I'll be attending "Great Vespers" at a Greek orthodox church and i have a couple of questions:
- How long will it be?
- A brief description of what it is about/ will happen?
- Do they receive communion like Catholics? Should i (a baptized Catholic) take it or not?
- What would be appropriate clothes to wear?
- Anything else i should know?
Thanks so much.
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It would help for you to read Frederica Mathewes-Green’s article “12 Things I wish I knew” (before attending an Orthodox Christian service), its very helpful to first goers…
http://www.orthodoxchurch.com/12_things/
And no, the Orthodox Church does not serve communion to Roman Catholics.
- It will take about 2 hours.
- There will be many Psalm reading, there will be also bread, wine oil and wheat blessed.
- Communion isn’t given on vespers. Nevertheless unless you are an Eastern Orthodox Christian you can’t take it.
- No, not really.
Great Vespers can be about an hour.
Vespers is the evening prayers. There will be Psalms read, some petitions (like “For peace in the whole world and the salvation of us all, let us pray to the Lord”). Some more hymns, and a dismissal.
Great Vespers does not include Holy Communion. During Lent, the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is held during the week, which is vespers in the beginning, and ending with the distribution of Holy Communion.
Business casual would be nice, or something neat and clean. No tank-tops & shorts.
Stand when they stand, sit when they sit. We kiss stuff, but you don’t have to if you don’t want.
They’ll make the sign of the cross in the Orthodox fashion (head, breast, right shoulder, left shoulder) at the mention of the Trinity and other profound moments. No one will attack you if yours comes out “backwards”.
If you find communion being distributed, either don’t get in line, or if you’re herded into it because that’s just how it worked out, step out of line when it’s about your turn, and take a piece of bread (it’s actually called “antidoro” — “instead of the gifts”, so it’s OK). If you are not Orthodox, you should not receive communion.
Blessings.
/Orthodox
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