Liturgy and Worship
Welcome to Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church! We welcome you to learn more about the Orthodox Christian Faith and worship.
One of the first things visitors will notice about the Orthodox Church is that our worship is liturgical. In fact, the service in which we receive Holy Communion, our “Mass,” if you will, is called the “Divine Liturgy.” It is an act of corporate worship, something we do together, but it is also deeply personal. The Divine Liturgy is not re-invented with each new generation, but follows Orthodox Holy Tradition. Holy Tradition is the leading of the Church by the Holy Spirit throughout the centuries.
While to a visitor or a new member of the Orthodox Church our worship may appear complicated and confusing, everything we do and say has great meaning and is actually very well organized. We take very seriously the Apostolic admonition that all things in the life of the church, but especially in her worship, should be done decently and in order. (1 Cor, 14:40).
Here at Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church in Sioux Falls, we worship almost entirely in English, so you will be able to understand what we are saying. Sometimes we say or chant something in Greek or Slavonic (an old version of Russian) but these are parts of the service are rather few and are parts that have usually been done in English as well.
The best way to learn about Orthodox worship is simply to attend a service. There will be a lot to smell, hear, and see (Orthodox worship involves the body as well as the mind) and you are expected to look around. We do not traditionally stand with our noses in books! No one will put you on the spot or embarrass you. We often have non-Orthodox visitors and welcome you to join us for worship.
While we are very happy for you to join us for worship, please know, however, that we cannot invite you to join us when we participate in any of the Holy Mysteries of the Church (the Sacrament of Holy Communion and the rest). These are restricted to Orthodox Christians who are to properly prepare themselves before receiving. We aren’t being unfriendly. We simply believe that participation in the Holy Mysteries signifies that we are in full agreement on matters of faith. Only when this is true do we share in the Holy Mysteries together.
We pray that the Lord Jesus will bless you and that you will feel welcome to join us for worship soon.
Resources:
1. Archdiocese of America: Liturgy & Worship
2. Personal and Devotional Prayers
5. Worship in the Orthodox Church
6. Trisagion School of Byzantine Music