Survey of Orthodox Culture

[quote] alyshazam wrote: Hello All: I am posting for the first time here. But I am running a survey for all those I know of the \"Orthodox Persuasion.\" I think it will be fun to do and interesting for us all to find out the results. Plus we are doing a Family Feud, Orthodox Style Game Show next week, and using these! So, if you would.. take a minute and put your choice letter below each answer.. I\'ll post these at the end! Bouqeau thanks! 1) What is the best part of a Baptism service? b. Singing \"As Many As Have Been Baptized\" 2) What is the hymn sung most heartily by the faithful during the Divine Liturgy? f. We Have Seen the True Light 3) How did you become Orthodox? a. Raised in the Church 4) What is the first thing you do when you step inside church? c. Light a candle 5) What is your top distraction in church? a. Kids crying 6) What is your top excuse for being late to church? c. Someone else made you late 7) When do you normally get to church on Sunday? b. Beginning of Liturgy 8) How many times per month do you attend church? b. 4 9) What is your favorite service? b. Hierarchical Divine Liturgy 10) In how many languages can you say Christ is Risen? a. 1 b. 2 c. 3 11) Name the part of Orthodox worship that has helped you the most. a. reading/hearing the saint\'s lives :o

1) What is the best part of a Baptism service? b. Singing \"As Many As Have Been Baptized\" *I\'m a big fan of our music in general, but especially when a group of priests is singing. I was at a baptism a few weeks ago where 8 or 9 priests were serving and this part of the service was beautiful. 2) What is the hymn sung most heartily by the faithful during the Divine Liturgy? a. Cherubic Hymn *Not necessarily the first half, but after the priest\'s entrance when the hymn is sped up a bit. 3) How did you become Orthodox? a. Raised in the Church b. Family became Orthodox *Combo of both...wasn\'t baptised Orthodox at birth, but family practiced and eventually my dad (who was Catholic) and I were Chrismated later. 4) What is the first thing you do when you step inside church? a. Make the sign of the cross 5) What is your top distraction in church? a. Kids crying *Kids screaming is much more distracting... 6) What is your top excuse for being late to church? d. Traffic *I-95 is a less than favorable way of getting to church 7) When do you normally get to church on Sunday? a. Matins *Technically Hours, considering I have to read them and my church(es) don\'t have Matins usually. 8) How many times per month do you attend church? e. more *usually Vespers/Divine Liturgy weekly, and then for any Feast Days if possible 9) What is your favorite service? d. Paschal Liturgy *Hands down! 10) In how many languages can you say Christ is Risen? e. 5 or more 11) Name the part of Orthodox worship that has helped you the most. b. hearing/doing chant *I would say attending Divine Liturgy/Holy Week and Pascha Services helped the most...but also becoming a Tonsured Reader has given me a new place in the Liturgy and Worship in the Church.

1) What is the best part of a Baptism service? b. Singing \"As Many As Have Been Baptized\" 2) What is the hymn sung most heartily by the faithful during the Divine Liturgy? c. Patronal Hymn 3) How did you become Orthodox? a. Raised in the Church 4) What is the first thing you do when you step inside church? a. Make the sign of the cross 5) What is your top distraction in church? \"None of the above\". My top distraction is people walking late into the church while I am reading the Epistle. As most of you should know, people should stay in the narthex until the reading is over if they come while the Epistle or Gospel are being read. 6) What is your top excuse for being late to church? a. Overslept 7) When do you normally get to church on Sunday? a. Matins 8) How many times per month do you attend church? c. 6 9) What is your favorite service? \"None of the Above\". My favorite is the Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts 10) In how many languages can you say Christ is Risen? c. 3 (English, Greek, and Slavonic) 11) Name the part of Orthodox worship that has helped you the most. b. hearing/doing chant Chanting/singing/directing the choir has led me into so many other things about our Faith that time doesn\'t permit me to tell themall.

I\'m going to explain my answer to all of these, because I have nothing else to do right now:-) 1) What is the best part of a Baptism service? a. Renouncing and spitting on Satan When I became a Catchecumen (still not baptized, yet), I really enjoyed this part because it was a way to show to that arrogant fool that I was finally done with him once and for all. 2) What is the hymn sung most heartily by the faithful during the Divine Liturgy? f. We Have Seen the True Light It seems to be \"We Have Seen the True Light\" in my experience; I suspect this is because everyone has just been rejuvinated due to Holy Communion. 3) How did you become Orthodox? f. Was seeking truth and meaning, without knowing God previously There\'s a very long story here. I\'ll probably blog the story at some point...so i guess keep your eyes open? It\'s too long to get into here. 4) What is the first thing you do when you step inside church? a. Make the sign of the cross Always do this. I even did it the first time I went in, as sort of a reflex. Even though I didn\'t know what to do. So much of Orthodoxy has come to me naturally that it\'s almost surreal. 5) What is your top distraction in church? e. Cute kid doing cute things I love kids. They\'re adorable. As for being distracted by the cute girl....that doesn\'t happen since I purposely stand near the front of the church to avoid distractions such as that, but there\'s always this family that stands in front of me with three little kids... 6) What is your top excuse for being late to church? a. Overslept Oversleeping--the curse of the college student. This however only happens on days that are NOT a sunday--perhaps I\'ve forgotten that day that there is a liturgy. Or perhaps I miss half of matins. Or once I missed most of Vespers because I had taken a nap. I can count the number of times this has happened though on one hand. 7) When do you normally get to church on Sunday? a. Matins There\'s a joke in my parish that the only person more punctual than me is our Priest...and there\'s been once or twice where I arrived for matins before he did:-) 8) How many times per month do you attend church? e. more As a Catchecumen, I feel I should attend church as much as possible--otherwise how am I going to learn about my faith? Though, to be fair, this attribute of mine will probably continue until the day I die. I really like going to church. 9) What is your favorite service? a. Divine Liturgy c. Great Vespers d. Paschal Liturgy It\'s a three-way tie between these. I\'ve never been to a Hierarchical Liturgy, and for some reason, my mind tends to wander during Matins (probably because I\'m not fully awake yet). All are so beautiful. 10) In how many languages can you say Christ is Risen? e. more Just five so far: English, Slavonic, Greek, Romanian and Arabic. I\'m working on learning it in Spanish, German, Serbian, French, Bulgarian and Latin for practical, liturgical purposes. 11) Name the part of Orthodox worship that has helped you the most. a. reading/hearing the saint\'s lives Studying the lives of saints actually played a minor role in my entrance to Orthodoxy. In a Byzantine History class, we examined hajiographies to understand average daily life for the average person in the Byzantine state, and thus, I learned a lot about Orthodoxy that way. I still read hajiographies \"for fun\" for the same reasons.

1) Name something besides the figure of \'a saint\' that could be on a blessed icon. Satan is often shown on icons of the Resurrection. 2) Name your favorite feast day. Pacha, of course! 3) Name a Lenten food you like the least. Tahini 4) Name a food (other than \'anything meat\' ) that Orthodox faithful prefer to break the fast with. Oregano 5) Name the 5 cities of the early Christian world (without cheating) from which came our original jurisdictions? Rome, Constantinople, Antioch, Alexandria, and Jerusalem 6) What is a popular classic, secular book which mentions or describes aspects of the Orthodox Church? Zorba the Greek (even though its author was excommunicated) 7) Name an outreach ministry or media that shares the Orthodox faith. AncientFaith Radio 8) What is the most effective way to get a little child quiet at Divine Liturgy? Give him/her a binky 9) Where would you choose to get an Orthodox theological education? I intend to enroll at St. Stephen\'s Academy (Antiochian) soon, so that will be my choice. 10) Name a country where the majority of the people who live there are Orthodox. Romania 11) After worshipping in Divine Liturgy and speaking to your priest, what is the best thing to do or place to go to learn more about Orthodox spirituality? Read a good book on the subject. Make sure it\'s by an Orthodox priest or bishop or apologist approved by the Church. 12) Name an American Saint. St. Herman of Alaska 13) What is a tangible or intangible thing you usually bring with you to confession? Nothing 14) Name a country where the majority of the people are Orthodox. This is the same as Question 10. 15) What is your favorite part about being Orthodox? Knowing that we are the true, ancient Church of Christ to the exclusion of all others, and our Holy Tradition.

1) What is the best part of a Baptism service? a. Renouncing and spitting on Satan 2) What is the hymn sung most heartily by the faithful during the Divine Liturgy? c. Patronal Hymn 3) How did you become Orthodox? c. Friends introduced me (She\'s now a nun) 4) What is the first thing you do when you step inside church? a. Make the sign of the cross 5) What is your top distraction in church? a. Kids crying 6) What is your top excuse for being late to church? a. Overslept 7) When do you normally get to church on Sunday? b. Beginning of Liturgy 8) How many times per month do you attend church? e. more 9) What is your favorite service? c. Great Vespers 10) In how many languages can you say Christ is Risen? e. 5 or more 11) Name the part of Orthodox worship that has helped you the most. b. hearing/doing chant

1) Name something besides the figure of \'a saint\' that could be on a blessed icon. *throne 2) Name your favorite feast day. *Pascha (Nativity otherwise) 3) Name a Lenten food you like the least. *lentils. 4) Name a food (other than \'anything meat\' ) that Orthodox faithful prefer to break the fast with. *cheese 5) Name the 5 cities of the early Christian world (without cheating) from which came our original jurisdictions? *Constantinople, Antioch, Alexandria, Jerusalem, Rome. 6) What is a popular classic, secular book which mentions or describes aspects of the Orthodox Church? *Resurrection (Tolstoy) 7) Name an outreach ministry or media that shares the Orthodox faith. *Ancient Faith Radio. 8) What is the most effective way to get a little child quiet at Divine Liturgy? *pick him/her up. 9) Where would you choose to get an Orthodox theological education? *Language being no obsticle, Veliko Turnovo, Bulgaria. 10) Name a country where the majority of the people who live there are Orthodox. *Bulgaria :) 11) After worshipping in Divine Liturgy and speaking to your priest, what is the best thing to do or place to go to learn more about Orthodox spirituality? *Prologue of Ohrid. 12) Name an American Saint. *St Peter the Aleut. 13) What is a tangible or intangible thing you usually bring with you to confession? *Prayer book. 14) Name a country where the majority of the people are Orthodox. *Romania. 15) What is your favorite part about being Orthodox? *the freedom from niggling legalism.

Ugh! That is NOT food; it\'s a torture device! ;)

In Greek, okras are called \"mbamyes\". I like to call them \"bomb \'yas\" because that is what they do to you!

1) What is the best part of a Baptism service? e. Sealing with the Gift of the Holy Spirit 2) What is the hymn sung most heartily by the faithful during the Divine Liturgy? b. Psalm 103/104: (Bless the Lord, oh my Soul) 3) How did you become Orthodox? f. Was seeking truth and meaning, without knowing God previously 4) What is the first thing you do when you step inside church? a. Make the sign of the cross 5) What is your top distraction in church? c. What you\'re going to do after church 6) What is your top excuse for being late to church? c. Someone else made you late 7) When do you normally get to church on Sunday? a. Matins 8) How many times per month do you attend church? e. more 9) What is your favorite service? a. Divine Liturgy 10) In how many languages can you say Christ is Risen? d. 4 11) Name the part of Orthodox worship that has helped you the most. a. reading/hearing the saint\'s lives

1) Name something besides the figure of \'a saint\' that could be on a blessed icon. Cross 2) Name your favorite feast day. Pascha 3) Name a Lenten food you like the least. Baba ghanoush 4) Name a food (other than \'anything meat\' ) that Orthodox faithful prefer to break the fast with. Cheese 5) Name the 5 cities of the early Christian world (without cheating) from which came our original jurisdictions? Antioch, Jerusalem, Constantinople, Rome, Alexandria 6) What is a popular classic, secular book which mentions or describes aspects of the Orthodox Church? Brothers Karamazov 7) Name an outreach ministry or media that shares the Orthodox faith. Death to the World 8) What is the most effective way to get a little child quiet at Divine Liturgy? Teach him/her to pray 9) Where would you choose to get an Orthodox theological education? St. Tikhon\'s Orthodox Seminary 10) Name a country where the majority of the people who live there are Orthodox. Greece 11) After worshipping in Divine Liturgy and speaking to your priest, what is the best thing to do or place to go to learn more about Orthodox spirituality? Orthodox Monastery 12) Name an American Saint. St. John of San Fransisco and Shangai 13) What is a tangible or intangible thing you usually bring with you to confession? Repentance 14) Name a country where the majority of the people are Orthodox. Greece 15) What is your favorite part about being Orthodox? Christ

To Ayshazam : survey answers. 1. a 2. e 3. a 4. c 5. a 6. b 7. a 8 d 9. d 10. b 11. d

1) What is the best part of a Baptism service? b. Singing \"As Many As Have Been Baptized\" 2) What is the hymn sung most heartily by the faithful during the Divine Liturgy? f. We Have Seen the True Light 3) How did you become Orthodox? d. Looked for historic Christianity 4) What is the first thing you do when you step inside church? c. Light a candle 5) What is your top distraction in church? c. What you\'re going to do after church 6) What is your top excuse for being late to church? a. Overslept 7) When do you normally get to church on Sunday? a. Matins 8) How many times per month do you attend church? d. 8 (when I\'m back in the States or in a country where I can go to church) 9) What is your favorite service? a. Divine Liturgy 10) In how many languages can you say Christ is Risen? e. 5 or more 11) Name the part of Orthodox worship that has helped you the most. a. reading/hearing the saint\'s lives

1) Name something besides the figure of \'a saint\' that could be on a blessed icon. *weird jagged cliffs, gratuitously out-of-place drapery 2) Name your favorite feast day. *Dormition--after Pascha 3) Name a Lenten food you like the least. *stuffed lentils 4) Name a food (other than \'anything meat\' ) that Orthodox faithful prefer to break the fast with. *yogurt--it helps you digest the meat! 5) Name the 5 cities of the early Christian world (without cheating) from which came our original jurisdictions? *well, if you want to go earlier than the first Ecumenical Council (Constantinople was nothing then): Jerusalem, Antioch, Ephesus, Philipi, Alexandria (Rome and Seleucia-Ctesiphon were important, too, of course) 6) What is a popular classic, secular book which mentions or describes aspects of the Orthodox Church? *David Copperfield--about forgiveness and living with others 7) Name an outreach ministry or media that shares the Orthodox faith. *The Orthodox Word 8) What is the most effective way to get a little child quiet at Divine Liturgy? *duct tape. No, seriously. 9) Where would you choose to get an Orthodox theological education? *University of Thessaloniki 10) Name a country where the majority of the people who live there are Orthodox. *Moldova 11) After worshipping in Divine Liturgy and speaking to your priest, what is the best thing to do or place to go to learn more about Orthodox spirituality? *do: pray, read the Lives of the Saints *go: Mount Athos 12) Name an American Saint. *St Anatoly Kamenski. He was a missionary in Alaska and, possible, the continental US. He went back to Russia and became an Archbishop. He was martyred by the godless Communists. 13) What is a tangible or intangible thing you usually bring with you to confession? *Spiritual Psalter of St. Ephraim the Syrian 14) Name a country where the majority of the people are Orthodox. *(Wasn\'t this already asked in question 10?) Georgia 15) What is your favorite part about being Orthodox? *the church services, and how hardly anyone in the world has ALL the necessary liturgical texts to do the WHOLE cycle, together with the prayers for special needs

1) What is the best part of a Baptism service? c. Vows about joining oneself to Christ 2) What is the hymn sung most heartily by the faithful during the Divine Liturgy? a. Cherubic Hymn 3) How did you become Orthodox? c. Friends introduced me 4) What is the first thing you do when you step inside church? a. Make the sign of the cross 5) What is your top distraction in church? e. Cute kid doing cute things 6) What is your top excuse for being late to church? d. Traffic 7) When do you normally get to church on Sunday? b. Beginning of Liturgy 8) How many times per month do you attend church? e. more 9) What is your favorite service? a. Divine Liturgy 10) In how many languages can you say Christ is Risen? d. 4 11) Name the part of Orthodox worship that has helped you the most. d. using icons