Are you...
A committed Christian who just wants to see what Orthodoxy is about?
Baptized Orthodox but without a parish in Toronto?
Never stepped foot in any sort of church before?
Regardless of where you are in your own spiritual journey, please come and visit our church in
Regent Park, Toronto.
A committed Christian who just wants to see what Orthodoxy is about?
Baptized Orthodox but without a parish in Toronto?
Never stepped foot in any sort of church before?
Regardless of where you are in your own spiritual journey, please come and visit our church in
Regent Park, Toronto.
Your First Service -- a Primer
If Orthodoxy is new to you, you’ll probably be struck by the smells, the lack of pews, the candles , icons and the music. But don’t worry about doing something “wrong” and feeling a bit awkward. A good portion of our parish are converts and were in your shoes not too long ago.
Here’s some information to help you orient yourself in a first visit to one of our services and ease the “awkward.”
It’s good to keep in mind that Orthodoxy is not monolithic – a service in St. Petersburg Russia may sound quite different from one in an Antiochian church in St. Petersburg Florida.
Serving in English and to a very diverse community, our services in Toronto reflect a wide range of Orthodox traditions. The explanations below, reflect that. If you have been to an Orthodox service before or read about them elsewhere some of what’s described here will be familiar to you some things may be a little different.
Welcoming Visitors
Orthodox try not to talk during services, so it may be that someone will only greet you quietly until the service is over.
As you walk in, you’ll see a table to your left with service books and other reading material about our church. Feel free to take a brochure with you and if you’ve come for a Sunday liturgy, borrow a service book to follow along.
You are welcome but not at all obligated to purchase a candle, venerate an icon, make a donation, or fill out a prayer petition.
Here’s some information to help you orient yourself in a first visit to one of our services and ease the “awkward.”
It’s good to keep in mind that Orthodoxy is not monolithic – a service in St. Petersburg Russia may sound quite different from one in an Antiochian church in St. Petersburg Florida.
Serving in English and to a very diverse community, our services in Toronto reflect a wide range of Orthodox traditions. The explanations below, reflect that. If you have been to an Orthodox service before or read about them elsewhere some of what’s described here will be familiar to you some things may be a little different.
Welcoming Visitors
Orthodox try not to talk during services, so it may be that someone will only greet you quietly until the service is over.
As you walk in, you’ll see a table to your left with service books and other reading material about our church. Feel free to take a brochure with you and if you’ve come for a Sunday liturgy, borrow a service book to follow along.
You are welcome but not at all obligated to purchase a candle, venerate an icon, make a donation, or fill out a prayer petition.
Icons
Icons surround us in our church, from prints of ancient Coptic and Byzantine icons to those created by contemporary hands. These pictures of Christ, the saints and key events in the life of our church remind us that we are accompanied in our worship here on earth by all the angels and saints in heaven. (see the FAQ below for more information on icons).
Icons surround us in our church, from prints of ancient Coptic and Byzantine icons to those created by contemporary hands. These pictures of Christ, the saints and key events in the life of our church remind us that we are accompanied in our worship here on earth by all the angels and saints in heaven. (see the FAQ below for more information on icons).
Candles
Lighting candles is an important part of Orthodox worship. We light them as we pray, making an offering to accompany our prayers. Orthodox typically light candles upon entering the church, and also as part of icon veneration.
Feel free to purchase and light a candle or candles. You can place candles in the box candle-stand at the back of the church at any time.
You can also place one in the stand at the centre of our church after venerating the icon when the priest is in the altar. But if the service is already in progress, and you’re not sure if this is an appropriate time to place a candle in the stand at the front, best to wait until after the service so as to not distract others from prayer.
Standing (and kneeling)
Orthodox worship with their bodies as well as with words. You will see that people at times bow, make the sign of the cross, kneel etc.
If you are not Orthodox, of course no one expects you to do these things — participate to the degree that you wish. Standing (and kneeling) are the Biblical postures for prayer and Orthodox traditionally stand at Sunday services. But for most people this takes some “getting in shape”, so feel free to sit when you need to. We don’t have pews but we have enough seats for those who wish to sit. Typically when the clergy step outside of the altar, people who have been sitting will stand.
Please, come into the church -- you can take a place anywhere – there is no pre- assigned seating. And if you feel the need for whatever reason, you can slip out during a service, and come back in.
We don’t normally kneel on Sundays, as Sunday is the Day of Resurrection and kneeling is considered penitential. We kneel a good bit at weekday services during Lent. If you see others kneel and you would prefer not to, that is fine too.
Lighting candles is an important part of Orthodox worship. We light them as we pray, making an offering to accompany our prayers. Orthodox typically light candles upon entering the church, and also as part of icon veneration.
Feel free to purchase and light a candle or candles. You can place candles in the box candle-stand at the back of the church at any time.
You can also place one in the stand at the centre of our church after venerating the icon when the priest is in the altar. But if the service is already in progress, and you’re not sure if this is an appropriate time to place a candle in the stand at the front, best to wait until after the service so as to not distract others from prayer.
Standing (and kneeling)
Orthodox worship with their bodies as well as with words. You will see that people at times bow, make the sign of the cross, kneel etc.
If you are not Orthodox, of course no one expects you to do these things — participate to the degree that you wish. Standing (and kneeling) are the Biblical postures for prayer and Orthodox traditionally stand at Sunday services. But for most people this takes some “getting in shape”, so feel free to sit when you need to. We don’t have pews but we have enough seats for those who wish to sit. Typically when the clergy step outside of the altar, people who have been sitting will stand.
Please, come into the church -- you can take a place anywhere – there is no pre- assigned seating. And if you feel the need for whatever reason, you can slip out during a service, and come back in.
We don’t normally kneel on Sundays, as Sunday is the Day of Resurrection and kneeling is considered penitential. We kneel a good bit at weekday services during Lent. If you see others kneel and you would prefer not to, that is fine too.
Children
We are blessed in our parish with a large proportion of small children. We believe it is appropriate and beneficial for children to be in the services as much as possible. It’s surprising how much even toddlers absorb and can teach adults about faith.
That’s why our Phos program (Sunday school) takes place after communion when most of the Liturgy service is completed.
During the service, you’ll notice that we try to engage our kids in a variety of ways, including:
• They may ring the bell during the recitation of the creed or other parts of the service.
• They will stand before the gospel during the reading.
• The priest will approach them specifically for blessings or veneration during a procession.
• Some will be in the choir following along or singing.
• Some of our youth are altar servers or read the day’s epistle.
If you are bringing children with you, they can join some of these activities – that’s up to you.
Sometimes kids do what kids do which can be a bit disruptive. Parents will take their kids to the back of the church, out into the corridor or one of our classrooms (if Phos hasn’t started) to get settled. If you come with small children and feel the need, you’re of course welcome to do the same.
LEARN MORE about Phos
Music
Most of the service (except for the sermon) are sung words from scripture or ancient Christian texts. No organ or other instruments are used. In our church we chose to speak the Creed, pre-communion prayers and the Lord’s Prayer. You’ll notice that at St. Silouan’s on a typical Sunday we say the Lord’s Prayer in a number of different languages, reflecting our diverse community.
During some parts of the service some parishioners may sing along. During others, the priest will join in but in our church mostly the singing is done by the choir.
Our parish is from a mix of ethnic backgrounds and experiences and our services reflect that. Our services are in English, sung in predominantly Slavic polyphony & Byzantine chant with some modern Greek, Romanian and other Orthodox traditions reflected, too.
If you wish to join our choir, please speak to a member of the clergy.
Incense
During a service clergy will regularly come out of the altar and cense the icons, congregation, and different areas of the church, in veneration and blessing. The use of incense and candles in our services reflect practices of sacrifice carried over from the Old Testament.
The incense and beeswax candles we use, imbue the church with an atmosphere that takes us away from the everyday.
If you have a sensitivity to the incense, you may wish to stand closer to the air conditioning vents on the south wall, and further from the central aisle where the priest walks with the censer at certain times in the service.
Communion
Communion is understood by Orthodox as a sign of membership in the Church and an act of commitment to the Church. So communion is not given to non-Orthodox.
In fact, Orthodox should not receive communion unless they regularly attend confession and have not eaten or drunk (fasted) anything since the night before.
Communion is from a shared chalice made from bread and wine. Some will come up to the chalice and receive a blessing but not communion for the reasons referred to above.
The bread in the bowl held by an altar server is not Communion. This is a fellowship meal, called antidoron and can be shared with visitors or those not taking communion that week, as a gift of love. Some parishioners will take some antidoron home for loved ones who cannot attend the service.
This antidoron bread is blessed and set apart before communion and so should be eaten reverently.
LEARN More about Times for Confession
We are blessed in our parish with a large proportion of small children. We believe it is appropriate and beneficial for children to be in the services as much as possible. It’s surprising how much even toddlers absorb and can teach adults about faith.
That’s why our Phos program (Sunday school) takes place after communion when most of the Liturgy service is completed.
During the service, you’ll notice that we try to engage our kids in a variety of ways, including:
• They may ring the bell during the recitation of the creed or other parts of the service.
• They will stand before the gospel during the reading.
• The priest will approach them specifically for blessings or veneration during a procession.
• Some will be in the choir following along or singing.
• Some of our youth are altar servers or read the day’s epistle.
If you are bringing children with you, they can join some of these activities – that’s up to you.
Sometimes kids do what kids do which can be a bit disruptive. Parents will take their kids to the back of the church, out into the corridor or one of our classrooms (if Phos hasn’t started) to get settled. If you come with small children and feel the need, you’re of course welcome to do the same.
LEARN MORE about Phos
Music
Most of the service (except for the sermon) are sung words from scripture or ancient Christian texts. No organ or other instruments are used. In our church we chose to speak the Creed, pre-communion prayers and the Lord’s Prayer. You’ll notice that at St. Silouan’s on a typical Sunday we say the Lord’s Prayer in a number of different languages, reflecting our diverse community.
During some parts of the service some parishioners may sing along. During others, the priest will join in but in our church mostly the singing is done by the choir.
Our parish is from a mix of ethnic backgrounds and experiences and our services reflect that. Our services are in English, sung in predominantly Slavic polyphony & Byzantine chant with some modern Greek, Romanian and other Orthodox traditions reflected, too.
If you wish to join our choir, please speak to a member of the clergy.
Incense
During a service clergy will regularly come out of the altar and cense the icons, congregation, and different areas of the church, in veneration and blessing. The use of incense and candles in our services reflect practices of sacrifice carried over from the Old Testament.
The incense and beeswax candles we use, imbue the church with an atmosphere that takes us away from the everyday.
If you have a sensitivity to the incense, you may wish to stand closer to the air conditioning vents on the south wall, and further from the central aisle where the priest walks with the censer at certain times in the service.
Communion
Communion is understood by Orthodox as a sign of membership in the Church and an act of commitment to the Church. So communion is not given to non-Orthodox.
In fact, Orthodox should not receive communion unless they regularly attend confession and have not eaten or drunk (fasted) anything since the night before.
Communion is from a shared chalice made from bread and wine. Some will come up to the chalice and receive a blessing but not communion for the reasons referred to above.
The bread in the bowl held by an altar server is not Communion. This is a fellowship meal, called antidoron and can be shared with visitors or those not taking communion that week, as a gift of love. Some parishioners will take some antidoron home for loved ones who cannot attend the service.
This antidoron bread is blessed and set apart before communion and so should be eaten reverently.
LEARN More about Times for Confession
Sunday Lunch or Agape
After Sunday services, please join us for agape, our fellowship meal.
The "liturgy after the liturgy," our agape is more substantial than the coffee hour you may have experienced in other parishes. This is an ancient tradition from the early Christian churches where people of all castes, classes and backgrounds would share and provide a meal for each other.
For our parishioners who take communion, this is their first bite in 12 hours or more – a meal is greatly appreciated!
We really hope you can stay for even a few minutes of agape. Rest assured that no one will put any pressure on you to join our Church – that wouldn’t be the right way to treat a guest. This is a welcomed opportunity for us to get to know each other over a bite to eat and have any of your questions answered.
After Sunday services, please join us for agape, our fellowship meal.
The "liturgy after the liturgy," our agape is more substantial than the coffee hour you may have experienced in other parishes. This is an ancient tradition from the early Christian churches where people of all castes, classes and backgrounds would share and provide a meal for each other.
For our parishioners who take communion, this is their first bite in 12 hours or more – a meal is greatly appreciated!
We really hope you can stay for even a few minutes of agape. Rest assured that no one will put any pressure on you to join our Church – that wouldn’t be the right way to treat a guest. This is a welcomed opportunity for us to get to know each other over a bite to eat and have any of your questions answered.
Services
The beauty of Orthodox worship must be experienced to be understood. There is a story that when ancient Rus was looking for a faith, Prince Vladimir sent his emissaries from Kiev to learn about all the major religions. The emissaries who went to Constantinople said of their experience in an eastern Christian church (this was in 987 before what became known as the Catholic church split from the other Christian churches) that during the service they “no longer knew whether they were in heaven or on earth!”
That beauty is certainly something every Orthodox parish strives towards.
However, upset children, choir bum notes, missed cues in the altar, noisy radiators and all the other realities of a humble mission parish notwithstanding, we hope your experience at one of our services, gives a taste of that aspiration.
Orthodox worship consists of a wide range of services, many-layered with traditions, practices and meanings. Below are just the barest outlines of some of our most common services.
See our schedule of upcoming services
That beauty is certainly something every Orthodox parish strives towards.
However, upset children, choir bum notes, missed cues in the altar, noisy radiators and all the other realities of a humble mission parish notwithstanding, we hope your experience at one of our services, gives a taste of that aspiration.
Orthodox worship consists of a wide range of services, many-layered with traditions, practices and meanings. Below are just the barest outlines of some of our most common services.
See our schedule of upcoming services
Divine Liturgy
The normal Sunday morning service is called the Divine Liturgy (the equivalent of the Holy Qurbana, or Mass in other Christian traditions). With the sermon, it lasts about 90 minutes.
The Divine Liturgy expresses the entire Christian faith in a continuous song of praise and prayer addressed to God. It is focused on God, not on us. It includes:
Vespers
The normal Saturday Evening Service is called Great Vespers. It lasts about 45 minutes.
Orthodox churches (carried over from Jewish Old Testament tradition) start the new day in the evening with the setting of the sun. Saturday Great Vespers is a preparation for worship at the Sunday Liturgy.
It consists mainly of singing of Psalms, especially Psalms 104 and 141, the “evening offering of incense,” and the hymns “O Gladsome Light” and “Lord, Now Lettest (Luke 2:29).” It has themes of Creation and Resurrection as the “eve” of the Day of Resurrection, the first day of the week.
We serve Great Vespers every 2nd Saturday.
Sometimes we will serve a vesperal service on other days of the week to commemorate saints or events in the church calendar.
Compline
Compline is a contemplative prayer service at the end of the day led by clergy or laity. It’s about 15 to 20 minutes long.
The service emphasize peace and tranquility after the hustle and activity of the day. We serve compline after our community meals on Mondays and the Faith and Love meetings on Wednesdays.
LEARN MORE Faith and Love
LEARN MORE Community Meals
See our schedule of upcoming services
The normal Sunday morning service is called the Divine Liturgy (the equivalent of the Holy Qurbana, or Mass in other Christian traditions). With the sermon, it lasts about 90 minutes.
The Divine Liturgy expresses the entire Christian faith in a continuous song of praise and prayer addressed to God. It is focused on God, not on us. It includes:
- Litanies: Responsive prayers, these include opportunities to specifically pray for our loved ones, the departed, peace for our lands, well being of our neighbours etc.
- Praise, usually Psalms 103 and 147
- Procession with the Gospel Book
- Hymns of the day: on Sundays especially of the Resurrection, and the hymn Holy God. (We include these in our church bulletin)
- Epistle and Gospel readings and sermon
- The Great Entrance, a solemn procession carrying the Gifts of bread and wine to the altar, representing the offering of our lives to God
- The Nicene Creed: the summary of the Faith
- The Eucharistic Prayer: We “lift up our hearts” to join the angels in singing Holy, Holy, Holy and offering thanksgiving (Eucharist) to God for all His works, especially remembering Christ’s saving work, and asking the Holy Spirit to transform our Gifts into Christ’s Body and Blood. It concludes with the Lord’s Prayer.
- Communion: Orthodox who are prepared by repentance and fasting receive the Holy Gifts as a means of union with Christ. Our children receive communion because God’s work in us is not limited to what we can understand
Vespers
The normal Saturday Evening Service is called Great Vespers. It lasts about 45 minutes.
Orthodox churches (carried over from Jewish Old Testament tradition) start the new day in the evening with the setting of the sun. Saturday Great Vespers is a preparation for worship at the Sunday Liturgy.
It consists mainly of singing of Psalms, especially Psalms 104 and 141, the “evening offering of incense,” and the hymns “O Gladsome Light” and “Lord, Now Lettest (Luke 2:29).” It has themes of Creation and Resurrection as the “eve” of the Day of Resurrection, the first day of the week.
We serve Great Vespers every 2nd Saturday.
Sometimes we will serve a vesperal service on other days of the week to commemorate saints or events in the church calendar.
Compline
Compline is a contemplative prayer service at the end of the day led by clergy or laity. It’s about 15 to 20 minutes long.
The service emphasize peace and tranquility after the hustle and activity of the day. We serve compline after our community meals on Mondays and the Faith and Love meetings on Wednesdays.
LEARN MORE Faith and Love
LEARN MORE Community Meals
See our schedule of upcoming services
FAQ
If I’m a Christian of a different denomination – Catholic, Anglican, Baptist etc. – can I take communion.
Communion is understood by Orthodox as a sign of membership in the Church and an act of commitment to the Church. So communion is not given to non-Orthodox.
Is there a dress code?
We ask you to come as you are, we will not reject you for what you wear. That being said generally we asks that parishioner and visitors dress in modest clothing which does not distract others from prayer.
Some Orthodox churches in other countries have traditions about head covering in the church or during communion. Although some of our parishioners do chose to observe these traditions, it is not a practice in our parish.
What are Icons?
Icons are paintings of Christ and the Saints and key events in the life of the church. They must be painted according to a strict tradition because they are an important way the Faith is handed down and taught. They are purposefully stylized, often with a foreshortening of perspective, specific rules of composition and symbolic representations.
Icons are considered to be a window into a world of faith and a tool to aid prayer. You’ll see an icon of our Saint Silouan near the candle stand at the back of the church. The icon in the centre of the church is changed to reflect the church calendar – the commemoration of a major saint, or key event such as the Nativity, the raising of Lazarus etc.
Icons and crosses are kissed (“venerated”), but it is not the object itself that is worshipped. This is an expression of our belief that in Christ, God took a physical body and became part of our physical world so we could know Him.
Other human beings -- saints, martyr’s and, of course, our blessed lady, the Theotokos -- unite themselves with Christ becoming holy; the image of God becomes visible in them. So we honour their icons, as well.
What’s with all the smells and bells?
Incense, vestments, candles are part of the imagery of heavenly worship in the Book of Revelation. In the Liturgy we participate while still in this world in the worship of the angels and saints in heaven. Many people buy candles and place them in the church as an offering of light to the Lord, who told us to let our light shine.
Isn't it a bit repetitive?
Standard prayers and hymns are used rather than extemporaneous or modern ones because they contain the accumulated insights of many centuries of Christians, and most of them are packed with Biblical quotations. They are repetitious because that way they become rooted in our minds. They are chanted or sung rather than spoken so we are less conscious of the personality of the individual reader.
How can I join this church?
We don’t hurry anyone to join our parish. If you are already Orthodox, we have a membership form at the back of our church which lists the requirements of becoming a parishioner. But you should also speak to Father Paul to determine if this is the right community for you.
Those wishing to be members who are not Orthodox are received as catechumens (learners). They usually spend at least a year attending services and learning the Faith. If your journey takes longer, that is fine too – it’s a big step.
If the catechumen has not already received Christian Baptism, they are baptized.
To become full members of the Orthodox church all catechumens are Chrismated. This is a service where the catechumen is anointed with oil as the “Seal of the Gift of the Holy Spirit” in a service that is usually incorporated into a Sunday liturgy. Then the individual is given Holy Communion. This then makes them full members of the Orthodox Church for all recognized and co-celebrating denominations around the world.
What if I have some questions?
If you could hang on to your questions until the end of the service, feel free to ask a member of clergy then. Also there are some reading materials at the back table that might have the answers you’re looking for.
By the way Clergy aren’t just the priest or people in the altar. There are deacons and readers, too. They should be easily recognizable by the way they are dressed.
Why don't you pass around a collection plate?
We believe that the Liturgy should be centered around Jesus Christ, and asking for money would distract from that. If you like what we are doing and would like to support our many ministries there is a box at the back of church where you can put any donations.
What does Theotokos mean?
Theotokos (Mother of God) is a title for the Virgin Mary. Orthodox love and honor (but do not worship) her because of our union with her Son.
The attention given her in the Church also expresses our faith that Jesus Christ is truly human, born of a woman as we are, yet mysteriously has always been God, so His human mother can be called the Mother of God.
In many hymns she is a sign of the Church as the beloved bride of God. Her exaltation as “more glorious than the Seraphim” is a sign of the exaltation awaiting all who “hear the Word of God and keep it” as she did.
I heard the word “catholic” said during the service, what’s your connection with the Catholic Church?
When we use the word “catholic” in our services, it is as an adjective, derived from the Greek work “katholikos” meaning universal or all encompassing.
Many centuries ago, over a number of issues, the Christian church with its Patriarchal seat in Rome – now known as the Catholic church -- began to split from other churches including the Patriarchate based in Constantinople (today Istanbul) – now known as the Orthodox church.
Generally the year 1054 is referred to as the date of schism between the east and west Christian churches although divisions began before then and serious attempts at reconciliation continued afterwards. (Follow this link for a “Very brief history of the Orthodox church https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church#Very_brief_history)
The Orthodox church and Catholic church have many things in common in how we express and live our shared Christian beliefs. However, there are differences as well: commonly sighted is Filoque difference in the creed (for an explanation see https://orthodoxwiki.org/Filioque) and Orthodox rejection of the idea of papal infallibility.
Communion is understood by Orthodox as a sign of membership in the Church and an act of commitment to the Church. So communion is not given to non-Orthodox.
Is there a dress code?
We ask you to come as you are, we will not reject you for what you wear. That being said generally we asks that parishioner and visitors dress in modest clothing which does not distract others from prayer.
Some Orthodox churches in other countries have traditions about head covering in the church or during communion. Although some of our parishioners do chose to observe these traditions, it is not a practice in our parish.
What are Icons?
Icons are paintings of Christ and the Saints and key events in the life of the church. They must be painted according to a strict tradition because they are an important way the Faith is handed down and taught. They are purposefully stylized, often with a foreshortening of perspective, specific rules of composition and symbolic representations.
Icons are considered to be a window into a world of faith and a tool to aid prayer. You’ll see an icon of our Saint Silouan near the candle stand at the back of the church. The icon in the centre of the church is changed to reflect the church calendar – the commemoration of a major saint, or key event such as the Nativity, the raising of Lazarus etc.
Icons and crosses are kissed (“venerated”), but it is not the object itself that is worshipped. This is an expression of our belief that in Christ, God took a physical body and became part of our physical world so we could know Him.
Other human beings -- saints, martyr’s and, of course, our blessed lady, the Theotokos -- unite themselves with Christ becoming holy; the image of God becomes visible in them. So we honour their icons, as well.
What’s with all the smells and bells?
Incense, vestments, candles are part of the imagery of heavenly worship in the Book of Revelation. In the Liturgy we participate while still in this world in the worship of the angels and saints in heaven. Many people buy candles and place them in the church as an offering of light to the Lord, who told us to let our light shine.
Isn't it a bit repetitive?
Standard prayers and hymns are used rather than extemporaneous or modern ones because they contain the accumulated insights of many centuries of Christians, and most of them are packed with Biblical quotations. They are repetitious because that way they become rooted in our minds. They are chanted or sung rather than spoken so we are less conscious of the personality of the individual reader.
How can I join this church?
We don’t hurry anyone to join our parish. If you are already Orthodox, we have a membership form at the back of our church which lists the requirements of becoming a parishioner. But you should also speak to Father Paul to determine if this is the right community for you.
Those wishing to be members who are not Orthodox are received as catechumens (learners). They usually spend at least a year attending services and learning the Faith. If your journey takes longer, that is fine too – it’s a big step.
If the catechumen has not already received Christian Baptism, they are baptized.
To become full members of the Orthodox church all catechumens are Chrismated. This is a service where the catechumen is anointed with oil as the “Seal of the Gift of the Holy Spirit” in a service that is usually incorporated into a Sunday liturgy. Then the individual is given Holy Communion. This then makes them full members of the Orthodox Church for all recognized and co-celebrating denominations around the world.
What if I have some questions?
If you could hang on to your questions until the end of the service, feel free to ask a member of clergy then. Also there are some reading materials at the back table that might have the answers you’re looking for.
By the way Clergy aren’t just the priest or people in the altar. There are deacons and readers, too. They should be easily recognizable by the way they are dressed.
Why don't you pass around a collection plate?
We believe that the Liturgy should be centered around Jesus Christ, and asking for money would distract from that. If you like what we are doing and would like to support our many ministries there is a box at the back of church where you can put any donations.
What does Theotokos mean?
Theotokos (Mother of God) is a title for the Virgin Mary. Orthodox love and honor (but do not worship) her because of our union with her Son.
The attention given her in the Church also expresses our faith that Jesus Christ is truly human, born of a woman as we are, yet mysteriously has always been God, so His human mother can be called the Mother of God.
In many hymns she is a sign of the Church as the beloved bride of God. Her exaltation as “more glorious than the Seraphim” is a sign of the exaltation awaiting all who “hear the Word of God and keep it” as she did.
I heard the word “catholic” said during the service, what’s your connection with the Catholic Church?
When we use the word “catholic” in our services, it is as an adjective, derived from the Greek work “katholikos” meaning universal or all encompassing.
Many centuries ago, over a number of issues, the Christian church with its Patriarchal seat in Rome – now known as the Catholic church -- began to split from other churches including the Patriarchate based in Constantinople (today Istanbul) – now known as the Orthodox church.
Generally the year 1054 is referred to as the date of schism between the east and west Christian churches although divisions began before then and serious attempts at reconciliation continued afterwards. (Follow this link for a “Very brief history of the Orthodox church https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church#Very_brief_history)
The Orthodox church and Catholic church have many things in common in how we express and live our shared Christian beliefs. However, there are differences as well: commonly sighted is Filoque difference in the creed (for an explanation see https://orthodoxwiki.org/Filioque) and Orthodox rejection of the idea of papal infallibility.
Why are Saints such a big deal?
Saints are important in the Orthodox Church. Everyone is baptised with a patron saint, to whom we pray for guidance and protection.
Some saints date back to Christ’s life on earth, others, like Mother Maria of Paris (who was martyred in the Nazi concentration camp Ravensbrük in 1945) and our parish’s patron saint Silouan the Athonite, lived in the 20th century.
In modern parlance, the word saint often means someone who is exceptionally nice, good and generally virtuous. But virtuousness has never been a criteria for sainthood. Many saints did bad things in their lives. Our own St. Silouan before he became a monk was a soldier.
A saint through her/his life or even just a key moment in that life, embodies an aspect of lived Christianity that we aspire to. They are human beings: saints have sinned and have flaws. But a saint has somehow been set apart for God’s service and their life or moments in their life reflects that.
(Click here for more information about Saints https://orthodoxwiki.org/Saint)
Saints are important in the Orthodox Church. Everyone is baptised with a patron saint, to whom we pray for guidance and protection.
Some saints date back to Christ’s life on earth, others, like Mother Maria of Paris (who was martyred in the Nazi concentration camp Ravensbrük in 1945) and our parish’s patron saint Silouan the Athonite, lived in the 20th century.
In modern parlance, the word saint often means someone who is exceptionally nice, good and generally virtuous. But virtuousness has never been a criteria for sainthood. Many saints did bad things in their lives. Our own St. Silouan before he became a monk was a soldier.
A saint through her/his life or even just a key moment in that life, embodies an aspect of lived Christianity that we aspire to. They are human beings: saints have sinned and have flaws. But a saint has somehow been set apart for God’s service and their life or moments in their life reflects that.
(Click here for more information about Saints https://orthodoxwiki.org/Saint)