I'm a newly illumined Orthodox Christian, I was received on Holy Saturday, and my godmother warned me about several of the things you mentioned in this video! I've noticed that a fair number of people leave liturgy right after receiving communion, literally walking out the door from the line. I've never understood that. It's almost as if some folks have gotten into the habit of treating liturgy as a series of things that need to get done instead of reflective worship. It's probably because I'm new that I see it, so I'll need to always make certain I don't do the same after years have passed.
I live in the southern Balkans and have participated in services in many churches in several countries. It's interesting to contrast the behavior of the Greeks vs. the Slavs. Late arrivals, early departures, and talking (by a few) are the norm. Almost every service. About talking, I've lost track of how many people I've asked to be quiet. I finally stopped because it never works. I blame the clergy. For example, on Great and Holy Thursday, during the reading of the passion gospels, several guys were chatting away like they were in a coffee shop. I asked them nicely to be quiet. Didn't work. I then lost my cool and told them to shut up. Didn't work. I then found a priest who was not serving and told him. He shrugged his shoulders and walked away. I also blame the laity. For example, I'm now living in a village in Greece. The end of the liturgy is always the same. Post communion prayers are chanted, we come up for the antidoron, the church sounds like a bazaar, and the priest asks everyone to be quiet. That works for like 10 seconds. No respect for the priest. Shameful.
I've also heard that many people do not confess properly. They either treat confession like a counseling session, trying to find ways to feel better rather than confessing sins, or they will spend time talking about the sins of others.
Part of this is not being mindful of others behind you in line. Time is limited, and while we acknowledge extreme and sudden situations requiring immediate response, most people really could make an appointment if they need a lengthy counseling session. Sometimes this kind of selfishness results in someone else being unable to confess when time really runs out, especially if the confession is being held before a service, or in delaying the service itself, and if it is after the service, it just keeps a number of people staying late unnecessarily. If you know you’re going to need a half an hour, make an appointment!
Some priests and others take many photos from behind the iconostasis. I never thought of lipstick as a problem, and instead I would have expected something else to be mentioned, such as scanty summer clothing, though the Annunciation congregation seems well dressed. I have got used to the screams of children, and have been persuaded that it is a sign of life, though I generally agree with JohnFDonovan's comments.
Showing up 5-10 minutes before Holy Communion is an interesting phenomenon I’ve only witnessed in Greek Churches. I don’t believe my Priest will commune someone if they show up after the Gospel is read (not that we have a problem with people regularly showing up late.)
All I can say, is we became worse hypocrites than the Catholics and the Jews. Lipstick on the icon is annoying, but kissing the back of the hand and passing all our germs to everyone, not annoying. The people taking pictures during the gospel reading => annoying. The media taking videos of the priest during the gospel reading => most welcome.
As an ecumenical gesture, I am a RC organist and music director. Top pet peeve, # 1: CELL PHONES. Before Mass everyone is told to tun them off. Does the congregation pay attention? Rarely. #2: Because we are western, we kneel. The pews have attached kneelers. Just before the Eucharist Prayer begins 50% of the congregation drops the kneelers and it sounds like the Good Friday Earthquake. #3. Parents with screaming babies. I get it. I had children, four boys to be exact. Mass is not always child friendly, but I do not understand how parents will remain in the pew while their child screams during the Mass. Screams during the consecration. Screams during the sermon. etc... Some will let their child just scream without stopping. When we were younger my parents went to different Masses (Again this is western) so we would not drive people crazy. When we brought our children to Mass the moment the "sustained" noise began I took them out into the narthex of the church. What is so complicated about that? #4 Rambling contentless banal homilies. The yang to ying is the priest is on fire and the homily is so long and so overburdened with ideas that one suffers religious indigestion. The first is far more common but every now and then the second does happen. #5: People who receive communion and leave before the end of Mass. it happens. it is very irreverent. Church is not a holy fast food restaurant! One priest I read put the following sign over the exits: Judas was the first person to leave the first Mass early. #6: Lectors of both sexes who do not bother to go over the readings before Mass and commit howlers with mispronunciation. # 7: Inappropriate dress for church. #8 An exaggeratively familiar style of what we westerners call the ars celebrandi on the part of the priest. The unfortunate versus populum, facing the people, liturgical position of the priest gives many of them an audience and the desire to entertain comes out in two seconds. # 9: Untrained cantors who scream into the mic and flap their arms lie decapitated chickens to let the congregation knew when it is time to sing. Ugh! They are often a diabolical distraction. # 10 Yakking before Mass to the point where others cannot say their prayers. As one who respects Orthodoxy, some of your complaints made me smile. Some were uniquely Orthodox. Some were not. As the saying goes misery loves company! .
One thing I always loved about my RC friends was their wicked (in a good way!) sense of humor! "Good Friday Earthquake," "holy fast food restaurant" and "decapitated chickens" left me howling! And that exit sign about Judas, geez, never thought about it that way. Have you given any thought to stand-up comedy? This material is gold! Maybe work the clergy retreat circuit😀
@@andreaslaugh2487I might lose my life...I also have some very pointed observations about the (Roman) clergy. One should never put temptation is the way of a sinner. I have in the past confessed to being a devout Catholic who because he is an organist is mired in anti clericalism. The usual holy retort is that musicians are not always the nicest people with whom to deal! Fair point but...........!
......And those who are Orthodox know that not all of us are Greek. Many of us are converts or American cradle orthodox (born into Orthodox families). Actually Orthodoxy has seen a huge surge in the US in the last 4 years. What father is pointing out is actually something we go through in class. What he is going through is actually Church Protocol 101. Many churches are out pacing their building sizes. Not sure where you get the idea that the Orthodox churches aren't very full. Our parish has out grown its building for the fourth time. These top 10 are pet peeves of every Orthodox Church, no matter what ethnic culture they are attached to. I don't appreciate phones going off, I don't appreciate screaming kids who need to be taken out, I don't really appreciate distractions because I'm trying to focus, so is the other 100+ people. A pet peeve of mine, are those who know not to enter the Nave while the priest is sensing but do it anyways. Better Learn yourself.
![เปิดใจ "อาจารย์เบียร์ คนตื่นธรรม" อดีตเคยสุดทุกทาง ถ้าใช้หนี้หมดไปบวชแน่ l [Nickynachat]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/IxeE0xVhy08/mqdefault.jpg)
Keep your suggestions coming! We may do a follow up!
Amen and Thank you Father!
I'm a newly illumined Orthodox Christian, I was received on Holy Saturday, and my godmother warned me about several of the things you mentioned in this video!
I've noticed that a fair number of people leave liturgy right after receiving communion, literally walking out the door from the line. I've never understood that. It's almost as if some folks have gotten into the habit of treating liturgy as a series of things that need to get done instead of reflective worship. It's probably because I'm new that I see it, so I'll need to always make certain I don't do the same after years have passed.
It isn't only priests who are grieved by phones ringing during services.
Amen Praise the lord ☦️🛐
I live in the southern Balkans and have participated in services in many churches in several countries. It's interesting to contrast the behavior of the Greeks vs. the Slavs. Late arrivals, early departures, and talking (by a few) are the norm. Almost every service. About talking, I've lost track of how many people I've asked to be quiet. I finally stopped because it never works. I blame the clergy. For example, on Great and Holy Thursday, during the reading of the passion gospels, several guys were chatting away like they were in a coffee shop. I asked them nicely to be quiet. Didn't work. I then lost my cool and told them to shut up. Didn't work. I then found a priest who was not serving and told him. He shrugged his shoulders and walked away. I also blame the laity. For example, I'm now living in a village in Greece. The end of the liturgy is always the same. Post communion prayers are chanted, we come up for the antidoron, the church sounds like a bazaar, and the priest asks everyone to be quiet. That works for like 10 seconds. No respect for the priest. Shameful.
Well said Father! We deacons can relate to all 10.
I've also heard that many people do not confess properly. They either treat confession like a counseling session, trying to find ways to feel better rather than confessing sins, or they will spend time talking about the sins of others.
Part of this is not being mindful of others behind you in line. Time is limited, and while we acknowledge extreme and sudden situations requiring immediate response, most people really could make an appointment if they need a lengthy counseling session. Sometimes this kind of selfishness results in someone else being unable to confess when time really runs out, especially if the confession is being held before a service, or in delaying the service itself, and if it is after the service, it just keeps a number of people staying late unnecessarily. If you know you’re going to need a half an hour, make an appointment!
Thank you Father!
Thank you Demos!
Good info !
Some priests and others take many photos from behind the iconostasis. I never thought of lipstick as a problem, and instead I would have expected something else to be mentioned, such as scanty summer clothing, though the Annunciation congregation seems well dressed. I have got used to the screams of children, and have been persuaded that it is a sign of life, though I generally agree with JohnFDonovan's comments.
I'm Catholic, I often hear that if a church isn't crying, it's dying!
Thats correct.@@dansedevie123
St John of Shanghai and San Francisco also forbid the kissing of the Cross with lipstick
I’ve heard a quote (not sure from who) that lipstick was invented by the devil to destroy icons.
Showing up 5-10 minutes before Holy Communion is an interesting phenomenon I’ve only witnessed in Greek Churches. I don’t believe my Priest will commune someone if they show up after the Gospel is read (not that we have a problem with people regularly showing up late.)
And arriving late for liturgy
All I can say, is we became worse hypocrites than the Catholics and the Jews. Lipstick on the icon is annoying, but kissing the back of the hand and passing all our germs to everyone, not annoying. The people taking pictures during the gospel reading => annoying. The media taking videos of the priest during the gospel reading => most welcome.
What happened to the Rasso?
As an ecumenical gesture, I am a RC organist and music director. Top pet peeve, # 1: CELL PHONES. Before Mass everyone is told to tun them off. Does the congregation pay attention? Rarely. #2: Because we are western, we kneel. The pews have attached kneelers. Just before the Eucharist Prayer begins 50% of the congregation drops the kneelers and it sounds like the Good Friday Earthquake. #3. Parents with screaming babies. I get it. I had children, four boys to be exact. Mass is not always child friendly, but I do not understand how parents will remain in the pew while their child screams during the Mass. Screams during the consecration. Screams during the sermon. etc... Some will let their child just scream without stopping. When we were younger my parents went to different Masses (Again this is western) so we would not drive people crazy. When we brought our children to Mass the moment the "sustained" noise began I took them out into the narthex of the church. What is so complicated about that? #4 Rambling contentless banal homilies. The yang to ying is the priest is on fire and the homily is so long and so overburdened with ideas that one suffers religious indigestion. The first is far more common but every now and then the second does happen. #5: People who receive communion and leave before the end of Mass. it happens. it is very irreverent. Church is not a holy fast food restaurant! One priest I read put the following sign over the exits: Judas was the first person to leave the first Mass early. #6: Lectors of both sexes who do not bother to go over the readings before Mass and commit howlers with mispronunciation. # 7: Inappropriate dress for church. #8 An exaggeratively familiar style of what we westerners call the ars celebrandi on the part of the priest. The unfortunate versus populum, facing the people, liturgical position of the priest gives many of them an audience and the desire to entertain comes out in two seconds. # 9: Untrained cantors who scream into the mic and flap their arms lie decapitated chickens to let the congregation knew when it is time to sing. Ugh! They are often a diabolical distraction. # 10 Yakking before Mass to the point where others cannot say their prayers. As one who respects Orthodoxy, some of your complaints made me smile. Some were uniquely Orthodox. Some were not. As the saying goes misery loves company!
.
One thing I always loved about my RC friends was their wicked (in a good way!) sense of humor! "Good Friday Earthquake," "holy fast food restaurant" and "decapitated chickens" left me howling! And that exit sign about Judas, geez, never thought about it that way. Have you given any thought to stand-up comedy? This material is gold! Maybe work the clergy retreat circuit😀
@@andreaslaugh2487I might lose my life...I also have some very pointed observations about the (Roman) clergy. One should never put temptation is the way of a sinner. I have in the past confessed to being a devout Catholic who because he is an organist is mired in anti clericalism. The usual holy retort is that musicians are not always the nicest people with whom to deal! Fair point but...........!
People who dont go to confession and receive communion.
lots of bare shoulders in that wedding party
Being late
Father...not all orthodox are greek. Especially in the u.s. your churches arent very full. Better learn.
......And those who are Orthodox know that not all of us are Greek. Many of us are converts or American cradle orthodox (born into Orthodox families). Actually Orthodoxy has seen a huge surge in the US in the last 4 years. What father is pointing out is actually something we go through in class. What he is going through is actually Church Protocol 101. Many churches are out pacing their building sizes. Not sure where you get the idea that the Orthodox churches aren't very full. Our parish has out grown its building for the fourth time. These top 10 are pet peeves of every Orthodox Church, no matter what ethnic culture they are attached to. I don't appreciate phones going off, I don't appreciate screaming kids who need to be taken out, I don't really appreciate distractions because I'm trying to focus, so is the other 100+ people. A pet peeve of mine, are those who know not to enter the Nave while the priest is sensing but do it anyways. Better Learn yourself.
Our Churches are full, but respectfully are shortages are with clergy.