A Word of Benefit – Church Attendance Etiquette
A Word of Benefit (135)
Church Attendance Etiquette
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We come to the church with a special spiritual preparation:
In ancient times they used to come reciting the Psalms on the way, saying: “I rejoiced with those who said to me: ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord,’” “How beloved are Your dwellings, O Lord God of hosts; my soul longs and faints to enter the courts of the Lord,” “One thing I have asked of the Lord, and this I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,” “Blessed are all who dwell in Your house; they will praise You forever”… -
And a person enters the church saying: “But as for me, in the multitude of Your mercy I will enter Your house. I will worship toward Your holy temple in fear of You.” Thus he bows in reverence and sits in reverence…
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Among the etiquette of respecting the church is that no one may sit at a time when standing is required…
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Nor may a person enter the church with newspapers or magazines in his hands, and worse still to be occupied with them…
And from the etiquette of the church is that you do not speak to the one sitting next to you, nor talk with anyone while leaving the prayer. -
No one may raise his voice; and if someone must speak for a matter related to worship, he speaks in a low or whispered voice.
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No one should be distracted by looking here and there, but should focus his senses and mind on the prayers, contemplation, and listening, being as one standing before God.
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In reciting the responses and hymns, no one may raise his voice above others and cover their voices, nor differ from them in the tune and appear as discord.
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Among the etiquette befitting the church is that a person comes to it in modest clothing, suitable for the house of God. Likewise, those who partake should remove their shoes, and women should cover their hair and not put cosmetics on their faces…
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No one may leave the church except after hearing the final blessing and receiving dismissal from the priest, especially on the day of the Divine Liturgy.
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A person should also come to the church early, for the Lord says: “Those who seek Me early will find Me.”
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One who partakes is supposed to attend the Absolution of the Raising of Morning Incense, or at least attend the Offering of the Lamb and hear the Absolution of the Servants. And he should know that lateness shows a lack of respect for the prayers.
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It is not proper for people to crowd one another in the church during Communion or during receiving the blessing… Rather, they should proceed in order and give precedence to one another.
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One who walks in the church should walk quietly, neither hurrying nor running nor making noise.
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Also, the church is not a place for socializing and conversations. It is unacceptable for some to gather in a corner of the church for discussion.
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And as a practice for respecting the church, a person should enter it with reverence at any time, even outside the time of prayer…
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