Some facts about Russian Orthodox Church

Russian Orthodox Churches are cruciform in shape, with the altar facing east. The altar is separated from the nave by a wooden icon screen called an iconostasis, which has three doors: the Central or Tsar Door, through which the priest brings the Holy Eucharist to the congregation; & the Deacon’s Doors with icons of the archangels Michael & Gabriel, on either side of the Royal Gates. The deacon, altar boys & other men enter these doors, but no women are allowed behind the iconostasis. The most important icons are placed according to prescribed tradition, e.g., the Tsar Door almost always has icons of the four evangelists & at the top an icon of the Annunciation with the angel Gabriel & the Virgin Mary. An icon of the Last Supper is above the Royal Gates & an image of Christ above that, with Mary to his right & John the Baptist to his left. This group is called the Deisis. Depending on the size of the church there will most commonly be from 3 to 5 tiers of icons.

An icon of the church’s patron saint is often placed on the cloth-covered lectern in the centre of the church with candle stands nearby. A large crucifix with a painted image of Christ is placed to the left of the church, and members of the congregation place candles before it in the memory of departed loved ones. Other icons are placed on the cloth-draped lecterns in front of the church, which also have candle stands. Some have oil lamps in front of them. Icons & people are honoured with incense. The censer represents Christ. People stand or kneel during the liturgy. Women should wear a skirt & cover their head, while men remove their hats.

Musical instruments are never used in the church, only an acapella choir singing hymns & responses to the chanting of the priest.

People make the sign of the cross with the thumb & first two fingers closed at the palm, as the symbol of the Trinity, by touching the brow, the breast, the right shoulder & the left shoulder, meaning that mind, heart, soul & strength are all dedicated to the service of God.

Communion in the form of a small piece of blessed bread soaked in wine is received from the chalice with a spoon. Confession must precede communion, either before the liturgy or on the night before, and the communicant must have fasted since midnight.

Priests may marry before ordination. If widowed, a priest may not remarry. A bishop is either a widower or has never married. Metropolitans are bishops whose sees are based in major cities, while patriarchs are based in the major ancient cities of the Roman Empire: Jerusalem, Constantinople, Rome, Alexandria & Antioch, & in the capitals of some Orthodox countries such as Belgrade & Moscow.

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