I have been asked a few questions lately about Orthopraxis. We haven’t talked about this for a while, so I thought I would write a short note for Blogtushka to address these, and invite an ongoing conversation in this regard. Our priests are always happy to answer your questions. But sometimes you stump us. :) In this case we aren’t going to just make up an answer – we are going to tell you we don’t know, find the answer, and get back to you.
The first question is about venerating relics. We venerate relics just as we would venerate an icon. Make the sign of the cross twice, venerate the relics, and make the sign of the cross again. For children in arms, we would touch their head to the relics or the reliquary – just as with an icon. The question came from the visit of the relics to our parish a few weeks ago with Archbishop Gabriel’s blessing. We are all facing East during the Divine Services, so I don’t see what is happening behind me. Apparently there were some rather inventive ways that the relics were venerated at STV. We applaud creativity in many parts of our lives, but not this one. :) We should seek to venerate relics, icons, etc., just as Orthodox Christians always have. It is good for us to have a default that we do as our fathers and mothers in the faith have always done, unless there is a VERY GOOD reason to deviate from this stream of faith that flows from generation to generation.
The second question is: what time we should arrive to the Divine Liturgy if we plan to partake of Holy Communion? But first, let’s take a step back and cover: when should we arrive to the Divine Liturgy period? The answer is, as a rule, BEFORE the Liturgy begins. Ideally we should arrange for our prosphora, light our candles, and be standing in our place when the Deacon intones the beginning of the first litany. If you have little ones, you are sick, or something of that sort, of course you might come a bit later. It is better to come late and stay to the end than to come early and leave early. Liturgy at STV lasts two hours approximately. One seven-day week has 168 hours. That two hours is 1.2% of the week. Let’s give every little bit of that 1.2% to God if at all possible.
But – what if I am running late and I have read all the prayers, gone to confession, fasted, and am planning to partake of Holy Communion? Life happens. This is understood. The demons especially work hard when we are planning to do something good, and there is really nothing better we can do for ourselves than partake of Holy Communion. A good rule of thumb is: if you are at STV in time to hear the Gospel reading then you are good to partake of communion. If not – then not. This is a RULE OF THUMB. It is not necessary for you to police your brothers and sisters in this regard. We have no tactical team of enforcers at STV and we don’t want one. We are talking now about YOU. Not about your neighbor. There are those that come late with a blessing for various reasons. You don’t have to worry about those reasons. You take care of you. And if folks with little ones can’t quite make it for the Gospel we are not going to keep the little ones from partaking of communion. This is a rule of thumb for adults.
And now, a final Orthopraxis question that I am sometimes asked, and that we all struggle with. So I think good to review here. What to do with myself during the Liturgy? I mean, I am standing there, but can I move? And if I move when can I move? And finally, what do I do with myself when I am standing there and the Holy Gifts are consecrated, are brought forth for communion of the faithful, etc.? This sounds like a huge answer! I can’t take any more Fr. Gregory! Thankfully, this one can be answered by the two posters below. Please review those and let me, Fr. Colin, or Fr. Vladimir know if you have questions. Note the one about prostrations: no prostrations on knees on Sunday (except for very rare exceptions). On Sunday, the day of the Resurrection, we commemorate our adoption by God as His sons and daughters. Yes – we need to continually strive to actualize that adoption, but because of this spiritual kinship we do not prostrate to the ground on Sunday. Every other day: we do. We just don’t come to church on weekdays that often, so prostrating to the ground seems like an exception. Actually, the exception is NOT prostrating to the ground on Sundays.
WHEN TO MAKE PROSTRATIONS AT LITURGY
Asking Your Prayers,
Fr. Gregory
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