Worship

Now that I have shared with you the history of the Church and her core beliefs, I would like to tell you a little about how we worship. At first, the services may look very different from what you are used to, but everything has a biblical foundation and points us to Christ.

Worship is at the heart of the Church. From the very beginning, Christians gathered together to pray, hear the Bible readings, and celebrate the Lord’s Supper. The book of Acts tells us: “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42). This is still what we do in every Orthodox service.

We celebrate the Divine Liturgy (the main service of the Church). The word “liturgy” simply means “the work of the people.” In it, we hear readings from the Bible, we pray together, and we receive Holy Communion. Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19), and the Apostle Paul reminded the Church in Corinth that “the cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?” (1 Corinthians 10:16). For us, Communion is the very center of Christian life.

We use icons (holy images) in our worship. An icon is not a replacement for God, but a window that helps us remember the reality of Christ and His saints. In the Old Testament, God commanded Moses to place images of cherubim in the tabernacle (Exodus 25:18–22). Later, Solomon decorated the Temple with carved images of palm trees, flowers, and angels (1 Kings 6:29–30). When we use icons, we are following the same principle — images that turn our minds to heavenly realities. Most of all, because Jesus became a man whom people could see and touch (John 1:14; 1 John 1:1), we can rightly depict Him in images.

We use incense in worship. Incense is mentioned many times in the Bible as a sign of prayer rising up to God. “Let my prayer be counted as incense before you” (Psalm 141:2). In the book of Revelation, the saints in heaven are seen holding “golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints” (Revelation 5:8). So when we use incense, we are simply joining in the worship that is already taking place in heaven.

We sing hymns and prayers. Singing is an important part of Orthodox worship. Saint Paul wrote, “Be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart” (Ephesians 5:18–19). Our services are almost entirely sung, to remind us that worship is not just talking about God but lifting our hearts to Him.

We face east in worship. The early Christians prayed facing east, waiting for the coming of Christ, whom the Bible calls the “Sun of righteousness” (Malachi 4:2). Jesus said His return will be like lightning that comes from the east and shines to the west (Matthew 24:27). This simple act helps us remember to keep our eyes on His promised return.

When you visit an Orthodox Church, you will see these things—the Scriptures being read, prayers being sung, incense rising, and icons all around. None of these are meant to distract us. They all come together to help us focus our minds and hearts on the Lord Jesus Christ, just as Christians have done from the beginning.

With love in Christ,
Fr. Charles

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