The church ("temple") is a special house
consecrated to God ó "the House of God" in which the Divine Services
are conducted. In the church there abides the special grace or mercy of God,
which is given to us through those who conduct the Divine Services, namely, the
clergy (bishops, priests and deacons).
The external appearance of the church differs from
other buildings in that there is a dome which symbolizes Heaven rising
over the church. At the top of the dome is its peak, where the Cross
stands, to the glory of the Head, Jesus Christ. Over the entrance to the church
there is usually built a bell tower where the bells are hung. The
ringing of the bells serves to summon the faithful to prayer ó to the Divine
Services, and to give notice of the most important parts of the service taking
place in the church.
At the entrance to the church there is a porch
(courtyard, or entrance way). The inside of the church is divided into three
parts: 1) the narthex, 2) the church itself, or the nave, or
middle part of the church, where the people stand, 3) the Altar, or
Sanctuary, where the services are conducted by the clergy and where the most
important part of the whole church is located ó the Holy Table (altar
table), on which the Mystery of the Holy Eucharist is celebrated.
The altar is separated from the central part of
the church by the iconostasis, which consists of several rows of icons
and has three doors. The central doors are called the Royal Doors,
because through them the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, the King of glory, passes
invisibly in the Holy Gifts (in Holy Communion). Therefore, no one may pass
through the Royal Doors except the clergy.
The reading and chanting of prayers that are
served in the church by the clergy are called Divine Services.
The most important divine service is the Liturgy.
It is conducted before noonday. During this service the entire earthly life of
the Saviour is commemorated, and the Mystery of the Eucharist (Holy
Communion), which Christ himself instituted at the Mystical Supper, is
The Mystery of Holy Communion is the consecration
of bread and wine by Godís Grace, when they become the true Body and true Blood
of Christ. In appearance they remain bread and wine, but we receive the true
Body and true Blood of the Saviour, under the appearance of bread and wine,
in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, have eternal life and change ourselves.
Since the church is a very holy place,
where God Himself is present invisibly by special mercy, we must enter
it with prayer, and conduct ourselves quietly and reverently. During the Divine
Services it is forbidden to talk, and even more so to laugh. It is forbidden to
stand with your back to the Altar. Each person stands in his place and does not
walk from one place to another. Only in case of sickness is it permitted to sit
down and rest. It is wrong to leave the church before the end of the Divine
We must approach Holy Communion calmly and without
haste, with our arms crossed over our breast. After Communion we kiss the
chalice without making the sign of the Cross, in order not to strike the
What is the church? What is its outside appearance like? How is the church
divided inside? What is the iconostasis? Where are the Royal Doors? What is the
Holy Table and what is celebrated on it? What is the most important Divine
Service? What is commemorated at the Divine Liturgy? What is the Mystery of
Holy Communion? Who instituted this Mystery? How should we conduct ourselves in
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