Our formal worship service, where we celebrate the Eucharist as a community, is called the Divine Liturgy. The word Liturgy means the work of the people. When you consider the Orthodox understanding of spirituality, this is a very apt phrase because we place much emphasis on personal prayer, self-examination, and individual preparation through fasting and confession.

 

We are challenged to “pray without ceasing” based on the belief that each and every moment in time can be sanctified by God. The most common meditational tool is what is commonly called the Jesus Prayer, which is often aided by the use of a prayer rope, or comboschini.

 

In addition to daily, personal prayer and weekly, corporate prayer, Orthodox Christian worship revolves around a yearly cycle, culminating in the journey of Great Lent to Holy Week and Pascha (the Resurrection, or Easter).