What to Do at Your First Divine Liturgy

You are going to stand. A lot. You are going to hear a language you half recognize. You will watch people cross themselves in an order you don't know. A beautiful cloud of incense will pass by. Someone will hand you a candle.

That's okay.

The Liturgy is not a test. It is a participation. Here is everything you need to remember for your first visit:

Before

• Wear modest, comfortable clothes. Nothing flashy.
• Arrive 10 minutes early if you can.
• Walk in quietly, light a candle if you wish, and find a spot in the back.

During

• Stand when others stand. Sit only if you need to (chairs are usually for the elderly or those who struggle).
• Don't worry about the Creed, the prayers, or the hymns — just listen.
• When the chalice comes out, do not approach. Communion is for baptized Orthodox Christians who have prepared. It is not a slight — it is how the Church has guarded the Mysteries for 2,000 years.
• At the end, you are welcome to receive the antidoron (blessed bread) from the priest.

After

• Stay for coffee hour if there is one. The parish is a family.
• Introduce yourself to the priest. Just say: "Father, I'm exploring Orthodoxy."
• That is usually the beginning of everything.