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The first thing I think I ought to point out about this church ‘write-up’ is that it’s not actually about a church as such at all. Well, not in the usual sense of the word anyway. The Orthodox liturgy of St John Chrysostom is held on the first Saturday of every month in St Mary’s Church, Bishophill (usually a C of E establishment).
I suppose it was a sense of curiosity more than anything else which got me up so early(-ish!) on a Saturday morning for the last service. I had never been to an Orthodox service before, and most likely, dear reader, neither have you. What do they do? What’s it all about? Are they normal people really? Do they use as much incense as you think they will? All questions my inquisitive little mind needed to have answered.
The Liturgy of St John Chrysostom is, basically, the standard Orthodox communion service. Perhaps the most noticeable difference between it and your average Protestant Eucharist is the lack of involvement of the congregation. The entire service is read or sung in a lilting Byzantine manner by the celebrating Priest or his cantor. All you have to do. is stand up or sit down at the appropriate times! Some people might say that not having any direct input from the congregation in this way is not such a good thing. Minds WILL wander! In fact, though, I personally found the reverse to be true. It was actually quite freeing not to have to fumble through books and bits of paper all the time, and I found the chance to meditatively reflect on what was going on at the front invaluable.
After the service we all retreated into the back room for coffee. Although the congregation was small, they were all certainly very friendly and approachable people, not least the Priest himself (well, he did look a bit imposing with all his ceremonial dress on!) who was quite prepared to answer all my questions. The cantor too, was a jolly nice chap, who ran me through all the salient features of the service, explaining them as he went, including the rather elaborate altar. I’d never seen a real life Ikon until the other Saturday! Wow!
I certainly found the experience of the service to be very worthwhile, both in terms of a Eucharist where I come into contact with my Lord Jesus Christ (the most vivid experience I’d had of that for a long time) and as an eye-opening introduction to one of the oldest and richest traditions in the Christian church.
Oh, and yes they do use as much incense as you think they will!!
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Last modified: 25th November 2005