Church Etiquette

The tidbit will focus on Church Etiquette as it concerns attending the Divine Liturgy. We categorized two lists of Do's and Don'ts as follows:

Some obvious and maybe not so obvious DONT's:

  Don't allow your mind to wander. Next time it happens, imagine your ears are speakers broadcasting your thoughts to all (in addition to God already listening in). Would that be a good thing?

  Don't carry on conversations or chew gum. It's disrespectful.

  Never sit with legs crossed.

  While standing, keep hands out of pockets and do not hold them behind your back.

  Do not turn your back to the altar while observing the Great Entrance procession making its way around the nave.

  Avoid wearing crucifixes as earrings or cufflinks. Unlike a neck chain or a lapel pin, these are seen as trivializing the Holy Cross.

  Don't focus on who's entering the church or in line for communion. Needdless to say, staring is neither polite nor comfortable for anyone.

  Don't turn to see whose child may be restless or crying.

And some definite DO'S:

  When venerating icons, kiss the image's hands, feet, or if a close-up, the right shoulder or hair, but not on the face.

  Make the sign of The Cross when you hear the Holy Spirit or the Holy Trinity mentioned.

  Participate in the Divine Liturgy by singing, reading along in the service, and by actually saying the Nicene Creed and the Lord's Prayer (The Liturgy is a clergy-laity service, where all are supposed to participate, and not merely observe.)

  Consume the antidoron, distributed at the conclusion of the service, crumbs and all, even though it is not the Body of Christ, since it is blessed alttar bread.

From the St. Athanasius Church, Arlington, Massachusetts