You bow when the priest gives a blessing, during petitions to Christ or the Theotokos, at the Trisagion, before venerating an icon, and before receiving Communion. There are other moments too, but those are the main ones you’ll notice right away.
If you’re coming from a Baptist or non-denominational background, this might feel strange at first. We don’t kneel much in Protestant churches, and we certainly don’t bow. But Orthodox worship involves the body. Your body isn’t just a vehicle carrying your brain to church. It prays too.
Two Kinds of Bows
A simple bow is just what it sounds like: you bend from the waist, usually while making the sign of the cross. You’ll do this often during the service. It’s a gesture of reverence, like nodding respectfully but more so.
A prostration is different. That’s when you go all the way down, touching your forehead to the floor or kneeling fully. Some people call these metanias. You’ll see prostrations during Great Lent, especially at the Prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian. But you won’t see them during the Paschal season, from Pascha through Pentecost we don’t kneel or prostrate because we’re celebrating the Resurrection. Standing is the posture of the resurrection.
The Practical Moments
When the priest blesses you, whether he’s blessing the whole congregation or you’re approaching him individually, you bow. Don’t cross yourself while receiving a blessing. Just bow.
During the Trisagion (“Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us”), most people bow. Same with petitions that specifically invoke Christ or the Mother of God. You’ll hear the deacon or priest say “Remembering our most holy, pure, blessed and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary,” and people will bow.
At the Little Entrance, when the priest and servers process with the Gospel book, you bow. Before you approach for Communion, you bow. When you venerate an icon, whether entering church or approaching the icon stand, you typically make the sign of the cross twice with a bow after each, then kiss the icon, then cross yourself and bow once more.
Your first few Sundays at St. Michael, you’ll probably feel lost. That’s fine. Watch the people around you. Follow what they do. If you’re not sure, a simple bow from the waist is never wrong. Nobody’s keeping score, and nobody expects you to know all this on week one.
Why We Do This
Bowing isn’t about following rules for the sake of rules. It’s about humility. It’s about recognizing that you’re in the presence of something, Someone, greater than yourself. When we bow before an icon of Christ, we’re not worshiping the wood and paint. We’re venerating the person depicted, showing honor to Christ Himself through the image.
The same goes for bowing to the priest when he blesses. We’re not bowing to Fr. Nicholas as a person (though he’s a good guy). We’re receiving the blessing of Christ that comes through the priest’s office. The priest himself will often bow back to the congregation, acknowledging that he too is a sinner in need of God’s mercy.
There’s also something deeply human about this. We’re not brains on sticks. We’re embodied souls. When your body bows, something happens in your heart. Try it sometime outside of church, just bow deeply before your icon corner at home. You’ll feel it. The body teaches the soul.
When in Doubt
If you’re standing there during Liturgy thinking “Should I bow now? Did everyone else just bow? Was I supposed to do that?”, relax. You’re fine. God isn’t watching with a clipboard. The people around you aren’t judging you. They’re trying to pray.
After a few weeks, the rhythm will start to feel natural. You’ll anticipate the moments. Your body will learn the pattern before your mind fully understands it. That’s actually how it’s supposed to work. We don’t think our way into Orthodox worship. We live our way into it.
And here’s the thing about Southeast Texas: people here are kind. If you look confused, someone will help you. If you bow at the wrong time or don’t bow when everyone else does, nobody’s going to say a word. We’ve all been new. Some of us are still figuring it out after years.
Come to a service and just watch. Stand when others stand, bow when it feels right, and don’t worry about getting it perfect. The point isn’t perfect choreography. The point is being present, body and soul, before the God who made you and loves you. Everything else is just details.
