HolyTransfigurationOrthodoxChurcH

In the Orthodox tradition, the faithful stand up for nearly the entire service …. In any case, if you find the amount of standing too challenging you're welcome to take a seat. No one minds or probably even notices. Long-term standing gets easier with practice.

We cross with our right hands from right to left (push, not pull), the opposite of Roman Catholics and high-church Protestants. We hold our hands in a prescribed way: thumb and first two fingertips pressed together, last two fingers pressed down to the palm.

We sign ourselves whenever the Trinity is invoked, whenever we venerate the cross or an icon, and on many other occasions in the course of the Liturgy. But people aren't expected to do everything the same way.

Prayer ropes are traditionally black: You may, however, choose a different colored cord.

An Orthodox Prayer Rope has 33 knots, 50 knots, or 100 knots. On ropes of 50 or 100 knots, there is typically a bead every 25 knots. For the 33 knot rope, no bead is necessary (though I use a bead on prayer ropes of this size). I've not heard that one kind of bead is any more appropriate than another: Though remember when you shop for beads that you will be pushing 2 cords, each 2mm thick, through the bead (beads should have a large enough opening to accommodate the cords).

Q. What is the Creed or Symbol of Faith?

A. A very brief statement of the Christian Faith.

Q. Who composed the Symbol of Faith?

A. The first Ecumenical Council composed the first seven articles and the beginning of the eighth, and the second Council completed the eighth and composed the other four articles.

Q. Is the mere committing of it to memory sufficient?

A. No, it needs to be appropriately explained for complete understanding.

Note: Sunday of the Canaanite Woman; occurs only when Pascha is late enough so that there are four Sundays between the Sunday after Theophany and the First Sunday of the Triodion; 17th after Pentecost.

21 Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.”