ORGANIZATIONS DESERVING YOUR SUPPORT

The International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) supports chari-table works abroad and in North America.

The Orthodox Christian Missionary Center, supported by many jurisdictions, sends missionaries abroad and sponsors many worthy causes.  Order the OCMC magazine* HERE). 

     *Vol . 15, no. 2 (1999) issue of OCMC contains inspiring accounts (with photographs) of Orthodox missions in Alaska, Albania (huge rebirth after complete destruction by the former Communist government), Romania (new monasteries), the Philippines, Madagascar, Guatemala, Haiti, China, Calcutta (a large, beautiful orphanage), Uganda, Kenya, Mexico, and Chile.   The Patriarch of Alexandria's missions in eight countries of the African continent have been extremely successful in building up dioceses, seminaries, clinics, and schools--mostly staffed by trained native-born clergy.  By reading this issue, Orthodox people could find inspiration to send the OCMC a contribution to assist their missionary work.  Vol 22.1, pp. 4-7, 24 of AGAIN magazine gives a beautiful picture of Orthodox missions and the principles guiding these efforts--which work represents a  180-degree change from the days when "the Orthodox don't proselytize"!  IF YOU THINK YOU MAY BE CALLED TO BE A MISSIONARY, GET IN TOUCH WITH THE OCMC NOW!

     College students and others of at least eighteen years of age are invited to apply to one of these 2001 Orthodox Mission Teams:  Alaska, Albania, Brazil, Cameroon, Guatemala, India, or Romania.  Call Andy Lekos, Project Co-ordinator at 1-904-892-5132; or log on HERE. 

      If you wish to learn about the project for translating the Orthodox Old Testament (LXX), CLICK HERE.

ONE CUSTOM THAT VISITORS 
MIGHT WISH TO BE AWARE OF:

     In temples of some jurisdictions, the faithful will be offended if you cross your legs while sitting; as you will mostly be standing in such temples, the problem may not arise.  But it's prudent to be warned.  One should not enter an Orthodox temple except when modestly dressed in clothes appropriate to one's own sex (e.g. no short trousers or, for women, not any kind of trousers).  
     The Orthodox do not kneel or prostrate themselves on Lordsdays (i.e. from the end of the Lordsday Vespers [on the preceding Sabbath (Saturday)] through Lordsday Vespers).  They do not kneel or prostrate themselves from the midnight  Pascha service until the beginning of Vespers on holy Pentecost (= Trinity Lordsday)--which immediately follows the divine Liturgy on that festival.  At times when  kneeling and prostrations are not done, a low bow from the waist, during which the knuckles of the right fingers sweep the floor, is substituted.

     One does not say, "God bless you," to an Orthodox deacon, priest, or hierarch.  The clergy bless us, not vice-versa!

     Non-Orthodox should note that only Orthodox can canonically receive the holy Mysteries (Communion) in the Orthodox Church.  A baptized or at least chrismated Orthodox person is expected to  to have gone to Confession if one has, or should have, sins on one's conscience before going to the Holy Communion.  When one comes to the Chalice for holy Communion,  one tells the priest one's Orthodox name (i.e. the name received at Baptism or Chrismation, or at ordination or when entering different grades of monasticism), so that he may call each communicant by name in bestowing the holy Gifts.  In some bodies, one kisses the Chalice and the priest's hand after receiving the holy Gifts.  Communi- cants are expected to be appropriately dressed, and women should also have a head-covering (available in many parishes) when receiving the holy Mysteries.

CLICK HERE FOR ORTHOPRAXIS AND THIS BOOKLET:
A guide to Orthodox life:  some beliefs,  customs, and traditions 
of the Church  Here, fasting, temple behavior,
arranging funerals, etc., are explained.

     A WONDERFUL, LARGE ORTHODOX SITE, FULL OF RELIABLE AND VALUABLE INFORMATION:  ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN INFORMATION CENTER, (to which is linked CENTER FOR TRADITIONALIST ORTHODOX STUDIES)