Standing on Sundays: Nicaea's Canon and the Resurrection

What the video says

The First Ecumenical Council at Nicaea in 325 established in its last canon that Christians should pray standing on Sundays and during the fifty days from Easter to Pentecost. This practice reflects the character of Sunday as the day of the resurrection, a weekly Easter.

Kneeling expresses repentance and sorrow for sin, which is appropriate during the week, but on the day Christ rose the faithful stand as those already raised with him. Saint Basil the Great taught that Sunday standing also signifies the age to come, the endless life of the kingdom.

Local customs vary and some churches still kneel at certain moments on Sundays, so the faithful should follow their priest's guidance.

Key moments

1. The First Ecumenical Council at Nicaea in 325, in its last canon, directed Christians to pray standing on Sundays and from Easter to Pentecost.
2. Sunday is the day of the resurrection; every Sunday is a little Easter.
3. Kneeling shows repentance and sorrow for sins, which is fitting during the week.
4. On the day Christ rose, the faithful stand as people already raised with him.
5. Saint Basil the Great explained that Sunday standing signifies both our rising with Christ and the day as an image of the age to come, eternal life.
6. Customs differ today; some churches still kneel at certain moments on Sundays.
7. The faithful should follow their priest's guidance regarding local practice.
8. The speaker asks viewers whether their church kneels on Sundays.