Posted on 6/8/2009, 9:35:55 PM by bronxville
Last Sunday was the 4th of 13 in my sabbatical time. Each of them is precious to me. Each week I am choosing a place and a way to worship. I’m not a church tourist, hoping to see new things. I’m seeking spiritual experiences. I want to worship. Saturday night Jeanene and I still hadn’t decided where to go. I experienced something common to our culture but new to me. The “Where do you want to go to church - I don’t know where do YOU want to go to church” conversation. I found the Saint Anthony the Great website. It's an Orthodox church that has beautiful Byzantine art in the sanctuary. We decided to go there.
Saint Anthony the Great isn't just old school. It's "styli and wax tablets" old school. We arrived ten minutes early for worship and the room was already filled with people lighting candles and praying. There was one greeter. I said, “We don’t know what to do.” She handed me a liturgy book and waved us inside.
Pews? We don’t need no stinking pews! Providing seats for worshipers is SO 14th century. Gorgeous Byzantine art, commissioned from a famous artist in Bulgaria. Fully robed priests with censors (those swinging incense thingies). Long, complex readings and chants that went on and on and on. And every one of them packed full of complex, theological ideas. It was like they were ripping raw chunks of theology out of ancient creeds and throwing them by the handfuls into the congregation. And just to make sure it wasn't too easy for us, everything was read in a monotone voice and at the speed of an auctioneer.
I heard words and phrases I had not heard since seminary. Theotokos, begotten not made, Cherubim and Seraphim borne on their pinions, supplications and oblations. It was an ADD kids nightmare. Robes, scary art, smoking incense, secret doors in the Iconostas popping open and little robed boys coming out with golden candlesticks, chants and singing from a small choir that rolled across the curved ceiling and emerged from the other side of the room where no one was singing. The acoustics were wild. No matter who was speaking, the sound came out of everywhere. There was so much going on I couldn't keep up with all the things I couldn't pay attention to.
I made it through the entire 1 hour and 50 minutes of worship without sitting down, but my back was sore. Shelby came back toward the end. When it came time for communion I suggested that we not participate because I didn't know what kind of rules they have for that. We stayed politely at the back. A woman noticed and brought some of the bread to us, bowing respectfully as she offered it. Her gesture of kindness to newcomers who were clearly struggling to understand everything was touching to me.
Okay, so I started crying a little. So what? You would have too, I bet.
So what did I think about my experience at Saint Anthony the Great Orthodox Church?
I LOVED IT. Loved it loved it loved it loved it loved it.
In a day when user-friendly is the byword of everything from churches to software, here was worship that asked something of me. No, DEMANDED something of me.
“You don’t know what Theotokos means? Get a book and read about it. You have a hard time standing for 2 hours? Do some sit ups and get yourself into worship shape. It is the Lord our God we worship here, mortal. What made you think you could worship the Eternal One without pain?"
See, I get that. That makes sense to me. I had a hard time following the words of the chants and liturgy, but even my lack of understanding had something to teach me.
“There is so much for you to learn. There is more here than a person could master in a lifetime. THIS IS BIGGER THAN YOU ARE. Your understanding is not central here. These are ancient rites of the church. Stand with us, brother, and you will learn in time. Or go and find your way to an easier place if you must. God bless you on that journey. We understand, but this is the way we do church.”
I’m going back again on Sunday. I started to write, “I’m looking forward to it.” But that’s not right. I’m feeling right about it.
And feeling right is what I'm looking for.
Update: This was actually written on May 26 or 27. I went back to Saint Anthony the Great on Sunday. I found I was following along a little better. I'm REALLY getting a lot out of Orthodox worship. Shelby and Lillian declined to go with me this time.
I got this story from - The hermeneutic of continuity - an English RC priests blog:
http://the-hermeneutic-of-continuity.blogspot.com/
He added some informative comments.
My daughter and I went to a Greek Orthodox liturgy a few years ago, when #8 brother was a baby. Nice folks, very polite, said it was okay for a nursing mother to sit down. Anoreth thought they needed to update, but I thought it was lovely.
Right in your very back-yard.
Enjoy. If that's the right word.
I thought you had to be a member of the Orthodox Church to recieve “the bread”. And doesn’t an Othodox priest ask your name before you recieve? I’m not sure if this guy knew he was getting more than bread...
Freegards
Pracices vary. Some jurisdications or parishes have strict rules that the bread (antidoron) is to be received only by Orthodox who have fasted. It is not to be taken from the church or given to non-Orthodox. Others share this as a sign of fellowship with visitors, even if they are not Orthodox. Orthodox can take it home to relatives or to keep for their own consumption. I have two homebound in-laws who haven’t been to church for a year. I take antidoron to them every Sunday.
The antidoron is not the eucharistic bread, but is the remains of the bread from which the eucharist bread (prosphora) is cut. The antidoron is blessed but not consecrated, but those who receive it are expected to do so respectfully and reverently.
The priest asks the persons name (or says the person’s name if he knows it) when giving the eucharist.
You mean that drive through chapels don’t really indicate the future of Christianity?
Thank you for posting this. We need to drive home the idea that worship means more than setting up in a comfy pew and beeing seen on more Sundays than not.
Thanks for the info, SCR!! So I take it the bread offered to them was ‘probly blessed, but not the eucharistic bread. Interesting stuff!
Freegards
Yes, yes, yes! I know so many kids who actually want what their parents rejected in the ‘60’s. We compromise our own traditions for Ecumenism and it gets us nada. We need to stay true to ourselves and let the chips fall where they may.
***Yes, yes, yes! I know so many kids who actually want what their parents rejected in the ‘60’s. ***
Most of us do. I barely remember the Latin Mass; the communion rail was taken down when I was an altar boy; we had long haired clergy who preached Marxism and liberation theology; we had Wiccan nuns and guitar Masses and glass goblets and leavened bread and a theological impetus that impelled me to leave the Church for nearly 20 years.
***We compromise our own traditions for Ecumenism and it gets us nada.***
We know that we cannot comprise the Gospel of Christ.
***We need to stay true to ourselves and let the chips fall where they may.***
Scripture, the Catechism and the Doctors of the Church are clear.
I don’t think this guy will remain a Baptist for long.
Not that there’s anything wrong with that...
That depends. If they're like the Orthodox I personally encountered (and some of the Orthodox on this forum) . . . not so much.
You wrote:
“That depends. If they’re like the Orthodox I personally encountered (and some of the Orthodox on this forum) . . . not so much.”
I don’t know, I think this guy sees the forest for the trees. In other words, I think he sees the worth of Orthodox worship, even if he doesn’t find many Orthodox believers so worthwhile.
I believe you are right. I had the same experience three years ago in June, and my good friend just had the same experience on the same Sunday this preacher attended. May they both enter the church some day...deo volente.
Except for being in another state, a couple hundred miles away.
“I don’t know, I think this guy sees the forest for the trees. In other words, I think he sees the worth of Orthodox worship, even if he doesn’t find many Orthodox believers so worthwhile.”
We aren’t “worthwhile”, Vlad. We are great sinners. That’s one of the reasons why we cling to The Church.
Orthodox ping. This story may sound familiar to some of you! :)
I’m so pleased you’ve found a religion which gives you peace and happiness, so much so, that you can evangelize with such fervor. I love that. :)
For myself, I feel blessed and grateful to be resting in the arms of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. I love Him, and His Blessed Mother, who led me to Him. She has a beautiful role in heaven and her grace and blessings are never-ending.
‘My heart was restless until I rested in Thee.’
- St. Augustine -
God bless you.
Kolokotronis,
I know you’re a sinner (so am I!)...and I still think you’re worthwhile. You understood what I was saying in that post I hope. When a man discovers truth, beauty and goodness - as in the Divine Liturgy - the fact that some of the worshipers may be less than stellar in their impressiveness simply doesn’t matter.
I remember when I first started attending the Latin Mass. I freely admit that I encountered some people who were (and are) oddballs. I had, however, discovered a treasure in the old Mass, and a little before that, the historic faith. The fact that some people I met were less than perfect (aren’t we all?) never bothered me. It still doesn’t. I wish this Baptist minister great happiness and will pray for him. He has found a treasure. I hope he takes full advantage.
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