Questions for Father
This page is entirely devoted to questions are students have for Father. Hopefully by posting these questions we can answer all of the questions students have about Orthodoxy in time. If you have a question for Father Christ please e-mail us at pmk1014@verizon.net. We will post your question on the website anonymously.
Here are some questions that students have already asked and their answers:
Questions for Father
1. Why do we mostly stand in Church?
We stand during sacred moments in the Liturgy as it is in the name of Christ that we receive blessings and it is Christ how is on the Altar Table in the form of Communion. In the early Church, there were no pews because Church was not looked at as a place we go to relax and be comfortable, but rather to pray and give thanks to God.
2. How do I prepare for, schedule and “take” Confession?
Confession is done by calling or emailing J Fr Christ to set it up. He will do it when it is most convenient for u. Confession isn’t scary or intimidating because the priest is there as a spiritual doctor. Just as we go to our physical doctor and tell them what is wrong, we do also with the spiritual doctor (the priest) so he can help us be better Christians. It is also good to remember that the priest is human also. What that means is that he to goes to confession as well. Fr. Christ’s spiritual father that he confesses to is in Maryland.
3. Why are only boys allowed to serve on the Altar?
Males are only permitted in the Altar following the tradition of the early Church, or better stated, the Apostolic tradition. Christ came into the world as a man and appointed men as his Apostles to lead the Churches that they became bishops over. It is the same Church that we serve to this day. Since the person of the priest is male, only males are permitted in the altar with the hope that one day they too may serve the Altar of Christ as a priest. Now, it should also be said that ANY MAN IS NOT PERMITTED to enter the Altar. The Altar is a sacred place and only those with a purpose from the priest are permitted to enter. It should also be said that there have been females in the Altar and that there is a special prayer for females to come into the Altar. That has fallen by the wayside for the most part as has the office of the Deaconess. (all of which is another conversation)
4. Why do we use incense?
From the earliest of times incense has been used in Churches (and Synagogues) to represent our prayers rising to heaven. In the Psalms we read “May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.”
5. Why do we have Koliva at a memorial service?
Koliva represent life. As a seed, the wheat is dead, but if were to be planted, it will come alive like other seeds. There is a wonderful reference to this in the gospel of John. “ I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”
6. When we do the cross, why do we point to the head, stomach, right shoulder, and left shoulder?
We do that to make the sign of the Cross on our bodies. We start from the top as if we begin from the head of Christ, then go down as if we were going to the feet of Christ, then to the right (as all things point to the right in the Bible; right hand of God…) and then the left. Ultimately, we are called to become like Christ who died on the Cross. The same reason we bless ourselves in the sign of the Cross is also why we wear a cross around our necks. It is the Cross of Jesus that brought and continues to bring salvation. It is His Cross that conquered the power of the devil. It is His Cross also that is the most powerful tool we have as Christians (not eyeballs J )
7. Why do we wear special clothes to Church?
Christ wants us no matter what we wear, He cares more about our inside soul than He does about our outside appearance. But, consider this….when I want to visit with the President of the US, I want to wear my best clothes. I think I should do at least the same for my Lord….what do u think?
8. Why does our priest wear special robes?
The priest wears special clothes to show that it is not he who is celebrating and preparing the Holy Communion and special services, but Jesus Christ. The priest is there as a representative of God who, with the people, offer the service. Each article of clothing has a special meaning.
9. Why do we have a special Chalice for Communion?
Not only is there a special “cup”, for Chalice for Communion, it is also very ornate and beautiful. Within that “cup”, the very presence of God is also in the form of Holy Communion.
10. Why do we kiss the icons?
Icons represent special people in the life of the Church who became what we all try to become….Christ-like. When we kiss an icon, we are doing 2 things. First, we honor the person on it because of their exemplary example of a good Christian since they became a Saint. Second, by kissing an icon, our Church teaches us that we are kissing the “prototype” who is Christ Himself.
11. Why do priests wear black?
Because black matches with anything their wives wear (just kidding) Priests wear black to reflect their humanity and that they are sinful also.
12. What is the significance of the collar? Does it always have to be white?
At all times and throughout the ages, clergy have always had attire that showed they were priests. Much like a doctor does, police man etc. In the US, we have adopted the collar from the western Churches as the acceptable symbol of the priesthood. The collar is used by Orthodox Clergymen in other parts of the world also. In some places, the long black robes are still the acceptable “Dress”. Yes the collar is always white.
13. Who created God?
We can’t think of God in human terms….He is God. He was not created as we are created. God always existed and there was never a time that he did not exist.