Worship & Services
84 writings in Worship & Services. Clear
Worship & Services
What is the All-Night Vigil?
The All-Night Vigil is a service that combines Great Vespers, Orthros, and the First Hour into one extended evening of prayer. Parishes that serve it…
Worship & Services
What is Compline?
Compline is the Church’s bedtime prayer. It’s the last service in the daily cycle, prayed before sleep to close out the day, ask forgiveness for…
Worship & Services
What is the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts?
It’s Vespers with Communion. That’s the simplest way to say it. The Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is an evening service we celebrate during Great…
Worship & Services
When is the Liturgy of St. Basil used?
We celebrate the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great ten times a year. It replaces the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom on specific days when…
Worship & Services
What is the Liturgy of St. Basil?
The Liturgy of St. Basil is a fuller, longer version of the Divine Liturgy that we celebrate about ten times a year on particularly solemn…
Worship & Services
What is the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom?
The Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom is the main worship service of the Orthodox Church. It’s the Eucharistic celebration we serve most Sundays and feast…
Worship & Services
Why is there no instrumental music in Orthodox churches?
We worship with voices alone because that is the Church’s ancient practice. No organs, no pianos, no guitars. Just human voices singing the liturgy from…
Worship & Services
What is a cappella singing and why do Orthodox use it?
Orthodox churches sing without instruments. That’s what a cappella means, just human voices offering the prayers and hymns of the liturgy. Walk into an Orthodox…
Worship & Services
What language are the services in?
At St. Michael’s, we worship in English. But it’s worth understanding why, because it tells you something important about how Orthodoxy works. We don’t have…
Worship & Services
Will I be able to understand the service?
Yes and no. You’ll understand the words, we worship in English at St. Michael’s. But understanding what’s happening takes time. Your first Divine Liturgy will…
Worship & Services
How do I follow along with the service?
You don’t need to follow along perfectly. Just show up and stand with us. That’s the real answer. If you’re visiting for the first time,…
Worship & Services
What books do I need to follow the Liturgy?
You don’t need to buy anything. Service books are in the pews at St. Michael so you can follow along from the moment you walk…
