How to behave in the Orthodox Church

Many, standing on the threshold of the Orthodox church, do not dare to go inside. And the reason for this is one - ignorance of the rules of behavior. There are really a lot of questions, for example, where to put candles and can women come in trousers? But in fact, everything is not as difficult as it seems at first glance.

Appearance

Before you go to church, you need to think about your appearance. The dress in any case should not be Yarim or too open. This rule applies to both women and men. A woman’s head is necessarily covered with a handkerchief, because it is a symbol of obedience. It does not matter whether a woman is married or not. The shawl should even be on little girls.

Ladies who forgot about this rule and came without a hat, in some temples lend a handkerchief. Thickets of all they can be found near the entrance or in the church shop. Wearing pants by women in the church is not prohibited by any canon.However, according to the national tradition, the woman in the church should be in skirts, and not above the knee. Therefore, to come in pants is not recommended.

It is believed that a woman during a visit to the church should not be made up. There are no strict regulations on this. But you must understand that bright makeup in the temple - this is too much. Also, you can not use lipstick, because according to Orthodox tradition in the church, you must kiss the cross, icons, etc.

By the way, contrary to the accepted opinion that women should not go to church during critical days, this is not quite the case. During this period, you can come to the temple to put candles. But from participation in various sacraments, for example, in the wedding or baptism, will have to be abandoned. If you have any doubts, you can ask the priest for advice.

No need to think that the men in the matter of appearance more fortunate. For example, a hundred years ago they had special galoshes, which they shot in front of the entrance to the temple. And then went barefoot. It was also possible to come only in clean clothes. From modern men are not required to come barefoot, but the appearance should be neat.Unlike women, an Orthodox man removes a headdress in a temple.

Behavior rules

Coming to the temple is necessary to collect your thoughts. This must be a conscious visit. Entering the church, you need to cross three times and say "Lord, have mercy" or "God, be merciful to me a sinner." Many are embarrassed to do this, so you can just go to the temple. Do not forget to turn off your mobile phone.

But some rules still have to abide by. Entering the church, right in front of you, you can see the iconostasis - a design consisting of a large number of icons. In the center of the iconostasis will be located the entrance to the altar, and on the side - a place where candles, icons, etc. are offered to parishioners.

If this is the first visit to the church, then it is better to come 15-20 minutes before the service begins and look around. At this time, it is recommended to pray and put candles. It is impossible to do this during the service, it is better to wait for its completion. Putting candles is very simple - on either side of the candlestick and any hand. An important rule that should be remembered is that candles “for the rest” are put on a candlestick in the form of a table (eve), and “for health” - to any icon.

Also, do not need to light a candle from the lamp, better from other candles. Bottom candle should be melted a little, and then put in a cell. If for some reason it does not go off, nothing terrible. You can also leave such a candle in the candlestick, the church workers will light it after. You can attach to the icon, but only before the start of the service. Having crossed twice, it is necessary to kiss the lower part of the icon (if it is an icon of the Savior, they are always attached to the legs). Other icons kiss the upper part, that is, the hands.

Before the beginning of the service, the bells always ring. This is a kind of signal that the divine service is about to begin, and it is necessary to occupy seats. According to custom, men stand on the right side, and women - on the left. For those who cannot defend the entire service, there are special benches and chairs at the back wall of the church. You also need to stand up so as not to be back to the altar. But even the sick and the weak always get up while reading the Gospel.

During worship, you must be baptized and bowed. For the first time, you can simply repeat the actions of other parishioners. But it is best to listen carefully to the priest and learn.They are usually baptized at important cries of the father, for example, "In the name of the Father and the Son, and the Holy Spirit", "Lord, have mercy," etc. You need to bow when the father blesses with a hand or a cross.

In no case during the service you can not talk, be distracted by looking at the temple or the parishioners. The rules prescribe to behave in the temple, as in any other decent society. Before coming to worship with small children, they need to explain how to behave.

If the child is frightened, and it is impossible to calm him down, it is better to leave the temple. You can return later. But this is the only reason for leaving the church until the end of the service. Better still wait for its completion. Leaving the church, it is necessary to cross over three times and bow to the waist, facing the altar.

Who to ask

Before the service begins, you can talk to other parishioners and the priest. They can clarify questions regarding temple conduct or worship services. In order to appeal to the priest, it is necessary to say “Batyushka, bless!” And ask him your question. To accept the blessing, fold your arms, palms up,putting your right hand on your left. You also need to kiss the right hand of the father.

Special features

Often, newcomers to the Orthodox Church are confronted with various features and do not understand how to behave.

1. Assume that it is known that during a church service you cannot go to church and do your own business, that is, put candles, etc. In general, this is the case. But every Sunday morning, there are two services in a row in the Orthodox Church - matins and liturgy. And there is no break between them, so that the parishioners, waiting for the liturgy, put candles and pray. Therefore, it seems that the temple is a mess.
2. Many have difficulty with when they need to be baptized and how to do it correctly. It is known that the Orthodox baptize with the right hand from right to left. It is also necessary to fold the fingers correctly - big, index and middle fold together, and the other two - are pressed against the palm. It needs to learn, but if at first it does not work out, it is not scary.
3. Knee bending. Orthodox believers kneel differently than, for example, Catholics. They fall down, lean on their hands and touch their foreheads to the floor.Kneeling is not a prerequisite, it is rather a personal manifestation of religiosity. Therefore, many only bow their heads or sit leaning forward. During the service, you can just stand shyly. No one will condemn or force you to fall on your knees. Perhaps the desire to appear over time.
4. What and how to kiss in the church. For starters, you need to kiss the icons. This is called an application. In this case, be sure to be baptized. It is also customary to kiss the Holy Cup during communion, the priest’s hand after blessing, etc.
5. In Orthodoxy there is no one common confession. And there is no confession prayer, which is read during the liturgy. Every parishioner is obliged to confess to the priest personally.
6. At the beginning of the people who have come to the service for the first time, the parishioners are stunned by the singing. Indeed, music takes up more than half of the worship service. Most often it sings a small choir. At first, this almost continuous singing is distracting, especially when you consider that the text of the prayers practically does not change. But over time, to feel the presence of God will become easier.
7. It seems to many parishioners that the liturgy lasts too long. Yes, you can cut the text and be more precise.But then it will not be Orthodox worship. Prayers are not so long in vain. In addition, the first Orthodox services rarely lasted less than 5 hours. And only after centuries this period gradually decreased.

A trip to the Orthodox Church is an important step for every person. It does not matter at what age it occurs. As soon as there is a desire to attend the service, you must go to the temple. Do not be afraid and worry that something will go wrong. A visit to a temple is first and foremost communication with God, and one should not forget about it.

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