Worship Traditions

BYZANTINE SIGN OF THE CROSS

Blessing oneself with two fingers brought to the thumb represents the Trinity. The last two fingers held to the palm represent the two natures of Jesus–God and man. For the first 1,200 years of the Church, in making the Sign of the Cross, the hand was typically brought from the right to the left shoulder. In the East this is still the practice, to signify Christ enthroned at the right hand of the Father.

INCENSE

We use incense as a sign of reverence for the sacred place and the sacredness of the people who are made in Gods image.  It is a sign of preparing for something important about to happen in the Liturgy. It is our prayer ascending like the smoke of incense before the throne of God.

BOWS AND BLESSINGS

We bow and make the Sign of the Cross many times during the Liturgy, as a sign of our faith, and the receiving and accepting of Gods blessings. Following the making of the Sign of the Cross, reverence to God is further expressed by bowing the head. We bless ourselves every time we mention the Persons of the Trinity by name, or whenever the priest blesses the congregation. We also bow and sign ourselves whenever we enter or leave the church

CONGREGATIONAL SINGING

Almost our entirely Liturgy is sung acapella. No instruments are permitted in church.

ICONOGRAPHY

The church is decorated with painted icons rather than using statues of holy persons.  The icons are painted in the Byzantine form.

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