[Meowmeowz]

The first time I attended services I was, fortunately, surrounded by enough congregants around me that I could peek at where they were in the liturgy book. This past Sunday, I was totally lost when I came in, no one around me had a liturgy book open till one man opened his to pg 24, then the readers and priest kept going back and forth between Greek, English, and even skipping or changing portions. Does following along get easier?

[w4WBthjv]

The first time I attended services I was, fortunately, surrounded by enough congregants around me that I could peek at where they were in the liturgy book. This past Sunday, I was totally lost when I came in, no one around me had a liturgy book open till one man opened his to pg 24, then the readers and priest kept going back and forth between Greek, English, and even skipping or changing portions. Does following along get easier?

You will probably get several different answers to this. Many people might tell you not to worry about following along in the book, and that you should just listen and participate in the Liturgy. But, that is not really how some people work. Many people like to follow along and read the service, especially if it is in a language that you do not understand.

If you are new to Greek, it will get a little easier, especially if you can learn a few liturgical words and phrases that will help you find your place if you get lost.

Another thing is to make sure that you are there at the beginning of the service so that you can start following along from the beginning. It can be difficult to find the beginning sometimes if you church does orthros, but it comes after the choir sings the longer hymn (the Great Doxology), and since most Greek churches don't have curtains, you can usually see the priest pick up the gospel and make the sign of the cross while either saying "Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father..." or "Εὐλογημένη ἡ Βασιλεία του Πατρὸς... (Evglogimeni i Vasilia to Patros...)."

Hope that helps a little,
Sbdn. Anthony

[DrazAdwamoi]

Yes, the church has orthros, but doesn't appear to have a choir. If we arrived late, then it was only by a few minutes. I'll have to have it more together this next Sunday.

[Abarricoss]

Does following along get easier?

Yes, with time. Most of the Liturgy is the same each week. If your Church has the service entirely in Greek there may be somewhere you can borrow/purchase a Greek/English copy of the Liturgy. Ask around after the Liturgy has finished if anyone knows where this is.

Once you get in to it, and have a Liturgy book, look out for important bits in the Liturgy.

• The Little Entrance is where the Gospel book is carried out of the left door then back through the central door.
• When the Gospel is read.
• The Great Entrance when the bread and wine (under decorated cloths) are brought out of the left door and back through the central door.
• The Creed (in many Churches, the people join in this part)
• The Anaphora (the long prayer after the creed)
• The Lord's Prayer (Our Father, ...)
• Communion
• Dismissal

You might only pick up on a few of these the first time, but more will come with time.

In Xp

Alex

[doolarsva]

Thankfully, there are Liturgy books in the pews and they are in Greek on the Left side of the book and English on the Right. It just throws me when I'm trying to follow along, they switch to Greek (it's mostly in English) and then they come back to English...I have to search the pages to find where they are now at (since I don't understand Greek yet). Then, when they add or take away from the wording, it makes it all the more difficult finding my place.

I'm one that depends on the Liturgy book to know what is going on.

[NarhozNic]

Then, when they add or take away from the wording, it makes it all the more difficult finding my place.

I'm one that depends on the Liturgy book to know what is going on.

When they add they are chanting the chantings for the saint of the church, for the saint of the day etc. These are not in the Liturgy book. These are printed separately in a leaflet inside the weekly bulletin in my church - I do not know what they do in your church but maybe you can ask the priest. Do not feel stressed out, you will know more with time as others have mentioned.

[usaneisfiecup]

. Does following along get easier?

No, it gets horribly more difficult as the year progresses. The trick is NOT to follow along. Listen for the Amen. Or in most every other language I have heard it is pronounced Ameeen. Watch the others. Cross yourself when they do. Stand when they stand and sit when they sit. (something my wife scolded me for since I was able to stand all during Pascha one year and NOBODY else in the place was standing. I was on the front row, so I didn't see everyone behind me.)

Also, typically the music is the same week to week with a few twists thrown in here and there. Over time you will learn the words. If you just have to have a book, go stand by the choir or canters since they have the "play book" and pray they don't induct you.

And if all that fails, then walk up to some nice old lady and say "Hey, I'm lost; Where are we?"

Paul

[greeferweq]

No, it gets horribly more difficult as the year progresses. The trick is NOT to follow along. Listen for the Amen. Or in most every other language I have heard it is pronounced Ameeen. Watch the others. Cross yourself when they do. Stand when they stand and sit when they sit. (something my wife scolded me for since I was able to stand all during Pascha one year and NOBODY else in the place was standing. I was on the front row, so I didn't see everyone behind me.)

Also, typically the music is the same week to week with a few twists thrown in here and there. Over time you will learn the words. If you just have to have a book, go stand by the choir or canters since they have the "play book" and pray they don't induct you.

And if all that fails, then walk up to some nice old lady and say "Hey, I'm lost; Where are we?"

Paul

Thanks for the chuckle. I don't know what you mean by "inducting" me (sounds something akin to public humiliation). I was afraid to ask the older woman next to me as I didn't want to interfere with her worship. We have a rather large family and the front of the church is rather full...getting near the canter is unlikely anyhow.

[Obgrfbke]

The first time I attended services I was, fortunately, surrounded by enough congregants around me that I could peek at where they were in the liturgy book. This past Sunday, I was totally lost when I came in, no one around me had a liturgy book open till one man opened his to pg 24, then the readers and priest kept going back and forth between Greek, English, and even skipping or changing portions. Does following along get easier?

Dear Etsi, welcome to the forum.

What I would advise is that you buy a version of the Liturgy that has Greek on one side and English on the other.

This helped me immensely. For years I attended services and just listened. I understood some words, knew the meaning of others but not in English with the result that they did not reach into my heart. There were other words I did not understand at all, especially when the priests and deacons mumbled. Quite a mess.

I was given an Australian Greek/English version of the Liturgy by my brother in law and, believe me, the whole liturgy has come alive for me. The Greek is beautiful but I needed the English to fully understand. Sbdn Anthony is right. Some people need to understand what is being said and I am one of these.

In another of your posts you mention the Greek/English books that are available in your church. Buy your own and then you can do what I do. I have placed little yellow tabs on the pages that contain e.g. The Lord's prayer, the Apostle's passage etc. This means that I can usually find the right place and I just continue from there.

When I lose my place, because of differences in the liturgy, I don't worry about it. With time you will find that when you pay attention to the English translation of the Greek every Sunday, you will gradually begin to understand the Greek better.

I hope I have helped you a little.

Effie

[wvbwxol]

Something that saddens me and that I have no solution for yet are the times I attend services for some special event.

There are some hymns that all the congregation sing together. They sound so beautiful but they are not included in my little book. The last time this happened was on the 50 days after Easter - the Pentecost feastday. I just listened while everyone else sang.

Effie

[amberamuletuk]

Does following along get easier?

Indeed it does get easier. I've been Orthodox for only a few months and I have attended many but not all services and have become more adept at following along. My priest told me that the best way to learn about Orthodoxy was to attend as many services as possible.

In the first few vigils and liturgies, he even ventured out into the nave to point out what section we were in. My congregation is ROCOR; services are mostly English and some Slavonic, and a spattering of Greek, and it was foreign and arcane to me at first, but well worth heeding his advice and coming to many, many services.

It can be quite difficult following along, especially during vigils when canons are read, but I will tell you this: It will get easier to follow and you will be a pro in no time!

Now, I can close my eyes and my liturgy book for much of the Divine Liturgy and bask in the eternal and uncreated light of the beauty of the service and generally find my way around when I need to.

In Christ,

Pete