Welcome to our church! As a visitor to St. Innocent, we want you to be as comfortable as possible. This section covers some of the questions you may have as a newcomer.  

Church etiquette in the Eastern Orthodox Church holds significant importance as it reflects respect for sacred traditions and the communal nature of worship. Observing proper conduct—such as dressing modestly, refraining from disruptive behavior, and participating in liturgical practices—demonstrates reverence for the divine and for fellow congregants. This etiquette fosters a sense of unity and belonging within the community, encouraging worshippers to engage deeply with the spiritual experience. Moreover, understanding and adhering to these customs helps maintain the sanctity of the worship space, allowing individuals to focus on prayer and reflection while upholding the rich heritage of the Orthodox faith. Ultimately, good church etiquette serves as a bridge between the personal and communal aspects of worship, enriching the spiritual lives of all involved.

Entering and Exiting the Church

When entering an Orthodox church, remember that you are entering the House of God. It is a holy place and should be treated with reverence and respect. Arrive early to the service to avoid a rushed and hurried experience. Before entering the church, consider how you might prepare spiritually: say a prayer, cross yourself, light a candle, and venerate the icons. After the service, most Orthodox Christians venerate the icons in the center of the church. Some say a few prayers before turning to leave. Upon exiting the sanctuary it is customary to face the altar, make the sign of the cross, and bow.

The Sign of the Cross

It is appropriate to cross oneself: at the mention of the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit); when entering or leaving the Temple; when passing in front of the altar; and when venerating an icon, the Gospel, or the cross. Many also cross themselves when making personal petitions.

Join the thumb, index, and middle fingertips of your right hand. Rest the two remaining fingers against your palm. Touch the joined fingertips to your forehead, to your abdomen, your right shoulder, and lastly your left shoulder.

The three joined fingers symbolize the Holy Trinity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The ring and pinky fingers represent the two natures of Christ – fully God and fully man. These two fingers ‘descend’ to the palm of the hand just as Christ descended to earth.

Of special note, crossing oneself is not done when the priest is blessing or censing the congregation. Instead, bow your head to receive the blessing.

Venerating Icons

If you are new to Orthodoxy, and this practice makes you uncomfortable, know you do not have to venerate the icons. However, if you do decide to, here are some guidelines:

• Cross yourself twice, kiss the icon, then cross yourself a third time

• Kiss the hands or feet of those pictured in the icons, not the face

• You may also kiss the Gospel book, scroll or cross in the hand of the saint, if they are depicted in the icon

• Do not venerate icons while wearing lipstick or lip balm – this can damage the icons

Veneration is a reverence, honor of love, or recognition paid to all those portrayed in an icon. Many people in the West often misinterpret veneration as worship; however, worship in the Orthodox Church is reserved for God alone.

Lighting Candles

We light candles as we offer prayers to God. We are reminded that Christ is the light of the world and that we are called to be light in the darkness. Typically, candles are lit after entering the church as we venerate and pray before the holy icons. There are times when lighting candles disturbs the service. It is improper to light candles during the reading of the Epistle and Gospel, the Little and Great Entrances, during the homily, and the Anaphora (prayers of consecration of Holy Communion).

While a monetary offering for candles is customary, how much is donated should be left to each person and their ability to give.

Standing

It is the custom of Orthodox Christians to stand throughout the service. Benches and chairs are available for those who need to sit for personal reasons.  If you need to sit, remember that it is customary and respectful to stand at these times during the Divine Liturgy: when the Liturgy begins with the priest’s blessing; during the Little and Great Entrances; when the priest is censing; during the Gospel reading; at the Anaphora; for Holy Communion; and at the final Blessing.

When standing in church, the focus should always be on the Altar. Regardless of the clerical duties being performed in the sanctuary – lighting candles, censing icons, refilling oil, or adjusting the thermostat – please remain facing forward.

Children in the Church

The Orthodox Church encourages children to be present in the church services – everyone worships together. Though if your baby or child gets fussy, talkative, or has a meltdown, please take them out of the sanctuary until they are ready to return quietly. Snacks should be consumed in the social hall. Keep toys to a minimum.

Proper Attire

When in church, we strive to worship God, not to call attention to ourselves. When planning what to wear, always keep modesty and godliness in mind. For men: clean dress pants or nice jeans (no shorts) with a collared, button-up shirt or sweater. Avoid wearing clothes with any words or logos on them. No hats. For women: avoid tight clothing, low-cut and sleeveless tops, open backs, and shorter-than-knee-length skirts or dresses. If wearing a tank top, low back, or strapless dress, cover with a sweater. If you prefer pants, dress pants are appropriate. As with the men, women should refrain from wearing shorts, hats, and clothes with words or logos. Some women also choose to cover their heads during worship. This is an ancient practice in the Christian Church but is not required at our parish. If you choose to participate in this tradition, you can bring your own head covering or borrow the provided scarves in the narthex.

Lipstick, Perfume, and Chewing Gum
Lipstick residue can damage icons, crosses, and other sacred objects. For this reason, lipstick and lip balm are not recommended while attending an Orthodox service. If you must wear lipstick, please remove it before venerating, receiving a blessing, or approaching the chalice.
Orthodox services are filled with incense, rising to God along with our prayers. Strong perfumes, colognes, and aftershaves can overwhelm the senses and be distracting. If using these products, please do so minimally.
Please do not chew gum in the sanctuary. Besides being disrespectful, chewing gum makes it difficult to participate in the service – singing, praying, responding, and communing.

Communion

Orthodox priests may only serve communion to baptized members of the Orthodox Church who have recently confessed and have fasted before partaking of the Holy Eucharist. This has been the ancient tradition of the Church for nearly 2,000 years. The Orthodox Church understands the Holy Eucharist as a mystery of the real presence of Christ in the bread and wine, not simply as a memorial, or merely in a spiritual sense. If you are not a baptized Orthodox Christian, we ask that you respect this ancient and apostolic tradition. Join us in receiving a piece of blessed bread at the end of the Divine Liturgy. Partaking of the Fellowship bread is an expression of friendship – it is not the Eucharist.

If you are prepared to receive communion, approach the chalice with arms crossed, right over left. If the priest does not know your name, clearly say your Christian/Baptismal name. Lean forward, making sure your head is over the red cloth. Tilt your head back and open your mouth wide. Once the spoon enters your mouth, close your mouth. When the spoon is removed, allow the servers to wipe your lips. Kiss the base of the chalice and carefully step back.

After receiving, proceed to the small table where blessed bread and wine are served. Use these to clear your mouth of any remaining Holy Communion. Return to your place in the sanctuary, offer your personal prayers of thanksgiving, and remain standing.

Greeting the Priest

We do not shake a priest’s hand; we kiss it with reverence and ask for a blessing. Approach the priest with right hand over left, palms facing up. Make a slight bow and say, “Father, bless.” The priest places his hand in ours and this is when we kiss his hand. We kiss his hand because we are honoring Christ, whom the priest represents.