Catholic-Orthodox Differences In Prayer And Devotion

• Sign of the Cross, Kneeling, etc

The Orthodox make the sign of the cross from right to left. There are many theories as to why there is a difference, but no one really knows for sure. The Orthodox prostrate at certain services. This is on the floor, knees bent, and head bowed, much like Muslims do at prayer. Orthodox believers do a great deal of crossing and bowing within their worship. Individual expressions vary greatly, however.

• Icon Corners

Orthodox believers set aside a section of their home (a corner or wall, usually East-facing) as a sacred spot for prayer and reflection. This is called an icon corner, and it is adorned with icons of Christ, Mary, patron Saints, bibles, prayer books, vials of holy water, candles or oil lamps, and perhaps an incense burner. This part of the home is treated with reverence and kept uncluttered and clean, like a miniature chapel.

• Fasting

The Orthodox place a greater emphasis on fasting. There are two types of fasting in Orthodoxy. The most common type is really just an abstention from certain foods. The strictness of the fast is varied on fast days with the restriction of meat, fish, eggs, cheese, oil, and wine. The second type of fast is a total withdrawal from food. This is only prescribed for the hours preceding communion. With few exceptions, every Wednesday and Friday are prescribed as fast days. Addtionally there are certain periods throughout the year where fasting is prescribed for every day. These include Great Lent and Holy Week (the 40-50 days before Pascha/Easter); the Nativity Lent (40 days before Christmas); the Apostles Fast (observed the two weeks before the day of Saints Peter and Paul); and other fasting periods throughout the year. Altogether nearly half the year is spent fasting at one time or another. This sounds daunting to the newcomer, and is sometimes the source of a great deal of consternation and many questions. However, a little investigation reveals that fasting is not the daunting difficulty it appears to be. First, it is important to emphasise the non-legalistic, therapeutic nature of Orthodox belief. Fasting is not so much a requirement as a recommendation. It is not a sacrifice made to God, but a spiritual exercise performed for our own good, to help us control our passions. For example: if we have the strength to abstain from meat, perhaps we will also have the strength to abstain from getting angry in traffic. There is no sin associated with not fasting, and there are many valid reasons for breaking a fast. For instance: if it is a fast day, and a non-Orthodox friend offers a steak, it is better to say "thank you" and eat the steak in graciousness, rather than to refuse the steak and cause embarrassment for the friend. Secondly, since fasting is a spiritual exercise, then it is like physical exercise in that it should be performed slowly and in stages. A new Orthodox believer might be advised to only skip meat for one meal, or eat smaller portions, or to abstain from meat, but continue to eat cheese. Like all exercise, it takes time to get good at fasting, so the Orthodox emphasis is to do what one can and always keep trying. Very few Orthodox keep a perfect fast.

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