Byzantine Church Etiquette

[Apotheoun]

[quote name='Lilllabettt' date='13 February 2010 - 04:25 PM' timestamp='1266103541' post='2056687']
Way cool
[/quote]
More images are available at the site below:

[url="http://www.holycross-hermitage.com/pages/hermitage_photo_album.html"]Hermitage of the Holy Cross[/url]

[Veridicus]

[quote name='Apotheoun' date='13 February 2010 - 05:22 PM' timestamp='1266103333' post='2056685']
Yes. The trikirion (signifying the tri-hypostatic Godhead) is always on the bishop's right, while the dikirion (signifying Christ's two natures) is always on the bishop's left.
[/quote]

I love that the Orthodox have [i]reasons [/i]for why they do things. lex orandi, lex credendi

[Veridicus]

[quote name='Apotheoun' date='13 February 2010 - 05:30 PM' timestamp='1266103826' post='2056691']
More images are available at the site below:

[url="http://www.holycross-hermitage.com/pages/hermitage_photo_album.html"]Hermitage of the Holy Cross[/url]
[/quote]

What is the bishop tracing on the laity's foreheads? Is he tracing the cross in oil?

[Apotheoun]

[i]More information from the Saint Elias website:[/i]



In the Orthodox tradition, we refer to our parish Church as the "Temple" ("Khram" in Ukrainian).

Christ Jesus is our Temple - the locus of our sacrifice of Praise and Atonement.

Our Church buildings are symbols of the Christ - since they are the places where we gather to celebrate the Holy Mysteries and Divine Services.

The very word "church" comes from "Kyriakon" (the Lord's House [greek] - cf. "Kirche" in German or "Kirk" in Broad Scots).

Thus our Temples are architectural proclamations of the Salvation and Love of the Messiah God, who is Himself the Prototype and referent of the Old Testament Temple and the Mosaic Tabernacle.

Architecturally and theologically, you will find many parallels between the Church building and the Old Testment Temple-Tabernacle, cf. I Kings 6:1ff.
"The Doors the Doors"

So, given that we pray facing East, the front entrance is at the Western end of the building (just follow the path up past the Bell Tower and through the front couryard.

On the Lintels of the front doors of our Temple are inscribed the words of Psalm 5:7 - the same used in the introductory prayers of the clergy as they enter into the Altar: "I will enter Thy House, I will worship toward Thy holy Temple in fear of Thee." (If you are having trouble making it out, clue: it's in Old Church Slavonic)

The front door of the Church are properly called the "Royal Doors", since our Churches, following the Orthodox Tradition, are modeled on Hagia Sophia, the Church of Holy Wisdom in Constantinople.

The main front doors there are called the Royal Doors since those were the Doors by which the Emperor entered the Temple.

(Nowadays, the "Royal Doors" are often conflated with the Holy Doors of the Iconostas.)



Taken from: [url="http://saintelias.com/ca/church/temple.php"]The Temple[/url]

To continue reading click the link above . . . then go to the bottom of the page and click "next."

[Apotheoun]

[quote name='Veridicus' date='13 February 2010 - 04:50 PM' timestamp='1266105019' post='2056708']
What is the bishop tracing on the laity's foreheads? Is he tracing the cross in oil?
[/quote]
Yes. At various times - especially at the end of a liturgy, but also at other times - the priest (or bishop) will anoint the people with holy myron.

Edited February 13, 2010 by Apotheoun

[Apotheoun]

[url="http://saintelias.com/ca/etiquette/greetings.php"]Greetings and Salutations[/url]

[Veridicus]

[quote name='Apotheoun' date='13 February 2010 - 05:52 PM' timestamp='1266105131' post='2056710']
Our Church buildings are symbols of the Christ - since they are the places where we gather to celebrate the Holy Mysteries and Divine Services.

The very word "church" comes from "Kyriakon" (the Lord's House [greek] - cf. "Kirche" in German or "Kirk" in Broad Scots).

Thus our Temples are architectural proclamations of the Salvation and Love of the Messiah God, who is Himself the Prototype and referent of the Old Testament Temple and the Mosaic Tabernacle.

Architecturally and theologically, you will find many parallels between the Church building and the Old Testment Temple-Tabernacle, cf. I Kings 6:1ff.
"The Doors the Doors"

So, given that we pray facing East, the front entrance is at the Western end of the building (just follow the path up past the Bell Tower and through the front couryard.
[/quote]

I wish someone would remind Western Bishops, Priest, and architects of this.

[Apotheoun]

Diagram of a Eastern Christian temple:

[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/14/Orthodox-Church-interior.jpg[/img]

[Veridicus]

[IMG]http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss172/Veridicus21/CathedralofMaringa.jpg[/IMG]
I think this one probably looks like that inside too.

[Veridicus]

[quote name='Apotheoun' date='13 February 2010 - 06:11 PM' timestamp='1266106312' post='2056719']
Diagram of a Eastern Christian temple:

[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/14/Orthodox-Church-interior.jpg[/img]
[/quote]

Is the Dome always Pantocratoros?

[Apotheoun]

[quote name='Veridicus' date='13 February 2010 - 05:23 PM' timestamp='1266106990' post='2056723']
I think this one probably looks like that inside too.
[/quote]
The icon of the Pantocrator would not fit into that pointy spire.

The images below better exemplify the exterior of an Eastern Christian temple:

[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/44/Temple_Saint_Sava.jpg[/img]

[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2a/Russia-Moscow-Cathedral_of_Christ_the_Saviour-8.jpg[/img]

[Apotheoun]

[quote name='Veridicus' date='13 February 2010 - 05:25 PM' timestamp='1266107106' post='2056726']
Is the Dome always Pantocratoros?
[/quote]
Yes, that is traditional . . . after all, Christ is the ruler of the cosmos.

[Veridicus]

[quote name='Apotheoun' date='13 February 2010 - 06:29 PM' timestamp='1266107389' post='2056730']
Yes, that is traditional . . . after all, Christ is the ruler of the cosmos.
[/quote]

Don't you think a holographic resurrection/crucifix demonstrates that idea to modern man more innovatively?

[Apotheoun]

[quote name='Veridicus' date='13 February 2010 - 05:33 PM' timestamp='1266107630' post='2056732']
Don't you think a holographic resurrection/crucifix demonstrates that idea to modern man more innovatively?
[/quote]
Not really.

[Apotheoun]

How to properly greet a priest:



In the Byzantine Tradition, when we meet a Priest (or a Bishop) it is the practice of our Faith that we ask for a Blessing.

It is not the Practice of our Faith to say, "Hello. How do you do" and shake hands.

The Church transforms even as simple a thing as greeting a priest into yet another occasion to encounter God. The ritual we perform at in this social meeting is directed not so much at the Priest but at God who is everywhere present. The encounter with the priest is a kind of catalyst to find God in humility and grace - for both priest and parishioner.

It becomes an opportunity to worship God. It can be an opportunity to receive Divine Blessing, for God alone is the source of all blessing.

God can use the occasion of the meeting to recall our unvigilant selves back to God and back to His Presence in our Lives and the Grace and Blessings that are proffered to those who seek Him.

"...The Hand of God is held out in blessing for all who seek Him..." (Ezra 8:18b)

Thus approaching a Priest, we offer our hand to him for the Blessing.

Our hands should be held cross-wise, palms upward, right hand over left.

We say to him: "Blahoslovy" or "Father, Bless".

(In the case of a Bishop, we say: "Blahoslovy Vladyko" or "Master, Bless".)

The Priest then makes the Sign of the Cross over us.

Then he puts his Blessing hand into our open hands.

Thus doing, he invokes God's blessing with this prayer:

“May the Lord bless you from Zion and may you see the good of Jerusalem all the days of your life." (Psalm 128:5)

We then kiss the Blessing hand of the Priest as a way to express to God our response to Divine Love.

Saint John Chrysostom taught that if one were to meet a Priest walking along with an Angel, that we should greet the Priest first and kiss his hand, since that hand has touched the Body and Blood of our Lord.

It is a wonderful blessing to be blessed. An opportunity not to be missed.

Let us take every occasion to open our hands and our hearts to God's Blessings, God's Grace, and God's Love.

"Blessed are You, O Lord, teach me your statutes!"


Taken from: [url="http://saintelias.com/ca/etiquette/priest.php"]Greeting a Priest[/url]

[Veridicus]

[quote name='Apotheoun' date='13 February 2010 - 06:37 PM' timestamp='1266107873' post='2056735']
Saint John Chrysostom taught that if one were to meet a Priest walking along with an Angel, that we should greet the Priest first and kiss his hand, since that hand has touched the Body and Blood of our Lord.
[/quote]

Excellent.

[Resurrexi]

[img]http://www.holycross-hermitage.com/holycrosshermitage/gallery25/images/dsc04891.jpg[/img]

Eastern priests have the coolest beards. I think that Latin priests should become Easternized in that respect.

Edited February 14, 2010 by Resurrexi

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote name='Resurrexi' date='13 February 2010 - 06:48 PM' timestamp='1266108519' post='2056739']

Eastern priests have the coolest beards. I think that Latin priests should become Easternized in that respect.
[/quote]
[img]http://www.sspx.ca/EucharisticCrusade/2001%20February/Images/kolbe.jpg[/img]

[Resurrexi]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' date='13 February 2010 - 07:53 PM' timestamp='1266108828' post='2056740']
[img]http://www.sspx.ca/EucharisticCrusade/2001%20February/Images/kolbe.jpg[/img]
[/quote]



My, you have grown quite a beard, Nihil!

[Veridicus]

[quote name='Apotheoun' date='13 February 2010 - 06:35 PM' timestamp='1266107709' post='2056733']
Not really.
[/quote]

I hope you know I was kidding.