Akathistos

As a convert, I have often wondered how one is supposed to behave during service. I’ve wondered when I am to stand and when I am permitted to sit down. As part of my Lenten journey this year, I have decided to do a little bit of research on this topic.

Here is what I found:

An Orthodox church is a place that has been set apart as sacred where we can gather together to be in God’s presence. We should behave reverently and in a way that does not distract others from their prayer. Here is list a basic guidelines, but all rules are to be taken into consideration with your priest. By no means should this become something legalistic, but rather a way to assist us Orthodox in proper ettiquite .

Before the Service Begins:

• Come 5-10 minutes before the service begins and as you come into the church, make the sign of the cross and bow.
• Men should remove hats and women may cover their heads and dress appropriately and neatly; no shirts with logos, tank tops or immodest clothing. Women should not wear lipstick so as to not get it on icons.
  
• Do not speak loudly, keep hands in pockets or chew gum in church. No food is allowed into the service. Also, there is no need to wander around during the church service.
• Conversation should be kept at a minimum. You may greet people, but keep talking for a later time.
  
• Children should not run around, misbehave or laugh, and a crying child who cannot be calmed, should be taken from the church by the parent.
• Use the restroom before coming to church.

During the Service:

• If you arrive at church late, enter quietly. If the Epistle or Gospel is being read or the Little or Great Entrance is taking place, wait until it is finished to quickly find a seat. If Father is giving the sermon, stay in the back until he has concluded. People who come late to the Liturgy should not partake of the Eucharist.
• You may join the singing chorus softly, but do sing so as to bring attention to yourself.
  
• When the Holy Doors to the Altar are open, one should stand up, facing the Altar, hands at the sides, or held one over the other at the waist
• If one must sit due to fatigue or illness, do not sit with legs crossed.
  
• You shouldn’t need to get a drink of water during the service (especially if you are taking Communion)
• Children older than two do not need a drink or snack during the service. If a younger child does have a snack, make sure the area is clean afterwards.
  
• No walking or talking is permitted during the Gospel Reading or when the Cherubic Hymn is sung or during the time when the Creed and the Our Father are read.
  
• When the Chalice is brought out for Communion, one should remain standing
• While antidoron (bread) is not Holy Communion, it is blessed bread and as such, should be eaten carefully so that crumbs don’t fall all over the place.
  
• One should not break the bread into smaller pieces. Take extra pieces for other people.
  
• Everyone should stay in church until the end of the service, but one may leave early due to health conditions or an immediate need.

Certain times when no one should be moving moving about, entering, or leaving the church (from St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church):

1. During the Doxology, while the priest is censing.
2. During the Small Entrance - the procession of the priest and altar boys with the Holy Gospel.
3. When the priest censes the Altar, icons, and congregation throughout the Divine Liturgy.
4. During the reading of the Epistle and Gospel
5. During the sermon
6. During the Great Entrance - the procession of the priest and altar boys with the Holy Gifts.
7. During the recitation of the Creed and Lord’s Prayer
8. During the Consecration of the Holy Gifts.

Please take all that I have said and consider it with your priest. This is not an exhaustive list and if anyone has something to add, please do so in the comments section.