Questions and Answers for Our Visitors
How do I access THe church?
From Kingston Pike, turn onto Kingston Park Drive. Next, turn right into the main parking lot. As you get out of your vehicle, go down the walkway between the two brick buildings and enter the church through the door on the right-hand side, underneath the portico.
What is THe dress code?
In Orthodox Christian practice, when entering God’s dwelling place, we focus on humbly presenting ourselves before the Lord in His place of worship. While we should present ourselves clean and appropriately dressed, our focus should not be on impressing the people around us. Consequently, while there is no dress code, per se, there are usually local customary manners of attire.
For example, at Sunday morning services, it is not uncommon for gentlemen to attend wearing a suit and ladies wearing a dress, with children dressed accordingly. In other words, one is not required to attend in formal attire, and neither should one present oneself thoughtlessly. One’s attire should reflect their love and respect for the Lord.
Can I receive Holy Communion?
While we invite all visitors to join us and participate in prayer during our Divine Liturgy celebrations, at the moment when the Holy Chalice is offered, neither all Orthodox Christians nor visitors go forward to receive. In fact, only those who live according to the Sacramental Life of the Greek Orthodox Church and have appropriately prepared themselves for that day should approach for Holy Communion.
At the same time, please note that at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, the celebrant priest distributes small pieces of blessed bread, called ‘Antidoron.’ This bread is from the oblation loaf offered prior to the Divine Liturgy. Whatever is not used then for the Eucharist is distributed later at the end of the service. In this way, each worshipper, including each visitor, is given the
opportunity to receive a blessing from the Lord through the priest.
Can I schedule a meeting with one of THe Priests?
To speak with one of the priests, contact the Church Office by phone [(865)522-5043] or email [stgeorgeknoxville@gmail.com] to set up an appointment with either Fr. Dionysios or Fr. Anthony.
I am interested in learning more about THe Orthodox Faith; are classes offered?
Yes, we have classes as well as other ways to learn about the Orthodox Faith. A Catechetical Class is offered for those interested in learning more about our faith, practices, and the history of the Orthodox Church. We also have continuing education programs for adults throughout the year. Besides those resources, our Parish has a small bookstore inside the Church Hall that is opened every Sunday after the Divine Liturgy. Everyone is encouraged to stop by and ask for recommended book titles about the Orthodox Church. You can reach out to Fr. Dionysios and find out about enrolling in the class or any other detail.
7 Things You Should Know Before Your First Visit to an Orthodox Church
This section has been adapted from the website of St. John the Divine Greek Orthodox Church in Jacksonville, Florida, with their kind and generous permission.
1. Our Worship Services
On Sunday morning, we have two services. We begin with the Orthros, a morning service. We offer the Orthros in preparation for our main service, the Divine Liturgy, which is our celebration of the Holy Eucharist. These are two distinct services that blend seamlessly from one into the next as we prepare for and embrace the coming of the Kingdom of Christ.
When attending, you may notice an additional brief service being offered. The purpose of such services varies; it may be in memory of one who has passed, or for the blessing of loaves of bread on a holiday, or for blessing a 40-day old baby who is being received into the Church. You may also observe how the number of worshipers increases throughout the morning. This practice is not uncommon, even though punctual attendance is encouraged.
Each Sunday, our Orthros begins at 8:45 a.m. and our Divine Liturgy at approximately 9:45 a.m. We live stream our services through our Church website and app.
II. Standing While Praying: “Wisdom, let us be attentive!”
In the Orthodox tradition, we are encouraged to be standing when we pray. Our worship is an offering to God for which we want to be fully present and attentive. In that light, sitting would seem to be too casual of a position. In the presence of an important figure such as the President of the United States, let alone Christ, the King of Kings, one would certainly be expected to be standing. We believe that when we are in the presence of God, we should all stand and be attentive. If you need to sit at any point, you may certainly do so; we have pews for this reason.
You will notice people typically sitting during the Epistle reading and standing for the Gospel reading. The faithful are seated for the Sermon but stand for most of the Divine Liturgy. On Sundays, services usually continue until around 11:30 a.m., although that can vary.
III. The Sign of the Cross
As Orthodox Christians, we frequently bless ourselves with the sign of the Cross. We make this sign whenever we venerate or kiss a sacred item out of respect, such as an icon. We also bless ourselves with the Cross throughout the services, such as whenever the name of the Holy Trinity is invoked or when the Priest blesses the congregation. It is an act of prayer and can be done as a prayer itself or while a prayer is said or chanted. By making the sign of the Cross, we signify our faith in our Lord, Who offered Himself on the Cross for our Salvation, and we give witness to the reality of His glorious Resurrection by the power of His Cross. When we make the sign of the Cross, we use the right hand, putting together the thumb, index, and middle fingers, then pressing the ring and pinky fingers into the palm, tucked below the other three. With our right hand formed this way, we place our three fingers on our forehead first, next down to the torso below our heart, then to the right shoulder, and cross over to our left shoulder.
IV. Venerating Sacred Items
As you enter an Orthodox Church you may notice the members kissing the icons. You may also see people kissing other sacred items, such as a Cross, or the relic of a saint, or the Chalice. When we kiss items in this way it is done as an act of veneration; the item is not an object of worship but of veneration. It is venerated, or treated with pious respect due to representing Christ, or representing a saint who directs us to faith in Christ.
V. Who Are Our Clergy and How Are They Greeted?
The presiding clergyman in an Orthodox Christian parish is a priest. There are three ranks among the higher orders of clergy: Bishop, Priest, and Deacon. A Bishop serves in succession to the Holy Apostles and is the presiding hierarch who oversees that diocese. Within a diocese are several local parishes to which priests are assigned. Priests serve their community as the spiritual fathers, offering the Sacraments (Communion, Marriage, Baptism) to the faithful and ministering to them in times of need. The deacon assists the bishop and priest, who functions primarily in a liturgical role but may also assist in other related ways as guided by the bishop or priest.
When greeting our clergy, it would be helpful to remember the following simple customary practices and forms of salutation. When the bishop comes for a pastoral visit, how he is greeted depends upon his title: for a Bishop, he is addressed as “Your Grace” and referred to as “His Grace,” but for a Metropolitan or an Archbishop, it would be, “Your Eminence” and “His Eminence.” The Priest is addressed as “Father,” or in more formal situations as “Reverend Father.” Similarly, the Deacon is addressed as “Deacon,” or more formally as “Reverend Deacon.” You may notice the faithful kissing the clergyman’s hand. This practice is based upon the fact that when a bishop or priest blesses [deacons are not granted the authority at ordination], it is from the Lord through the hand of the clergyman. By kissing his hand, one is seeking the blessing of Christ.
VI. Hymnology That Draws Us to Pray
In the Greek Orthodox tradition, most of the service is offered musically. The music and style is known as Byzantine Chant, which has developed over many centuries. It adds to the unique and uplifting spiritual environment experienced in our Church. While the chanting is led by the clergy, chanters, and choir, the congregation is certainly encouraged to join in whenever one desires. Our visitors are encouraged to simply experience it as you pray. Whenever you become more familiar with certain hymns, join in as best as you can.
VI. What if I have more questions about the service?
If you have any questions, please remain in the church after our services to meet our priests. Another option is to notify a Parish Council member and ask them to introduce you to one of our priests. We will gladly connect you to any of the ministries you may be interested in and can contact you later in the week to get to know you better.
