Caroline Caciano Church Visit #1

Blog Title: Caroline Caciano – Church visit #1

Church Name: St. Gregorios Malankara Orthodox Church

Church Address: 905 S. Kent Avenue, Elmhurst IL 60126

Date Attended: September 28, 2015

Church Category: Orthodox (Indian/Syriac)

Describe the worship service you attended. How was it similar or different from your regular context?

The service consisted of liturgy that was sung in English. The church also held a service in their native tongue. The liturgy, consisting of prayers, scripture readings and hymns were in the incense-filled room. The sermon and the announcements were the only moments throughout the service that were not sung or chanted. The message was delivered in a surprisingly casual manner, in contrast with the formality of the liturgy. The men worshipped on one side as the women worshipped on the other side of the room. It was a small, intimate setting. The women were dressed in traditional clothing and draped cloth over their hair. Even though I was dressed modestly I still felt displaced because of my different cultural background. While the congregation was extremely welcoming to me as a guest, I still felt as if I were intruding on their service. The service was certainly different from my regular worship experience. My Protestant church is far more casual in attire, in singing and progression through a service. Culture has certainly influenced my church in regards to aspects including song selections and worship style. While sometimes my church recites the Creed or the Lord’s Prayer, the Orthodox service was flooded with creedal phrases and hymns from early Christianity.

How did the worship service illuminate for you the history and contours of global Christianity?

            The service illuminated the continuation and persistence of the Christian faith across cultural contexts and throughout centuries. The service placed an emphasis on engaging in practices and traditions. There was an evident desire to preserve the Orthodox faith, even in Elmhurst, IL. This adherence to tradition presented a link to the church in its original time and context. The culture of 21^st century North America varies greatly from the context of the beginnings of Orthodoxy, yet the traditions and worship style continues today, and the congregation of St. Gregorios Malankara is faithfully devoted to it. After attending the service, I gained a greater understanding of the manner in which tradition can hold greater significance over cultural influences. The service also illuminated the divisions within the Christian church. While the priest thanked me for worshipping with them that morning, as a Protestant evangelical Christian, I was unable to participate in the Eucharist alongside the other members of the church. Not only do my own views differ from the Orthodox in regards to the Lord’s Supper, but also in other doctrinal matters. These doctrinal differences have shaped the way that churches and denominations have developed throughout the history of Christianity.

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

            The service inspired me to reflect more on my place as a Christian within the body of Christ, especially in regards to the enormity of the global Church. At times, I have a tendency to ignorantly consider only Protestant denominations as constituting the body of Christ. In actuality, the Church extends far beyond my own context, including Orthodox and Catholic traditions. The service was an excellent reminder that I am much smaller than I often believe myself to be, especially regarding my place in the body of Christ. The service illuminated the diversity of worship and culture. I gained a heightened sense of humility in appreciating the culture and worship, the reverent nature and adherence to tradition within the congregation of St. Gregorios. Even despite the manner in which this service was far different from my own, it was an encouraging reminder of the unifying work of Jesus Christ. Despite cultural, traditional, stylistic or doctrinal differences, we are ultimately unified because of Christ Jesus and the redemptive plan for his people.

Micah MacAskill - Church Visit 1

Church name: Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Christian Church

Church address: 28W770 Warrenville Road, Warrenville, IL 60555

Date Attended: 9/20/2015

Church Category: Orthodox Church

Describe the worship service you attended. How was it similar to or different from your regular context?

As I walked into the small sanctuary, I instantly felt out of place in the gold-accented, incense filled room. Right before walking in, I could hear a small number of voices conducting the Orthros, or the daybreak service focused on the Psalms. The Divine Liturgy had not begun, but the first thing I noticed about the worship was the lack of instruments. On my way in, I had been handed a binder full of the liturgy. I was flustered by failed attempts to figure out what page everyone else was on. The smell was strange at first, and the images of the saints were beautiful but distracting. I was not used to the incredibly small size of the congregation (totaling about 55 people), and due to this factor I felt as though I stuck out every time the congregation crossed themselves at a mention of the Holy Trinity. At my church, I am also used to the pastor facing the congregation, whereas the priest spent his time facing toward the altar at the front of the church.

How did the worship service illuminate for you the history and contours of global Christianity?

There were several fascinating instances where some particular aspect of the worship stood out to me and highlighted the contours of global Christianity. These instances often occurred through the affirmations of worship and the creeds. For example, we recited the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, but without the filioque. This instantly reminded me that I was no longer in a Western church. One of the hymns highlighted Mary as being a perpetual virgin. This concept was foreign to me, and I doubt that many Protestant Evangelicals would feel like this affirmation is necessary for faith. Lastly, much attention was given to the saints and martyrs of the past. In Protestantism as a whole, the saints and martyrs play no significant role in worship. However, in the Orthodox church that I visited, it appears as though non-Protestant church traditions attend to the historicity of faith much more closely. Even though I could detect differences of faith, I still felt at home in this Christian community.

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

During my time in the Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church, I was deeply fascinated by the liturgical elements of the service. I had never experienced something so beautiful yet mechanical. Something so foreign and yet familiar. During the homily, I realized how valuable a good exposition of a Biblical text is for spiritual growth. The homily seemed less focused on the content of the Biblical text and more focused on practical advice. Even though I value a more intellectual sermon, I could not help but think about how much I had in common with the other Christians present. On a bulletin board at the entrance of the church, I noticed some pictures from a pro-life event held by church members. Even though I disagree with some doctrinal statements made by the Orthodox Church, I recognized that there is much room for collaboration within the Christian Church in the addressing of fundamental moral issues in our culture. In the future, I hope that this experience will have a unifying effect on my interactions with other Christian traditions.