Traveling in Europe and Latin America as a tourist or on business, many probably wondered: is it possible, being Orthodox, to visit a Catholic church and how to behave there so as not to accidentally violate something.
General rules
In the Catholic Church there are no serious requirements for appearance parishioners: only men are required to take off their hats, while women can be dressed as they like, but modestly.
Organ music concerts are often held in Catholic churches, which can also be attended by everyone. At the entrance it is not customary to be baptized - a slight bow of the head is enough, and it is imperative to turn off the sound of the mobile phone.
If there is a desire to take pictures, it is better to find out in advance whether this can be done and when.
Many temples also sell candles. In Europe, they are sometimes replaced with electric ones, which include for some donation.
Put sign of the cross in a catholic church Orthodox custom- from right to left.
If there is a desire to talk with a priest, you must wait until the end of the service, find out in advance how to address him and, if he is busy talking, wait aside.
Any question regarding the temple can be asked to the church shop attendant or parishioners (but it is important not to interfere with their prayer).
Rules of Conduct at Mass
Orthodox can attend a Catholic mass and pray, but you can not proceed to the Sacrament of the Eucharist, confess to a Catholic priest.
In general, having the same structure as an Orthodox church, the Catholic Cathedral is somewhat different. For example, there is no iconostasis in it, but there is a small barrier that does not close the "holy of holies" - the presbyterium - from the eyes of the parishioners. This is a kind of altar, where worship is performed and the Holy Gifts are stored, in front of which a lamp is always lit.
Regardless of religion, laymen are strictly forbidden to enter this barrier. Catholics, passing by this place, kneel or bow a little (of course, not during worship). The Orthodox can do the same.
If you see that a confession is going on, you can’t come close to the confessional, it’s better to go around this place.
It is not allowed to walk around the temple during Mass. It is better to take one of the benches intended for prayers. Each of them has special crossbars for kneeling below, so it is better not to stand on them in shoes, but only on your knees.
Sometimes the Holy Gifts (“Adoration”) are brought to the altar table for veneration. At this time, you should also not walk around the temple, since parishioners, usually kneeling, pray at this moment. It is also not necessary to be baptized often during Mass - this is not accepted in Catholicism and can distract other people from prayer.
At the service, before the Eucharist, Catholics, turning to each other with the words "Peace be with you!", make a small bow or handshake. Please note that you may also be addressed in the same way, and you will need to respond in the same way.
If you got to Mass, but do not have the intention to pray, you should not occupy the bench next to the one who is praying - this can interfere, since at certain moments of Catholic worship it is customary to stand up or kneel. It is better to stay behind or take one of the last far benches if it is free.
When entering and leaving the temple, Catholics approach a small container with holy water, lightly dip their fingers into it and make the sign of the cross - this is a kind of symbol accepted baptism. Therefore, it is not necessary to linger at the entrance so as not to interfere with this process.
There may come a moment in life when a person of the Orthodox faith will need to go to a Catholic church. The reasons are very different - from banal curiosity to an invitation to an event with friends and relatives. What rules must be observed so as not to find yourself in an awkward position and not offend, albeit accidentally, the feelings of faith of others?
Is it worth going to a Catholic church?
To begin with, I would like to note that for an Orthodox person, visiting a church of a different faith should be reduced to a minimum. According to the ancient church canons, it is inappropriate for a Christian not only to pray with non-Christians, but also to visit joint institutions, to be treated by each other. But time has partially erased some restrictions.
Let's try to explain this with a small example.
In the first centuries of Christianity, society was divided into believers in the Lord and those who denied Him. When the relevant canons were adopted, this introduced certain perplexities. Since most of the heretics were literate people, they went against the teachings of the Church intentionally, out of pride. And the same doctors, examining the patient, not only treated his bodily ailments, but also prayed and talked. That is, at the reception of a heretic doctor, the patient would inevitably become acquainted with heresy. And, perhaps, would have fallen for the hook of temptation. In these days, when there is little talk about religion, the exposure to heresy in public places is practically minimal.
However, it is worth taking into account the fact that both Orthodox, Catholics, and Protestants bear faith in the One God. We have much to learn from each other regarding missionary work or social service. But due to a number of conflicting rules, de facto one denomination considers the other heretical. In this article, we will not dwell on dogmatics and look for differences between Christian movements - this is a topic for a separate discussion.
In our time, visiting an Orthodox Catholic church remains on the conscience of a person. Priests can give their blessing only when a believer makes a pilgrimage to common Christian shrines.
A few simple rules
Why go to church? The reasons, as already mentioned, are many. Organ concert, veneration of the relics of the first bearers of the faith, presence at the celebrations at the invitation of friends. The list can be expanded.
As in the Orthodox, in the Catholic Church there are a number of rules that it is desirable to follow. So you will not embarrass yourself (or the person who invited you) and will not bring the displeased glances of devout believers to your person. It’s worth mentioning right away that the “gentleman’s minimum” is presented below, which will not harm either your or someone else’s view.
1. The church is arranged a little differently than an Orthodox church. In particular, there is no iconostasis - it is replaced by an altar fence. Outsiders are not allowed to enter. Worship takes place in the central part, which is Catholic tradition called presbytery. In the same part there is a tabernacle, next to which a lamp is always lit. The choir is located in a separate room, a little further away from it there is a sacristy. These rooms should not be entered without special permission;
2. There are no serious restrictions on clothing even for deeply believing Catholics. But the outfit should not be too revealing. A plunging neckline, short skirt, or shorts are likely to attract unwanted looks from a temple. But, unlike Orthodox tradition, a woman can enter the church in trousers and not cover her head. The man is obliged to take off his headdress;
3. Entering the temple, each Catholic goes to the ashes, put their fingers in there right hand and then baptized. An Orthodox, being in a church, can do the same. However, the sign of the cross should be applied according to Orthodox custom. It is not forbidden to bow towards the east (not to the altar or the four-pointed crucifix, but to the east!);
4. You need to memorize a few greeting phrases in advance. They should not be taken as "ritual"; rather - to support church etiquette. The following greetings and responses are accepted:
Glory to Jesus Christ!
- Forever and ever, amen
Bless the Lord!
- Thank God
Save me, God!
- to the glory of God
5. Catholics kneel before the tabernacle, and they always do this as they pass by. If a person for some reason cannot kneel, he simply bows his head. It is also recommended that guests do the same (not out of religious motives, but out of a sense of respect for this place). If you came to Mass by invitation, it is best not to go deep into the temple, but to stay at the entrance. It is not forbidden to ask the priest or church employees for advice on what to do in this case - to stand on your feet, watching the service, or to sit on a bench;
6. You can sit on any prayer bench - they usually stand on either side of the central aisle. In some churches, where the service is conducted in two languages, there is a division. On one side of the aisle, parishioners of one nationality sit down, on the other - the second. There are also small benches in front of the benches. They are needed so that believers kneel during worship. Therefore do not put your feet on them when you sit;
7. It is not customary in the temple to interrupt prayer, even if you came to meet with specific person. Wait for it to finish;
8. Under no circumstances should a priest be interrupted during prayer. The same applies to the case when he talks with one of the parishioners. Drop even the intention to approach them, because a purely personal conversation can be conducted. For the same reason, stay away from the confessional if you hear voices from there. You need to address the priest with the words “holy father” or simply “father”. Regardless of whether you are talking during worship or at other times, communication with a person of the clergy must comply with the rules of good manners.
Follow the same rules that apply in any temple. As in the Orthodox Church, smoking and drinking alcohol are not allowed in the church. In addition, it is not customary to make noise in the church. Remember that people go to the temple on different reasons. Treat them with respect.
About prayer
As mentioned above, it is undesirable to pray to the Orthodox in the church. But in case of emergency, when Orthodox church no for miles around, it's allowed. You can pray before or after Mass, when you and God are alone.
Although the temple is the house of the Lord, it will not be superfluous to enlist the support of a priest. If for some reason he refuses you - do not argue. If the good was received, then one should pray according to the Orthodox canon and, preferably, silently.
It is permissible for an Orthodox to be in a Catholic service, although this is not welcome. Important point- one should firmly refuse to participate in the Sacraments, such as Confession or Communion!
When visiting temples with relics of the early Christian time, the Orthodox, of course, are allowed to pray according to their faith, as well as to light candles. By the way, Catholics do not trade in the churches themselves - there is a separate building or room for this. It should also be noted that their items were not originally consecrated. If there is a need for consecration, then you should contact the pastor, he will conduct the ceremony.
And finally
One should not think that since Catholics and Orthodox believe in one God, then this is one religion. The difference between the currents is significant. If you consider yourself Orthodox, then you can go to the Catholic Church only for a tour or in exceptional cases that require your presence. And if you don’t care in which church, Catholic or Orthodox, you pray, then most likely you should first get to know the faith in which you are baptized, and then draw the appropriate conclusions.
- Andrey, to the editor Orthodox Life» regularly receive various questions from readers. We have selected the most frequently repeated ones and would like to discuss them with you. Let's start with this question: is it possible for the Orthodox to enter Catholic churches, mosques? How to behave there? – In one of his Epistles, the holy Apostle Paul says: “Everything is permissible for me, but not everything is beneficial” (1 Cor. 6:12). Therefore, in order to more accurately answer this question, first it is worth determining the very purpose of visiting a heterodox or non-Orthodox religious building. If we go to a church or a mosque to look, so to speak, to expand our cultural horizons, then, in principle, there is nothing reprehensible in this. If we visit non-Orthodox churches in order to pray, we should remember the 65th Apostolic Canon: “If anyone from the clergy or a layman enters a Jewish or heretical assembly to pray: let him be cast out of the sacred order and excommunicated from church fellowship” . But there are exceptions: in many Roman Catholic churches, as well as in churches belonging to the jurisdiction of the so-called Kiev Patriarchate, there are shrines revered by the Orthodox. In the above Apostolic Canon we are talking on the prohibition to participate in PUBLIC worship together with non-Orthodox. Therefore, there is nothing wrong with Orthodox Christian will prayerfully honor one or another shrine located in a non-confessional church. As for how one should behave in non-Orthodox churches, only one factor can be the rule for leadership: good manners. An Orthodox Christian, wherever he is, must behave in a civilized and restrained manner. Despite our personal convictions, we have no right to offend the religious feelings of other people in any way, because the main criterion that distinguishes a Christian is, first of all, love. And this criterion was determined by our Lord Jesus Christ Himself: “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). - Is it possible to turn to alternative medicine, such as Chinese? - Orthodox Church never considered advances in medicine to be a spiritual obstacle. But before resorting to the help of one or another “non-traditional doctor”, a person must understand for himself: what sources he uses, otherwise you can bring considerable harm to both your body and your soul. One of the researchers non-traditional methods treatment once noticed: the Chinese, for example, treat their medicine as a religion. Such an attitude towards medicine should alert an Orthodox person, because nothing can be higher and more sacred than religion. In addition, German scientists, exploring the practice of acupuncture, conducted the following experiment: some patients were given needles, so to speak, according to all the "canons" of Chinese medicine, while others, roughly speaking, at random, just so as not to hurt important organs and do no harm. As a result, the effectiveness of the first acupuncture was 52%, and the second - 49%! That is, there was practically no difference between "smart" and "free" acupuncture. However, the question of the use of some spiritual practice in medicine is more acute. So, for example, some "healers" in order to cure this or that ailment, offer their patients to try to get out of the physical world into the supersensory, extrasensory world. But we must remember that our physical body- this is a kind of barrier that separates us from direct communication with the spiritual world and, in particular, the world of fallen spirits. Some Eastern cults use a whole range of exercises to facilitate such an exit into the "spiritual world", and this practice weakens our defense against demons. Saint Ignatius Brianchaninov (Caucasian) warns: “If we were in sensual communion with demons, then they would shortest time would completely corrupt people, incessantly suggesting evil to them, clearly and incessantly contributing to evil, infecting them with examples of their constant criminal and hostile to God activity. That is why any "alternative medicine", practicing some kind of communication with the spiritual world, even if it promises its patients a physical recovery, eventually becomes dangerous for their spiritual health. What does it mean not to go to the council of the wicked? - The meaning of this verse, which is the first verse of the first psalm of the Book of Psalms, is very deep and ambiguous. Thus, St. Athanasius the Great says: “the council of the wicked” is a collection of crafty people who seek to deviate the righteous from following the path of God. And St. Basil the Great clarifies: “the advice of the wicked” is all kinds of wicked thoughts that, like invisible enemies, overcome a person. In addition, it is very interesting that in the cited psalm about the opposition of the righteous to the "council of the wicked" it is said "in three dimensions" - walking, standing and sitting: the seats of the destroyers are not gray.” According to St. Theophan the Recluse, the purpose of such a threefold indication is a warning against the three main degrees of deviation into evil: in the form of an internal attraction to evil (the march to sin), in the form of affirmation in evil (standing in sin) and in the form of a struggle with good and propaganda evil (coexistence with the destroyer, that is, the devil). Thus, going to the council of the wicked is all possible participation in evil, whether by thought, word or deed. According to St. John Cassian the Roman, in order to be saved, a person must constantly control himself, exercising himself in spiritual work: without the latter, there will be no spiritual life. - Is it possible to go on vacation, for example, to a ski resort on Christmas Day? - According to St. Ephraim the Syrian, the purpose of fasting is to enable a person to overcome lusts, vices and sins in himself. If fasting does not help us overcome sin, we should think: how do we fast, what are we doing wrong? Unfortunately, historically it turned out that in the life of a modern person most of vacation falls on the time of Advent - during the period new year holidays. The purpose of the Nativity Fast is to prepare a person for the acceptance of the Divine Infant Christ, Who comes into this world and becomes a man in order to save each of us from the power of sin and death. And therefore, the main thing that an Orthodox Christian should think about on the eve of Christmas is how best, most correctly, to prepare himself for the meeting of the Savior. Leisure, for example, skiing, is very good for health, if it is combined with the spiritual growth of a person. Otherwise, there will be no benefit from such a “recovery”. Therefore, if our rest does not allow us to make our heart a worthy receptacle of the Living God, it is better to refuse such rest. - Can a woman get a tattoo, for example, for cosmetic purposes? - In order to answer this question, one should decide: why is such a tattoo needed at all, what are the reasons that encourage a person to make certain images on his body? Also in Old Testament it was said: “For the sake of the dead, do not make cuts on your body and do not prick writing on yourself” (Lev. 19:28). This prohibition in the Pentateuch of Moses is repeated twice more: in the same Book of Leviticus (21:5), and also in the Book of Deuteronomy (14:1). Moses forbids mutilating the human body, since such an action is an insult to the Creator, who gave man beautiful flesh. Historically, a tattoo is a sign of belonging to a pagan cult: with the help of a tattoo, people hoped to gain special favor from one or another deity. That is why, since ancient times, tattoos have been “an abomination before the Lord.” According to the metropolitan Sourozhsky Anthony, the body is the visible part of the soul, so any external change is primarily a sign of internal, spiritual changes taking place in a person. The main characteristics of a Christian are modesty, meekness and humility. A tattoo is, according to one modern author, an escape from modesty, an attempt to present oneself more elegantly and, perhaps, with the aim of some seduction of others. Based on this, we can draw a confident conclusion: even the most seemingly harmless tattoos can cause irreparable spiritual harm to a person. - Is it possible to listen prayer rule wearing headphones on the way to work or using a drive in the car? Prayer is first and foremost a conversation with God. And therefore, the statement that it is possible to pray under an audio recording seems very doubtful. Unfortunately, modern man, who has simplified his life so much with the help of certain technologies, is ready to devote less and less time to God and communion with Him. Therefore, we try to pray to audio recordings, listen to evening and morning prayers in the car or on the way home. But, if you think about it: how carefully can we listen to such recordings? How focused can we pray to them? The Holy Fathers have always said: it is better to sincerely say a few words to God than, without thinking about Him, to say long prayers. The Lord does not need our words, but our heart. And He sees its contents: striving for His Creator and Savior, or an attempt to brush Him off by hiding behind a half-hour audio recording. What should an Orthodox person never do? – The Orthodox must first of all be afraid to sin, but not because of the fear of God's punishment. The Monk Abba Dorotheos says: the fear of God is not at all the fear of God as some kind of avenger for sins; the fear of God is the fear of offending the love of God manifested in Christ. Therefore, every Orthodox Christian should try to control himself, stopping even the very thoughts of committing a sin, because with our sins, according to the word of the holy Apostle Paul, we again crucify our Lord Jesus Christ. With sins, we destroy everything that God has done for our own salvation. And that is what we should fear and avoid in our lives. Interviewed by Natalia Goroshkova (Orthodox Life)
Many Orthodox believers wonder if it is possible to visit churches belonging to other religions. This situation can be encountered on excursion programs in other countries, it can be forced by some other need to visit God's houses of other faiths.
Can Orthodox Christians visit Catholic churches?
Majority Orthodox clergy express a positive opinion about the presence of Orthodox believers in a Catholic church.
There is nothing wrong with entering a Christian home of the Catholic denomination, if the visit is not made for the purpose of prayer and confession, but is caused by interest. In addition, many Catholic churches keep common Christian shrines among their walls, which you can worship and turn to for help, no matter where they are.
For information! The Catholic faith recognizes the sacrament and apostolic succession behind the Orthodox Church.
To expand your horizons, for excursion purposes, you can visit churches of other faiths, especially if they belong to Christian denominations.
As for the attitude of the Orthodox Churches to the prayer of Catholics in their churches, the position here is more complicated. ROC The MP will most likely refuse to perform the sacrament of communion for a Catholic due to the fact that communion means complete agreement with the church in everything, and the orthodox and Catholics still have a split.
But in the CPC (Patriarchate of Constantinople), this is quite possible in extreme cases. Despite the fact that the Orthodox Churches recognize for the Catholics their apostolic succession and the Sacraments (albeit, in the case of the adoption of Orthodoxy by a Catholic), there is no clear position on the issue of prayers and the participation of an Orthodox person in the Catholic sacraments.
In most cases, this is prohibited, but as an exception, everything is possible.
Is it possible for the Orthodox to visit the mosque
As for visiting the mosque, everything is a little more complicated from the point of view of the Muslim religion:
Important! No one can forbid a person to enter the house of God, no matter what religion he belongs to. It is important to observe the laws adopted in this faith. Visiting temples of other confessions is desirable for a person who is firmly established in his faith, who will not compare the custom of his church with others.
Rules for visiting the Catholic Church
Staying in a Catholic church requires observing the traditions and rules of conduct adopted there.
It is important to know the customs of Catholics:
- the rules for the appearance of women who are in the church building are not as strict as in Orthodox faith. They are officially allowed to be in worship with uncovered head and in trousers. Knowing this, you should not come in too open clothes to Catholic worship;
- for men, there is a strict rule about removing headgear in church;
- you can be baptized in a Catholic church according to Orthodox custom;
- near the entrance at the door there are vessels with holy water, when Catholics enter the building they dip their fingers into holy water, it is not necessary for an Orthodox person to do this, just do not linger at the door;
- before the sacrament of communion, Catholics shake hands with each other, saying: “Peace be with you”, you should not ignore this rule so as not to hurt the feelings of believers.
Catholics are allowed to sit during the entire service, so there are many shops there.
Confessional in catholic church
During worship, you need to maintain silence, despite the purpose of the visit, you cannot use a video camera and a camera. After the service, it will be possible to talk with the priest, if such a desire. It is ugly to stand close to booths where Catholics go to confession.
Rules for visiting the mosque
Islam is very different from Christianity, but people with a different faith are not forbidden to enter there. It is important to follow the strict rules for visiting a Muslim temple:
- it is forbidden to attend namaz, it is better to choose the time of entering the mosque between prayers;
- shoulders, knees must be covered, women need to cover their heads;
- go to mosques barefoot, before entering you need to take off your shoes;
- it is forbidden to drink and eat food inside the building;
- you need to turn off the sound of the phones;
- you can take pictures outside the time of prayer;
- donations are also not allowed.
Women are forbidden to visit the mosque during menstruation and prayer.
Important! Many mosques have two entrances: for women and for men. Most often, women are given a separate place on the balcony for prayer.
Video on whether Orthodox Christians can enter Catholic churches, mosques
If Orthodox person travels in Western Europe, can he visit Catholic churches with a tour? How should he treat shrines not of his faith?
Can an Orthodox Christian, for example, go to a Catholic church if there are no Orthodox churches where he lives?
The answers in this article are based on the generally accepted church opinion and rules of the Ecumenical Councils.
Why Orthodox Christians Visit Catholic Churches
First, we note that there are no special instructions on visiting Orthodox Catholic churches in Orthodox church rules. According to the general church opinion, a Catholic church can be visited only in some cases.
For the sake of worshiping shrines that are revered both in Catholicism and in Orthodoxy. These, for example, include the relics of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, John Chrysostom, Ambrose of Milan, Equal-to-the-Apostles Helena, Great Martyr Barbara and others, which are in Catholic churches.
“For the word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword” (Heb. 4:12). This is what the statue of the Apostle Paul looks like in front of the entrance to the Roman basilica
For the sake of a cognitive purpose, that is, for the sake of acquaintance with art- architecture, painting, sculpture, stucco.
However, the Church forbids going to a Catholic church to pray and take communion according to the Document of the Russian Orthodox Church "Basic principles of the attitude of the Russian Orthodox Church towards heterodoxy."
In accordance with Canons 45 and 65 of the Apostles and Canons 33 of the Laodicean Council, Eucharistic communion (joint participation in worship and in the Sacrament of Communion) between Catholics and Orthodox is prohibited. True, joint prayers of Orthodox and Catholic hierarchs and priests are sometimes held at the relics of saints who are revered by both Catholics and Orthodox.
Of course, this is a debatable issue, since according to the above rules, such prayers should not be. Yes, and the laity should not conduct such prayers. However, there are such Catholic churches in which a place is reserved for the Orthodox, for example, in Bari, at the relics of St. Nicholas of Myra, prayers are served for pilgrims and even liturgies are served. Orthodox priests. It is not only possible, but highly desirable, for the Orthodox to participate in such divine services.
October 3, 2007 His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia bowed to the Crown of Thorns of the Lord Jesus Christ, kept in the cathedral Notre Dame of Paris. Then the Orthodox community heatedly discussed the joint Orthodox-Catholic service. Later, the Russian Orthodox Church denied the joint service, stating that the Patriarch held only a brief joint prayer service.
Visiting Catholic churches for the sake of prayerful contemplation of shrines can bring spiritual benefit to the Orthodox if he does not show simple curiosity towards the church itself, as to an alien prayer building and keeps his religious feelings uncomplicated.
In other cases, it is allowed to pray to yourself while worshiping a shrine and modestly cross yourself on Orthodox icon(if there is one in the temple).
Can an Orthodox go to a Catholic church if there are no Orthodox churches where he lives?
Priests in this case are advised to create a prayer place in their home, and even better, create an Orthodox community and a separate prayer house for joint prayers.
By church rules the laity themselves can serve a short liturgy, the so-called Mass, the text of which is in many prayer books. And for communion, invite a priest with spare Holy Gifts. Even from afar, since priests should not refuse those in need of communion.
How to behave Orthodox in Catholic churches
When entering a Catholic church, an Orthodox Christian can cross himself according to his custom. But to cross yourself not for the sake of worshiping this religious building, but for the sake of protecting yourself from evil spirits.
At the door of a Catholic church there is usually a container with holy water. At the entrance, Catholics, according to their rite, dip their fingers into this water, thereby confirming that they are baptized in Catholicism.
The requirements of Catholics for the appearance of parishioners are not as strict as those of the Orthodox. Nevertheless, it is indecent to enter a Catholic church in shorts or a skirt that is similar in length to short shorts. Women may wear trousers and bare their heads. Men must be headless.
It is customary to sit in Catholic churches. To do this, it has special benches, at the bottom of which there are small steps for kneeling. But the Orthodox should not kneel in Catholic churches. However, it is not forbidden to pray on your own, cross yourself and put a candle at the relics of a common Christian saint. You can also cross yourself before the crucifixion, or at the Orthodox icon.
It is customary for the Orthodox to submit notes about health and repose in churches. However, the Orthodox should not submit such notes in Catholic churches. After all, this means, albeit indirectly, participation in their prayer.
In general, if for some reason you nevertheless visited a Catholic church, then you must respect the Catholics who are there, not be prejudiced against their shrines, even though we do not share their religious beliefs. The main thing is that always and everywhere we must keep clean and confess our Orthodox faith.