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St. Peter and Paul Antiochian Orthodox Church by Sonya Audi |
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Sunday morning on March 2nd 2003 I attended the church my husband used to go to. The name of the church is St. Peter and Paul Antiochian Orthodox Church, a western religion. When I say he "use to attend" I mean that before we got married he had to convert to my religion, which is Coptic Orthodox. So we always go to my church and never his. On March 2nd it was my first time attending his religion. I went with my husband and his parents. I was very nervous because I didn't know what to expect. I had so many things running through my mind like what should I wear and how should I act? However, I had to say, at the end of the day it was a great experience. As we pulled into the church parking lot I saw a cross on top of the dome shaped part of the church. The dome shape looked a lot like what you see in Islamic Mosques. After we got out of the car we met my husbands parents and then my mother-in-law started to explain their church to me. The Divine Liturgy starts Sunday at 10:30 A.M. But before that from 9:00-10:30 A.M is confession period were one can confess their sins to the priest. As I enter the church I notice that there were candles on the table, which I could light one and say a short prayer. The first division I entered is called the Narthex or vestibule it basically means the western entrance. As I enter the main section of the church I saw the nave, side aisles, transept and most important the altar. The nave is the long section down the middle leading up to the altar. The side aisles are usually on both sides of the nave, where the pews are so people can sit. The transept is what separates the altar from the nave. Finally the altar, I asked my mother-in-law why the altar is facing the east? She said," Because Christ's crucifixion took place in the east (Jerusalem)." Then she said that Christ was crucified facing the west so the cross on the altar faces the western entrance. I found this very interesting. I sat down in one of the pews next to my husband and began to observe my surroundings. I noticed that they were no lights; just candles and when I looked up at the dome shape it consisted of stained glass windows to allow sunlight to flow through. I also noticed that the majority of the congregation was dressed up very elegant. I looked ahead and my gaze fell upon the altar. It was stunning. The altar consisted of a cross, a gold cup, which held the blood of Christ and a gold plate, which held the body. In the altar there was a picture of Christ and one of the mother of Christ St. Mary. At one point I was surprised to see a woman on the altar reading the Gospel of Matthew because in my religion women are not allowed on the altar so that was different for me. It was easy for me to follow along with the help of my mother-in-law of course. Another thing that was different yet beautiful was the choir. In my religion we do not have a choir, we have decons, which consist of only men singing hymns. As I looked up onto the balcony I saw only six choir members, to me it sounded like there were a hundred. This is how powerful their voices filled the church. The choir sang almost the entire liturgy in English. In the middle of the liturgy, two women each holding a baby were waiting in the narthex. The priest went to the two women, took their babies and walked around the altar three times. I was confused on what was going on because they looked to young to be baptized and in my religion you cannot enter the altar if you are not baptize. I later found out that after forty days of giving birth to a child the women have to take their babies to church. This means that the baby is uniting with God. After this ceremony, the priest asked all the children to join him on the altar. There he tells them a story followed by the moral of the story. He was telling the children that they do not necessarily have to fast the lent but to give up something of importance to them. One child I remember said, "Do I have to give up candy." The priest just said to try. He was so down to earth with the children it was great to watch. Once a month the priest likes to unite with all the children during the liturgy. It was finally communion time. Christians that are not orthodox could not receive communion. The church believes in Eucharist, which is the oneness in faith, life and worship of community. Its sad to say but the Christian churches are divided in ways were you cannot take communion at other churches unless you convert to that religion. I found it odd that the men and women take communion together and sit together in pews. In my church men and women sit and take communion separate from one another. I really like the way the men and women are together at this church. At the end of the liturgy, my father-in-law took me to meet the choir members. They were all so very welcoming. I also got to attend a Sunday school class just to see what one was like. It was wonderful to see children understand the bible and get excited about it. I really enjoyed my visit. It was educational and fun. I got to meet new people and understand a new religion. I told my husband that I would like to go back to this church. It was an eventful experience that will effect me for the long run. |
| Created by Laura Ellen Shulman |
Last updated: March 2003
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