Liturgy: Living the Faith through Worship

The first experience for a convert to the faith will most likely be some form of Orthodox prayer, worship and spirituality that intrigues there minds. That first experience might be so powerful so to the point where people might say "that God dwells there among those humans". However, the liturgy, as it would be the first service many converts would see, has had a huge impact on the liturgical movement of the 20th century. Alexander Schmemann, George Florovsky, Robert Taft, Gregory Dix and many others have contributed immensely to this liturgical movement. The liturgy, as was understood by these great scholars, becomes the live and the matrix of the believers life.

The word Orthodoxy, does not necessarily mean right doctrine but rather right worship or praise, and it is through worship and praise that Orthodoxy understands right doctrine in the context and setting of worship. Florovsky famously wrote that "Christianity is a liturgical religion. The Church is first of all a worshipping community. Worships comes first, doctrine and discipline second." Bishop Kallistos ware echoed the same theme saying "Orthodoxy sees human beings as liturgical creatures who are most truly themselves when they glorify God, and who find their perfection and self-fulfilment in worship."

The Divine Liturgy then is a celebration of the Eucharist alone. The beauty of this worship to the non-believer usually stands out with the singing, the decoration of the church and most important the icons within. The mixture of formality and familiarity that is unique to the faith leaves the believer assured that they are in the house of their true Father. With that meeting taking place the church and liturgy are truly meeting points between heaven and earth.  

Divine offices or daily services (Matins and Vespers) are conducted in the church by the priest and must have at least one other person present. These services consist largely of readings form the book of the Psalms, with other prayers surrounding them. Personal prayer is also another important concept to the believer usually conducted in front of icons in the home. However, the thought of personal prayer should never escape the mind of the individual as something done alone. The context of community and liturgy should always be a consistent thought in the mind through personal prayer. Florovsky said it best "Personal prayer is only possible in the context of the community. Even in solitude, in the chamber, a Christian prays as a member of the redeemed community, of the Church." Living out liturgy is then not a personal task but rather one that is done within the community setting. The community coming together in the one body of Christ.