Појединац, Породица и Друштво with Горан Пањков Instagram 16 hours ago

First steps in an Orthodox church: entering, standing, and crossing oneself

The video addresses people who have never entered an Orthodox church and fear making mistakes. The speaker notes that many Serbs never learned proper church behavior because prayer was forbidden during the communist period. He demonstrates how to enter: cross yourself at the doors, men remove hats, women cover their heads with a scarf, enter slowly and piously, then cross yourself again inside and venerate the icon placed in the center of the ambo.

After venerating the icon, men stand on the right side of the nave and women on the left. The church is divided into three parts: the altar where the priest serves, the nave where the people stand, and the narthex at the entrance where people also stand; first-time visitors may stand anywhere on their designated side. During the service, the speaker advises listening carefully and crossing oneself whenever the names of Lord Jesus Christ or the Most Holy Theotokos are mentioned. He invites viewers to follow his profile for further explanations of Orthodox services.

Key moments

The video is intended for people who have never been in an Orthodox church because they fear making mistakes, and the speaker explains that many Serbs never learned proper church behavior due to the communist period when prayer was forbidden.
The speaker teaches how to enter the church: cross yourself at the doors, men remove hats, women wear headscarves, enter slowly and piously, then cross yourself again inside and venerate the icon in the center of the ambo.
After venerating the icon, men stand on the right side and women on the left; the church is divided into three parts, the altar where the priest serves, the nave where the people stand, and the narthex at the entrance where people also stand, and first-time visitors may stand anywhere on their designated side.
During the service, one should listen carefully and cross oneself whenever the names of Lord Jesus Christ or the Most Holy Theotokos are mentioned, and the speaker asks viewers to follow his profile for more information about Orthodox services.

15 opinions in the discussion 10 participants, 10 replies to each other The opinion with the most support I lived under communism too, but my parents taught me everything anyway. Communism isn't the reason for that. Read the discussion

76 comments at the source Original on Instagram

Discussion · 15

Opinions are anonymous retellings of real comments from the original discussion. The same colour marks the same participant.

opinion#2481 8 likes at the source
I lived under communism too, but my parents taught me everything anyway. Communism isn't the reason for that.
- opinion#2484 5 likes at the source
  
  Well brother. It wasn't the same everywhere. Thank God you were taught.
- opinion#2485 6 likes at the source
  
  To my father they offered membership in the party, saying he'd have it easier. His answer was: you know well that I keep my slava and I can't be in the party. So there were decent people around.
- opinion#2486 3 likes at the source
  
  Bravo. Serbs screwed over other Serbs, and Serbs were the only ones who stayed away from the faith while others embraced it and went to mass. Listen up Serbs, watch out for yourselves.
- opinion#2487 1 likes at the source
  
  Here it is now 2026, and Serbs in Kozarska Dubica still cry over Tito's pensions.
- opinion#2488 1 likes at the source
  
  Everything's the same as before, and there's no communism anymore. They call patriots genociders and consider going to church a shame (Serbs about Serbs). It's no use, my brother, until we figure ourselves out and admit that no one else is to blame.
- opinion#2489
  
  That's exactly what I was saying. Anyone who was a party member wasn't allowed to practice the faith.
- opinion#2490
  
  A 13th salary and travel checks for going to the sea.
opinion#2483 8 likes at the source
Father, could you explain fasting and communion when it's not during a fasting period, but on Wednesday and Friday, and of course not during the foolish weeks. What's the rule for communion and confession? Do you not confess, or do you always confess before holy communion, even if the fast lasted only those two days of the week?
- opinion#2491 12 likes at the source
  
  Excellent question. And you'll get the answer from your parish priest. He is your spiritual father. He'll tell you how often to confess. And communion is a must. However, to be able to commune every week, you need to live as holy and honest a life as possible.
- opinion#2492 3 likes at the source
  
  There you can find how to fast. All the explanations are with the holy fathers, just type in what you need in Cyrillic and read the texts from our saints. You'll learn everything that way.
opinion#2480 5 likes at the source
During communism my grandparents were believers but had to hide it. My grandpa was a butcher, so they deliberately called him to work on big feast days and his slava. Meanwhile grandma would lock the gate and prepare the slava table. Grandpa would say he had to go home to change clothes, and at home his suit and grandma, my aunt, my dad and my uncle were waiting at the slava table. They'd light a candle, say a prayer, eat quickly, grandpa would change back into work clothes and go to work, and grandma would lock up after him and quickly clear the table. Today the old family icon of St George is in my home, and every time I look at it I remember their long faith that they kept and passed down through generations. Glory and thanks to them! Christ is risen!
- opinion#2493 1 likes at the source
  
  Thank you for sharing this history with us.
opinion#2482 3 likes at the source

Of course it doesn't matter where you stand in the church, up front, at the back... but some young women, tall ones, with their hair in a bun piled even higher, stand in the first rows. I guess they think they're closer to God that way, God forgive me! And us older grannies, we've only shrunk over the years, so we can't see or hear well, and we can barely stand... Tall people could show some initiative and stand at the back. But.....
opinion#2479

Why do we split the church into a men's side and a women's side? Why should a family be separated when they come before God in church? I already talked to one priest who told me this isn't actually written anywhere, it's a custom the people introduced themselves. But there's also the opinion that we separate so we can focus on the liturgy. And that makes me wonder what that says about us as a people, what are we like if we can be distracted that easily in the temple?