I went to my first Vespers service at a local Orthodox church. It was small, only about seven people in attendance. I had to navigate my way into the church through the kitchen where it appeared there was some kind of event taking place later in the event hall. It wasn't until after the service that I learned where I was supposed to have gone in.
This was something similar to what I experienced when considering Islam as a viable spiritual path and was not met with the usual enthusiastic welcome with clear directions from the parking lot to the main entrance to the sanctuary in more 'seeker-friendly' churches so this came as little surprise.
As an introvert quietly seeking, this was just fine. Those I did speak to were friendly and gave me directions and the priest sought me out to introduce himself before the service started. I'd describe it as a gentle welcome.
The walls were painted with biblical scenes and there were icons around the church. This is something new to me but I get the idea of veneration, not worship. Kissing them and the cross is foreign to me but is not a deal-breaker. God knows in 'evangelical' circles there are some peculiarities that might weird new (or old, for that matter) people out.
I'd take the time to describe it in great detail but there are plenty of videos out there if you'd like to watch the service. It was short, less than an hour, and singularly focused. 'Tradition' gets a bad rap but I was keen to pay attention to what was being said and sung, and it aligned perfectly with the seeking I'm doing.
This was a breath of fresh air.
I watched and tried to time the standing (most of the service) or sitting (wasn't clear here) and no one seemed to care. I watched how often - a lot - they crossed themselves and gently bowed during the service and was quite interested. I'm familiar enough with the symbolism of the three fingers (Trinity) and two fingers (dual nature of Christ) finger placement as well as the order of how the crossing is done on the body but knew nothing about its practice during a service.
The entire service was singing by two women (one the priest's wife) and a gentleman in the back giving their singing the undertone (bass?) to buoy their singing and the priest with his chanting which I could not fully make out as he chanted. Though I could not understand the 'chanting' of the priest - smells and bells, right? - but I really do love the smell of incense.
It's what I've come to expect and it had much better resonance in person than online. I plan to go back or perhaps do the same at other Orthodox churches around town.
