288 East 10th Street, New York, NY 10009
P: (212)254-6685 E: info@stnicholaschurchnyc.org
Rev. Fr. William Bennett
Divine Liturgy: Sunday 10am
P: (212)254-6685 E: info@stnicholaschurchnyc.org
Rev. Fr. William Bennett
Divine Liturgy: Sunday 10am
First Visit to an Orthodox Church
WELCOME. If you are visiting St. Nicholas of Myra or any Eastern Orthodox Church for the first time, here is some information that may help you feel more at home.
What you see:
1. Icons - The murals and paintings you see on the walls are called icons. They depict Christ, the Virgin Mary, Saints and events in the Holy Scriptures and history of the church.
2. The Three Doors - in the front of
the church is a wall of icons separating the nave from the Sanctuary. This is
called the Iconostasis. The central door, in front of the altar, is called the
"Royal Doors."
3. Candles & Incense - Candles are used extensively throughout the church during services and after. The smoke from a lit candle is like prayers rising to Heaven carried in the smoke.
What you hear:
4. Music - Hymns, prayers and chanting in a capella harmony.
5. Liturgy - in both English and Slavonic. There is The Divine Liturgy book in the rack on the pew in
front of you. And a word of advice. If there's a longer way to say something, the Orthodox will find it. In Orthodox worship, more is always more, in every area including prayer. Imagine - the original Liturgy was over five hours.
6. Theotokos - Newcomers to experiencing Orthodoxy invariably wonder who is the "Theotokos"? She is the ever-Virgin Mary, Birthgiver to God of Word, Jesus Christ.
How the Faithful Participate:
6. Stand, Sit, Kneel - Many people say that there is quite a bit of movement during Divine Liturgy. Standing gets easier with practice.
7. Sign of the Cross - The Orthodox faithful cross themselves, a lot. We cross with our right hands from right to left, the opposite of Roman Catholics and high-church Protestants. We hold our hands in a prescribed way: thumb and first two fingertips pressed together, last two fingers pressed down to the palm.
8. Venerating - Orthodox Christians kiss everything - icons, chalice, cross, the priest's hand, etc. When
we talk about "venerating" something we usually mean crossing ourselves and kissing the item.
9. Communion - Eucharist - Only Orthodox Christians can partake in the Communion. We take the
Sacrament of the Eucharist very seriously. We believe it is truly the Body and Blood of Christ as spoke through the Scriptures. We prepare for Communion through prayer, confession and fasting. For this reason, not every Orthodox participates in the Eucharist each week.
What you see:
1. Icons - The murals and paintings you see on the walls are called icons. They depict Christ, the Virgin Mary, Saints and events in the Holy Scriptures and history of the church.
2. The Three Doors - in the front of
the church is a wall of icons separating the nave from the Sanctuary. This is
called the Iconostasis. The central door, in front of the altar, is called the
"Royal Doors."
3. Candles & Incense - Candles are used extensively throughout the church during services and after. The smoke from a lit candle is like prayers rising to Heaven carried in the smoke.
What you hear:
4. Music - Hymns, prayers and chanting in a capella harmony.
5. Liturgy - in both English and Slavonic. There is The Divine Liturgy book in the rack on the pew in
front of you. And a word of advice. If there's a longer way to say something, the Orthodox will find it. In Orthodox worship, more is always more, in every area including prayer. Imagine - the original Liturgy was over five hours.
6. Theotokos - Newcomers to experiencing Orthodoxy invariably wonder who is the "Theotokos"? She is the ever-Virgin Mary, Birthgiver to God of Word, Jesus Christ.
How the Faithful Participate:
6. Stand, Sit, Kneel - Many people say that there is quite a bit of movement during Divine Liturgy. Standing gets easier with practice.
7. Sign of the Cross - The Orthodox faithful cross themselves, a lot. We cross with our right hands from right to left, the opposite of Roman Catholics and high-church Protestants. We hold our hands in a prescribed way: thumb and first two fingertips pressed together, last two fingers pressed down to the palm.
8. Venerating - Orthodox Christians kiss everything - icons, chalice, cross, the priest's hand, etc. When
we talk about "venerating" something we usually mean crossing ourselves and kissing the item.
9. Communion - Eucharist - Only Orthodox Christians can partake in the Communion. We take the
Sacrament of the Eucharist very seriously. We believe it is truly the Body and Blood of Christ as spoke through the Scriptures. We prepare for Communion through prayer, confession and fasting. For this reason, not every Orthodox participates in the Eucharist each week.