David Harris #1

St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church

893 Church Road, Elmhurst IL 60126 

10/31/16

Greek Orthodox

The Church service i attended was a Great Vespars service that occurred on monday night.  This service was not held in the main sanctuary but a side chapel.  Because of the number of people, there were additional chairs outside the chapel doors in a location that allowed us to see and hear the service defently well.  Interestingly, because of the angle we were at, we were better able to see what the priests and others were doing because of a wall decorated with a series of icons that was between the main section of people and the preists.  This setting alone was quite different than what i normally experience at my church.  The icons as well as the wall gave off quite a different feel than i normally have walking into my church's "santuary" which is also utalized as a gym.  

When we got there, we were welcomed by a woman who directed us where to go.  After this, the only words we heard from any people in the congregation or priests were in greek for the next hour and a half.  This was obviously a very different and somewhat uncomfortable experience for me.  But in a way made me appreciate what these people had in their service.  I felt uncomfortable because i often didnt know what to do at what time, or didnt understand what was being said or sung.  Often, this may be the experience of others outside of their context coming to an american-prodestant church.  

The service itself consisted mostly of the preists singing.  What they were singing i really had no idea.  But at certain times during this, the people would stand, then after awhile sit down again.  Incense was also utalized throughout the service.  At times the priest would do this behind the wall just by the other preists.  Other times he would come out to the congregation and walk around everyone.  When this would happen, everyone would lower their head in a sign of respect.  

The final thing i noticed throughout the service was the venerating of the icons and relics done by the preists and the people in general.  This was done when people first arrived, first jesus then the patron saints.  This was also done by everyone to a series of icons presented by the preist in a little golden box.  

This experience was incredibly eye opening for me for several reasons.  First, i had never been in a truly "high church" context before.  Any ventures i had made in this area were still withn the broader evangelical prodestant sohere.  Moreover, it opnened my eyes to how a service can connect to the greater history of the church.  Most often, my church expereince has sought to move away from tradition and history.  There is a sense of caution towards entering into these areas.  However, this service was seeped in tradtition and history.  As i have found a greater appreciation and interest in church history while at wheaton, this was one part of the service i enjoyed alot.  

I have hinted at this thorughout the bolog, but to state it plainly, this experience showed just how narrow my experience of Global christianity is.  I have been to several churches in costa rica, as well as a good number of denominations here at home.  But these are all relatively close together in terms of beliefs and how a given service funtions.  Being i a serive where i didnt know what was happening, first because of the language, and second because the practices themselves were foriegn to me truly opened my eyes to the narrowness of my own experience.