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10
I’m back!
Although I didn’t get chance to see an Orthodox Sunday service (unfortunately), I did get to see a lot of Churches and Museums.
One thing that struck me straight away after walking in all of the Churches were the icons. Huge dark paintings on the walls, 15th Century Byzantine artwork, and lots of different saints. Every church seemed to have at least one picture of Mary, and all the bigger ones had all the 12 Apostles, with the islands saint in a prominent place.
They like silver and gold. I mean they really like silver and gold. Everything from the candleholders, to the communion cup and spoon, and the incense burners and the chandeliers. It seems they really do believe in building something for the glory of God in a very ‘in-your-face’ way.
They seem to be stuck in the 15th/16th Century in terms of the artwork, decorations and priests dress. Older is definitely better in their mind. The only modern addition would be the chairs, which still are in an old style. Even the icons painted on wood were chipped and fading after the years of wear and tear.
I’ve just checked through peoples responses and thought I’d answer all the questions I can find as best I can:
How long are the services?
They have different lengths, but I never managed to observe one.
Do you have to stand the whole time?
Judging by the lack of chairs, yes. Though I’m sure you’d be able to sit down if there’s a chair available.
Do they have pews/chairs?
None of the churches I visited had pews, or even seemed to ever have any. Lots of open floor space and chairs are few and far between, usually to the sides or in the middle. I’m sure there weren’t enough chairs for the amount of people coming.
What was the sermon/homily like?
Not sure, wasn’t there!
How well attended was it?
Having not seen a Sunday service, I’m not sure how well attended it is. Though through the week there are always a few people in whenever the church is open, praying and worshiping.
Does the bread get put in the wine?
Well there wasn’t a plate for the bread, and I’ve heard that the square (?) bits of bread get put in the wine cup and are served with the spoon. Killing two birds with one stone.
Do they use a spoon for communion?
Yes, and a very shiny spoon it is!
Are only Eastern Orthodox members allowed communion?
I didn’t get to observe communion, though I’ve heard that only Eastern Orthodox can take communion.
Do they worship the icons?
It’s complicated, really. The icons themselves seem to be worshipped, though anyone Eastern Orthodox would deny they worship the icons. Instead it seems they represent what they are, but to pray to/worship the icon is to worship what they represent. I think.
Overall it was a great experience and would definitely like to see a service for myself. I’m just wondering whether I’d sit out and watch or take part!
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Theologica
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“Instead it seems they represent what they are, but to pray to/worship the icon is to worship what they represent. I think.”
Interesting…I’m not on a campaign or anything, but I did look up the definition of an idol in Webster’s:
1: a representation or symbol of an object of worship; broadly : a false god
2 a: a likeness of something
Just in the spirit of theological debate….if God expressly forbade idol worship…even of representations of himself in the Bible, then I think that simply stating that that is not what you are doing, (even it matches the definition exactly) is not enough.
On the other hand, since most of those laws are OT, perhaps our freedom in Christ in the NT allows that kind of expression…
I’m not sure….
Chad,
I hear you, ‘Im not sure’ either. I know a little of the history behind the use of icons in worship, which were banned by one pope (I think it was Leo X?) and then 100 years later icons were accepted again. This happened before the schism between Eastern Orthodoxy and Catholicism. In the end I think my position on it has become respectful towards the idea around others who believe in using icons, but I wouldn’t do the icon thing myself. In other words, I don’t believe it’s an essential for salvation or orthodoxy.
- Ben