoon where a fork is intended. If a cutlery falls, there is no need to look for it and pick it up. Just ask for a new one. Don't get carried away with strong drinks.
If there is a toast addressed to the patriarch, it is customary to end it with the words: “Many years to come!” The person who made such a toast approaches the Holy One with a glass in his hand, clinks his glass, and then kisses the hand of the church representative.
How should you leave the temple?
When leaving God's house, you should cross yourself in front of its main entrance.
In this case, the thoughts with which you left the temple will be very important. Try to take it out of the church and keep within yourself for as long as possible the bliss that you received.
The ideal end result is one in which a person enters the church one way and leaves completely different. Most likely, this will not be achieved immediately, but it is imperative to strive for the ideal.
On the way home, remember what was sung at the liturgy; think about the meaning of the words spoken there. You should not take seriously the instructions that elderly parishioners love to give out.
This may concern the rules of the procedure for placing candles or the correct reading of the prayer. However, if the words spoken are friendly and do not offend you in any way, this can even be beneficial.
