Orthodox Christian Worship

O Come, let us Worship and bow down before our King and God.
O Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ, our King and God.
O Come, let us worship and bow down to Christ Himself, our King and God.

This invitation marks the beginning of each day for the Orthodox Christian Church. It comes from the office of Vespers, and it expresses the attitude which is at the heart of Orthodox Christianity. The Worship of God - the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, - is fundamental to the life and spirit of the Orthodox Christian Church.

Since worship is so important to Orthodox Christianity, the best introduction to the Church is to attend one of the services. 

Dimensions Of Worship

Worship is an experience which involved the entire Church. When each of us comes together for worship, we do so as members of a Church which transcends the boundaries of society, time, and space. Although we gather at a particular moment and at a particular place, our actions reach beyond the parish, into the very Kingdom of God. We worship in the company of both the living and the departed faithful.

There are two dimensions to Orthodox Christian worship which are reflected throughout the many services of the Church. First, Worship is a manifestation of God's presence and action in the midst of His people. It is God who gathers His scattered people together, and it is He who reveals Himself as we enter into His presence. The worship of the Orthodox Christian Church very vividly expresses the truth that God dwells among His people and that we are created to share in His life.

Second, worship is our corporate response of thanksgiving to the presence of God and a remembrance of His saving actions - especially the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Orthodox Christian worship is centered upon God. He has acted in history, and He continues to act through the Holy Spirit. We are mindful of His actions and we respond to His love with praise and thanksgiving. In so doing we come closer to God.

Characteristics

Worship is not simply expressed in words. In addition to prayers, hymns, and scripture readings, there are a number of ceremonies, gestures, and processions. The Church makes rich use of non verbal symbols to express God's presence and our relationship to Him. Orthodoxy Christian worship involves the whole person; one's mind, body, and spirit.

Services in the Orthodox Christian Church follow a prescribed order. There is a framework and design to our worship. This is valuable in order to preserve its corporate dimension and maintain a continuity with the past. The content of the services is also set. There are unchanging elements; and there are parts which change according to the Feast, season, or particular circumstance. The regulating of the services by the whole Church emphasizes the fact that worship is an expression of the entire Church, and not the composition on a particular priest and congregation.

An important secondary purpose of Worship is the teaching of the Faith. There is a very close relationship between the worship and the teachings of the Church. Faith is expressed in worship, and worship serves to strengthen and communicate faith. As a consequence, the prayers, hymns, and liturgical gestures of Orthodox Christianity are important mediums of teaching. The regulating of the services also serves to preserve the true faith and to guard it against error.

Since worship in Orthodox Christianity is an expression of the entire Church the active participation and involvement of the congregation is required. There are no "private" or "said" services and none may take place without a congregation. This strong sense of community is expressed in the prayers and exhortations which are in the plural tense. The congregation is expected to participate actively in the services in ways such as: singing the hymns; concluding the prayers with "Amen"; responding to the petitions; making the sign of the Cross; bowing; and, especially, by receiving Holy Communion at the Divine Liturgy. 

Come and See

The only way to truly understand the Orthodox Christian Church is through Her worship.  We welcome visitors and guests to attend any of our scheduled services and ask whatever questions you might have.  As Jesus said, "Come and see!" (Jn. 1:39).