Simona Andreas- #1

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Church name: Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Chicago
Address: 1017 N. La Salle Blvd., Chicago, Illinois
Date attended: October 15, 2016
Category: Eastern Orthodox

Describe the worship service you attended. How was it similar or different from your regular context. This was not my first time attending an Eastern Orthodox church service, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t confused by some of the things I saw. I have seen the importance of icons from my Russian side of the family, and having a class with Dr. Milliner has taught me to appreciate them as well. In this church, the members of the congregation walked in, lit a candle and then proceeded to kiss an icon of Mary and Jesus. I was glad to have been greeted by a man in a suit, who didn’t expect me to follow their customs but recognized me as an observer. The service was long, mostly in greek and was somewhat similar to the Catholic services I attended in high school. My personal preference falls more to the modern pentecostal side and is therefore pretty much the opposite of what I experienced in Chicago. Worship has always been a central part of my church experience, but in this service, the congregation did not sing along at any point. The only things that people joined in on were the creed and the Father’s prayer (both were recited in Greek first and then English). There were parts to the service (like the church Bishop doing laps around the altar with the Bible etc.) that are still confusing to me. Even though many things were foreign to me, I did not feel uncomfortable during the service.

How did the worship service illuminate for you the history and contours of global Christianity? As I walked into the sanctuary I felt like I traveled back in time. This particular room was beautifully painted, had marble pillars in front of the altar, and was otherwise well decorated. The service itself was in Greek which made me feel like I wasn’t in Chicago, Illinois. The customs of the people around me and of the church leaders illuminated the limitless ways to worship God very well. Church has come a long way, but any new custom (big worship bands, skits, videos, new creeds) don’t necessarily eliminate others completely. Everyone feels comfortable with different styles and that just brings more glory to the already diverse Kingdom of God. As I was sitting there I thought more than once: “Is all of this really necessary?” I gained humility as I was imagining one of the Bishops walking into Willow Creek and gasping for air and possibly being confused about the many parts of their service as well. We can all appreciate each other once we realize that there is no one right way to worship, take communion or baptism.
A small, but interesting difference I noticed has led me to further research the custom. I have seen Russian Orthodox Christians when growing up and whenever they "Placed the cross on oneself" they ended it on their lips, kissing the cross. In this church, I saw everyone end the cross on their heart and then pat it. It was a very small difference, but was very foreign to me, as I’ve only seen it done one way my whole life.

How did the worship service illuminate for you your personal identity as a Christian?

It reminded me of the importance of silence and calmness in the presence of God and his people. More than anything this showed me that I am a part of something huge as a Christian. A movement that has thrived over thousands of years. As a Christian, I hold true the same values and surrender to the same Lord as the people in Orthodox churches. Externally our practices might seem very different, but internally we have unity. I didn’t feel lost in my identity, but rather gained confidence in the relationship I have with my church, my leaders, and God Himself.