Orthodox visiting Churches of other denominations

[Ksenia]

I have heard that as an Orthodox Christian I am not supposed to visit or attend Churches of other denominations. I run into some problems with that. One of my friends keeps inviting me and I keep turning it down. Another friend of mine, who is also Orthodox, pointed out that she doesn't worship the devil, so I shouldn't turn her down. I am very confused.

[Jonathan Michael]

Ask your priest, would be the best advice I think.

I have been invited to a Christmas Carol Service by a non-Orthodox friend of mine, and I will ask my priest about it. I am on the old calendar, so going to the service wouldn't clash with Christmas services at my own church, but that isn't the point.

For what it's worth (i.e. not much) I'll tell you what my priest advises me to when I get a reply.

[Christopher Dombrowski]

Well, exactly how we "visit" the service of another denomination is really complicated. For one, services in another religious group can be explicitly religious, religiously themed, or not religious at all. For example, I just recently attended a sing-a-long of Handel's Messiah at an Anglican church. And really, this meeting is best grouped as having been in the second category, not actually being a religious service.

Also, how close or far the tradition we are visiting is from Orthodoxy is also important to take into consideration. If one were to attend a Byzantine Catholic service for instance, the level to which we may participate with them would be rather high because of how much we share. If one were to attend that of Roman Catholic it would be somewhat less. It would be much less if we were to go to a Baptist service. And beyond this, if one were to go to a non-Christian service, such as Jewish or Unitarian Universalist, the level to which we could share religion with them would be rather low.

But finally, what is most important to take into account is that the level to which we participate groups into three different categories. First and least participatory is attending and simply observing. Second and moderately participatory is attending, observing, and praying along with the congregation. And third and most participatory would be to attend, observe, pray, and even take Communion (that is if they have it) or some other form of unitive ritual that shows that you believe as these people do and are one with them.

Now, as I'm sure you can guess, there are few, if any, situations in which it would be acceptable to participate to that third degree. The vast majority of Eastern Orthodox pastors would tell you that it is unacceptable to take Communion in any church that is outside of the canonical Eastern Orthodox Communion, even if such a group be Eastern Orthodox (such as the Ukrainian Autocephalous Church, the Macedonian Orthodox Church, the Montenegrin Orthodox Church, or something else of that like). I have heard of one exception, that being from a Greek priest, in which he advised a friend of mine that it would be alright if he took Communion with the Non-Chalcedonians, so long as he didn't make a public deal out of it. When you speak of participating only to the second degree, however, you will find many more Orthodox priests are permissive of this level of participation. And when you are speaking only of the first degree, I would imagine that there are very few Orthodox authorities who would say that it's unacceptable to simply attend and observe the service of another tradition.

So if you want to be on the safe side, it would probably be a good idea to attend and observe but not participate in prayer with the community (that is if you are attending an explicitly religious service). But even at that, I would suggest that you still ask your spiritual father. I'm just giving you some background from which you can think about the issue.

[Owen Jones]

I suppose the ideal situation would be that another person would be so impressed by my Orthodoxy that he wouldn't have the gall to invite me to his Church.

[Andreas Moran]

other denominations

Sorry to be pedantic but the Orthodox Church is not a denomination: all the other churches are denominations. It is true we are not supposed to attend non-Orthodox services, though I have not ruled out attending a carol concert in St Paul's cathedral. But I would avoid attending a non-Orthodox communion service merely from 'interest' or 'curiosity'.

[Herman Blaydoe]

Going to a wedding or funeral of a close friend or family member is one thing, but we cannot partake of the Divine Liturgy if we are elsewhere. Visiting another church should certainly not be considered a "substitute" for attending the Liturgy. If someone asks you to go to their Sunday service, they are looking for a convert. Simply tell them you already have a church, thank you very much.

Herman

[Ksenia]

I actually have a few friends some of whom have been to Orthodox services and they rather liked it. Now they think that I should sort of return the favor. I tried to explain that this is not accebtable for me. They feel offended and need further explanation. And of course I will see a priest next week, but calling him eery 5 min when I have a question isn't convenient for him or for me. Question came up so I need an answer should I attend the gathering at the church of a friend of mine or avoid it. I avoided it.
The other time there was a simply celebration of the holyday season at the Catholic church, so I went because there was no service involved.

[Ksenia]

I don't agree with you on the point of not taking Communion in the fellow Orthodox Church. If you happen to be Orthodox and your Churches are in Communion with each other, you can. Ask a priest and he will tell you. The only exception is Ukrainian Orthodox Church which separated itself from Russian Orthodox Church in the 1990's. This is a schismatic Church.

[Paul Cowan]

I've been told it is not a problem to accompany a friend to their church as long as you do not participate in their communion. I've also been told to not miss any OC services if at all possible. I think on a personal level it is advantageous to "see" what they believe so you have a better understanding of where they are coming from so when you both do talk about religion, you are not caught off guard and can speak to their questions without having to call your priest for everyone of them. Being firmly grounded in your own faith also makes it more difficult for their beliefs to sway you. You have to know what you believe and why you believe it or you (plural) sound as if you (plural) don't know what you beleive.

Most people go to other churchs to check them out and see if they "like" them. We don't have this option. Orthodox people are to conform to the church, not have the church conform to us. I agree as stated above, most peoples purpose of inviting others to their church is to convert them or introduce them to what they believe to be the "right" church. There is NO "right church". There is only "right belief". Ortho-doxia.

[Kris]

Also, how close or far the tradition we are visiting is from Orthodoxy is also important to take into consideration. If one were to attend a Byzantine Catholic service for instance, the level to which we may participate with them would be rather high because of how much we share.

Although the outward forms of a Byzantine Catholic service would be more or less identical to an Orthodox one, they are nevertheless heretical and schismatic. The Church canons state quite clearly that "if any clergyman, or layman, enter a synagogue of Jews, or of heretics, to pray, let him be both deposed and excommunicated" (Canon 65 of the Holy Apostles).

[Ksenia]

Basically speaking "they" will be looking for converts and this is the main reason for me not going to other people's churches. Every time when I did go in the past it ended up in the same way: talk about converting. If my friends will come to Orthodox Church, it's fine and welcome, but not the other way around. I have gone to Confession on many occasions and asked the same question and had the same answer each time: don't go. Sometimes I would like to attend social functions and this is what I was asking if I confused anyone. And I do know more about my faith thank you very much. I asked something rather simple and not what I got answer for.

[Jonathan Michael]

For a lot of church social events, one of the main purposes is to expose that church's beliefs to "non-believers" and bring them in for the purposes of evangelism. I think as long as one is aware of this, and prepares for it with prayer, then it can be okay. There is no question of being mistaken for worshipping with a non-Orthodox groups, as you will be going as a guest, as much so as an atheist, Muslim, or Buddhist guest that has been invited along. But as I said, be wary, you never know when they might decide to spontaneously "pray together" and invite you to do the same.

I have been invited on a couple of occasions to "Bible Study" classes. I aksed my priest about this: whether it would be okay to go, for making contact with other professing Christians if nothing else. My priest basically said it would be okay to go if my main motivation was evangelism, otherwise I shouldn't go.

I will let you know what my priest says about the Carol-service I was invited to, which I think is comparable to a church social-event (I'm sure there will be many interested non-Christian bative Beijingers checking it out as well). I should receive the reply before you next see your priest.

[Nina]

I do not accept to visit the church of a friend who is protestant and she said she would throw a lasso on me and tie me up and bring me to her church. So, as long as they do not throw a lasso on you; and your spiritual father recommends against participating in other churches' services, you do not have to attend places which might create uncomfortable situation for you spiritually.

[Paul Cowan]

Sometimes I would like to attend social functions and this is what I was asking if I confused anyone. And I do know more about my faith thank you very much. I asked something rather simple and not what I got answer for.

Sorry, I must have missed that specific question in previous posts. It looked to me as if you were asking questions regarding attending services NOT social functions. I think either way you got your answers.

You could always do a search on the forum as these questions have been asked before.

[Christopher Dombrowski]

I don't agree with you on the point of not taking Communion in the fellow Orthodox Church. If you happen to be Orthodox and your Churches are in Communion with each other, you can. Ask a priest and he will tell you. The only exception is Ukrainian Orthodox Church which separated itself from Russian Orthodox Church in the 1990's. This is a schismatic Church.

I don't know that you understood what I said. I wrote:

"The vast majority of Eastern Orthodox pastors would tell you that it is unacceptable to take Communion in any church that is outside of the canonical Eastern Orthodox Communion, even if such a group be Eastern Orthodox (such as the Ukrainian Autocephalous Church, the Macedonian Orthodox Church, the Montenegrin Orthodox Church, or something else of that like)."

For a church to be outside the canonical Eastern Orthodox Communion essentially means that you are not in Communion with each other and that the church is schismatic. There are quite a number of Eastern Orthodox churches that are not in official communion with us that I am thinking of (the various Old Calendarist churches, the Macedonian church, the Montenegrin church, the 2 other Ukrainian churches, etc.).

[Father David Moser]

This thread seems to have reached the limit of its useful discussion within the guidelines of the Terms of Use of this forum. The discussion appears to have come to the point of addressing pastoral issues which are better left to one's confessor/spiritual father. As such this topic will be closed to further contributions.

Fr David Moser