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(The Morning Offering) - Standing for worship has been the only acceptable posture for Orthodox Christians from the earliest of times. Through the discipline of standing we act as the faithful servants of the Lord, worshiping before the Throne. We recognize that the temple is not a place of entertainment, where we relax and take in a show, but the very place where we encounter our God. The Holy Apostle Paul tells us, "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith" (I Cor. 16:13); and, "Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about with truth (Ephesians 6:14).
Christians should always be spiritually on guard, and even more so then when attending the divine services. When we stand for worship, we subject our bodies to the attention needed to properly and fully worship God with all our body, mind and soul. We offer ourselves to God as His humble servants, giving Him all our attention. When we become fatigued during long services we become living offerings to the very God we worship.
Saint Paul says, "Present you bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service" (Romans 12:1). And, the words of the Lord Himself, “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses (Mark 11:25)."
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
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Americans love their soft cushioned pews. Remove the cushions and have them sit on hard wood, they might stand but they will probably just find another Orthodox Church that has soft cushiony pews. It's too late in the game.
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