Chapter 16: every tradition · Christianity

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

A parish of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, an eparchy of the Ecumenical Patriarchate: Orthros and the Divine Liturgy every Sunday, in Greek and English, chanted by the psaltes at the analogion and often sung by a choir with an organ, before the iconostasion, with the people in pews. Infants are baptized by triple immersion, chrismated, and given Holy Communion at once; Communion is for the Orthodox, after fasting and confession. The Metropolitan assigns and moves the priest, whose pay follows the Archdiocese's Clergy Compensation Plan, ratifies the parish council's election, and approves any building, sale, or mortgage after two thirds of the Parish Assembly have voted for it, and its plans and iconography. The parish holds its own title, but one that falls into schism loses it to the Archdiocese. Parishioners in good standing are 18 or over and current in their stewardship, taught as a tithe; every parish budgets its Total Commitment to the Archdiocese. The parish is a centre of Hellenic life: the Greek school, the Philoptochos, GOYA, and the summer festival.

All 80 traditions · its profile in Faiths and traditions, with how to play it; How people feel, what every factor is.

At a glance

Faith	Christianity
Its words	parish, church, nave; the priest leads the Divine Liturgy; the homily; Sunday; the Bible
Worship	sacrament focus, chanted, high formality (1.00 of 1); seated on pews
Music	gospel organ forbidden; piano discouraged; choir expected; band forbidden; brass forbidden; handbells forbidden; chant expected; song leader discouraged; recorded forbidden
The room's sound	likes a ringing room (organ and choir)
Its year	eastern; full observance; fasts strict
Leans	conservative on moral questions, neutral on economic ones
Polity	episcopal; leaders come by appointment; property local with conditions
Leaders	one leader, full time, trained by seminary; marriage any
Belonging	moderate commitment, pastoral discipline, admitted by clergy; exclusive
Giving	tithing taught; collected by pledges, plate, online; also candles, rentals
Way of life	alcohol permitted, dress modest, sabbath observed

The week's services

Day	Time	Service	Led by	People look for it
Sunday	10:00 am	Divine Liturgy	the priest	expected

Leader: a priest. With none (a vacancy, or no one hired), the services are still held, but each costs everyone at it 0.10; on sabbatical a supply priest stands in ($800 a month) for a little less.
Communion (every week), served by spoon, at stations: it needs an altar, communion table, rail, or communion station with clear floor in front of it, or communion can't be given that week. Everyone receives, infants too.
Baptism: needs a baptistry or an immersion font, built and installed; until there is one, those wanting baptism wait.
Lay helpers at each service: Required: 2 altar boys; Expected: a Epistle reader.

Rites

Chrismation (per joining, +0.02 to those there): Right after baptism, or when a convert is received, the priest anoints the forehead, eyes, ears, mouth, hands and feet with holy chrism blessed by the bishop, saying, "The seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit."
Reconciliation (weekly, +0.02 to those there): Penitents confess their sins privately to a priest, receive counsel and a penance, and are absolved. Parishes keep regular hours for it, often on Saturday afternoon.
Anointing of the Sick (on request, +0.02 to those there, asked for 0.05 times a year by a household, 20 minutes): A priest or the elders pray over someone who is seriously ill, lay hands on them, and anoint them with oil, following James 5. It is usually done at home or in the hospital, sometimes at a communal service.
Holy Orders (on request, +0.03 to those there): A deacon or priest is ordained by the bishop with the laying on of hands and the prayer of ordination, after years of formation. It is a great day for the parish the candidate comes from.
Holy Matrimony (on request, +0.02 to those there): A couple marries before God and the parish, exchanging vows before the priest after a course of marriage preparation.
Catechumenate (weekly, +0.01 to those there): Adults preparing for baptism or to be received into the church meet each week with a catechist to learn the faith, pray, and be welcomed in stages before they are received, usually at Easter.
Great Blessing of Waters (yearly, +0.025 to those there): At Theophany (January 6), the priest blesses water by plunging the cross into it three times, sometimes at a river or lake. The faithful take the holy water home, and the priest sprinkles the church and the people.
House Blessing (yearly, +0.02 to those there): In the weeks after Theophany, the priest visits each family's home with the newly blessed water, sings the troparion of the feast, and sprinkles every room.
Memorial Service (on request, +0.015 to those there): A short service of prayer for the departed (the panikhida), often after the liturgy on the 40th day and on anniversaries of a death, with a dish of boiled wheat and honey (koliva) set out with candles.
Churching (per birth, +0.02 to those there): On the fortieth day after a birth, the mother brings her baby to church. The priest prays over them at the entrance and carries the child into the church, presenting it to God as Christ was presented in the Temple.

Baptism, confirmation, and joining

Baptized elsewhere: it recognizes any baptism in the name of the Trinity, completed by chrismation. Someone so baptized is received at a service after about 13 weeks (a week from another of its churches).
Not baptized (or baptized where it doesn't recognize it): a candidate who prepares for 6 months (only months its class can meet count), then is baptized and received at the same service.
Joining age: 18.
The church's children are baptized as babies, and are baptized members, without a vote until confirmed.
Kinds of belonging: parishioners in good standing (votes, may hold office); parishioners; received by the priest.
What it means: being baptized, confirmed, or received is worth +0.1 to the person, +0.05 to family there, and +0.03 to everyone else at the service. It roots them: a rooted household drifts away only 0.6 times as often, and if it does fall away, it has a 25% chance of coming home each Christmas Eve and Easter for ten years.

Giving, and what goes up

How its people give and what else comes in, as Money explains it for every faith.

How it's given: the offering, by pledges, a plate passed at each main service, and giving online. A visiting household puts $5 to $25 in the plate. Those who give online give whether or not they come (8% more a month).
Pledges: a pledge drive each November for the year to come: a household with a member pledges with a chance of 0.9 × its engagement (a household of regulars, 0.3), about three quarters of what it could give, paid monthly from January and falling behind as it grows unhappy.
Candles: 60¢ for each person at each service.
Renting space: its congregations are known for it, so tenants pay 15% more.
Fundraisers: any it allows (below).
Owed above: Total Commitment, 12% of what it takes in, to the Archdiocese; not kept, it costs the congregation its voice.

The priest, the staff, and who decides

How the priest comes: sent by the Metropolis, which moves them on; you can't advertise for or dismiss one, but can ask for a move.
Paid: full time, at the wider body's scale; housed or given an allowance, as you set.
Who they are: trained at seminary; men; married before ordination or never; the spouse has a recognized part (+0.01 to everyone after each service).
Tenure: settled for about 10 years, then may be called elsewhere.
Staff it can hire or name (see Staff and volunteers):
- Bivocational priest ($22,000–$38,000; cares for 75)
- Priest ($55,000–$85,000 + $18,000 benefits, full time; cares for 150)
- Associate priest ($42,000–$62,000 + $15,000 benefits, full time; cares for 100 more)
- Deacon (up to $6,000; from the members; cares for 30 more)
- Choir director / organist / pianist ($15,000–$35,000; leads the music (up to +0.06))
- Caretaker ($18,000–$30,000; slows the building's wear)
- Parish secretary ($20,000–$35,000; runs the office (+50 to the leader's reach, once))
- Youth director ($20,000–$40,000; up to +0.08 for households with young people)
Its boards: the parish council (deciding, over everything).
Renovations: The parish council votes, consulting the priest.
New construction: The members vote (two thirds needed), consulting the priest, then the Metropolis must consent.
Who votes: parishioners in good standing, 16 and over.

Life together

What its Community screen offers it, with the dilemmas only its own faith or family meets; see The congregation in its community.

Ministries of its own: Choir.
Ministries every tradition can run that it's offered: Blood drive, Food pantry, Health clinic, Preschool, Youth group.
Fundraisers of its own: Lenten fish fry, Soup supper.
Shared fundraisers it may hold: Auction, Bake sale, Bingo night, Car wash, Casino night, Parish festival, Raffle, Rummage sale.
Tenants it can take: A Masonic lodge, A scout troop, A twelve-step group, Another congregation, Dance classes, Parties and receptions, Wedding receptions.
Auxiliaries: Sisterhood.
Outreach: invitation Sunday (Community → Evangelism).
Dilemmas of its own faith (besides those every congregation meets): A dinner in the fast, A petition for cushions, The bells, again.
Dilemmas its code of life brings: A Masonic funeral, A recruiter asks for the hall.

What the building needs

required AltarBelief in Christ's real presence in the Eucharist calls for an altar, the focal point of the sanctuary.
required IconostasisThe Byzantine rite separates nave and sanctuary with an iconostasis, a screen of icons with the Royal Doors at its center.
required Immersion fontInfant baptism by immersion needs a font deep enough to immerse a child.
required TabernacleConsecrated elements are reserved after the service, which needs a tabernacle.
required sacristyVestments, sacred vessels, and paraments are kept and prepared in a sacristy.
forbidden Brass band standsThis tradition's worship is sung without instruments.
forbidden Drum kitThis tradition's worship is sung without instruments.
forbidden Hammond organThis tradition's worship is sung without instruments.
forbidden Handbell tableThis tradition's worship is sung without instruments.
expected Chanter's standThe services are chanted from a stand by the chanters.
expected Choir stallsA choir leads the singing and needs a place to stand or sit together.
expected CrossAn empty cross is the expected focal symbol.
expected EpitaphiosOn Holy Friday the epitaphios, the embroidered shroud of Christ, is laid on its bier and carried in procession.
expected IconIcons are windows to heaven; the faithful expect to venerate them.
expected LecternScripture is proclaimed from an ambo or lectern near the altar.
expected Sanctuary lampA lamp burns before the reserved sacrament, a sign of Christ's presence.
expected reconciliation roomConfession needs a private room, with a screen for those who want one. The sacrament of reconciliation needs a private place to hear confessions.
expected the nave facing eastThe church faces east, toward the rising sun, a sign of the Resurrection: the altar stands at the east end and the faithful pray facing it.
discouraged Flaming chaliceThe flaming chalice is another tradition's symbol.
discouraged Upright pianoA piano doesn't suit this tradition's worship.
discouraged StatueStatues are not part of this tradition's worship space.

What people here feel

Architectural style: Colonial brick -0.012; Modern synagogue +0.006; Gurdwara +0.012; Japanese temple +0.024; Islamic +0.03; Shinto shrine +0.03; Chinese temple +0.036; Dravidian temple +0.042; Nagara temple +0.042; Thai temple +0.042; Jain marble +0.048; Gothic +0.054.
Building fit: up to ±0.15 for everyone, the average fit of the characterful items in its worship rooms (the table below).
Acoustics: it wants a ringing room, about 3.4 seconds of reverberation: stone, plaster, a high ceiling. Up to ±0.05.
Seasonal decor: it keeps the church year: paraments and the season's decor are worth up to ±0.040.
Orientation: facing the way it wants is +0.04, and not, −0.04.
The homily lands by its topic and the tradition's leaning (below); the priest's preaching adds or costs up to 0.08 more.
Communion: each communion service runs longer; a slow one costs 0.05 for every 10 minutes the service runs over (0.2 at most).

How each homily lands

The topics its leader can choose from (some are only for one faith or family), and what each is worth.

Fire & Brimstone+0.08
Marriage as God Designed+0.06
Sanctity of Life+0.06
The Last Days+0.06
Faith & Family+0.04
Faith of Our Fathers+0.04
Obedience & Discipline+0.04
Personal Holiness+0.04
Resisting Temptation+0.04
Spiritual Warfare+0.04
The Authority of Scripture+0.04
The Great Commission+0.04
Biblical Stories+0.015
Blessed Are the Peacemakers+0.015
Called by Name+0.015
Doubt & Faith+0.015
Eternal Life & Resurrection+0.015
Grace & Forgiveness+0.015
Gratitude+0.015
Hope & Comfort+0.015
Joy in All Things+0.015
Love One Another+0.015
Sabbath Rest+0.015
Saints & Witnesses+0.015
Servant Leadership+0.015
Songs of the Psalms+0.015
Stewardship & Generosity+0.015
The Church Year+0.015
The Life of Prayer+0.015
The Parables of Jesus+0.015
Care for Creation-0.02
Healing for All-0.02
Wealth & Poverty-0.02
Welcome the Stranger-0.02
Social Justice Call-0.03
Interfaith Understanding-0.05
Reading Scripture in Context-0.05
Swords into Ploughshares-0.05
The Prophets' Call-0.05
Women Who Led-0.05
Racial Justice & Reconciliation-0.075
Radical Inclusion-0.075

Every item, for this tradition

Fit runs from −1 (jars) to +1 (just right); the building fit is the average over the characterful items in the worship rooms. An item with no character (a table, a toilet) has no fit. A rule applies wherever the item is.

Item	Fit	Rule
Seating
Box pew	+1
Choir stalls	+1	expected A choir leads the singing and needs a place to stand or sit together.
Meeting bench	no fit
Oak pew	no fit
Row of chairs	-1
Liturgical furniture
Altar	+1	required Belief in Christ's real presence in the Eucharist calls for an altar, the focal point of the sanctuary.
Baptismal font	+1
Baptistry	no fit
Bishop's chair	+1
Brass eagle lectern	+1
Columbarium niches	+1
Communion rail	+1
Communion station	no fit
Communion table	no fit
Communion trays	no fit
Confessional screen	no fit
Coptic cross	+1
Epitaphios	+1	expected On Holy Friday the epitaphios, the embroidered shroud of Christ, is laid on its bier and carried in procession.
Flaming chalice	-1	discouraged The flaming chalice is another tradition's symbol.
Foot-washing basins	no fit
Haikal screen	+1
Iconostasis	+1	required The Byzantine rite separates nave and sanctuary with an iconostasis, a screen of icons with the Royal Doors at its center.
Immersion font	+1	required Infant baptism by immersion needs a font deep enough to immerse a child.
Lectern	no fit	expected Scripture is proclaimed from an ambo or lectern near the altar.
Litany desk	+1
Mercy seat	no fit
Octagonal stone font	+1
Paraments	no fit
Pulpit	no fit
Readers' desks	no fit
Rood screen	+1
Sanctuary lamp	+1	expected A lamp burns before the reserved sacrament, a sign of Christ's presence.
Tabernacle	+1	required Consecrated elements are reserved after the service, which needs a tabernacle.
Three-bar cross	+1
Thurible and stand	no fit
Music
Brass band stands	-1	forbidden This tradition's worship is sung without instruments.
Chanter's stand	+1	expected The services are chanted from a stand by the chanters.
Drum kit	-1	forbidden This tradition's worship is sung without instruments.
Electronic organ	0
Grand piano	-1
Hammond organ	-1	forbidden This tradition's worship is sung without instruments.
Handbell table	-1	forbidden This tradition's worship is sung without instruments.
Pipe organ	+0.5
Sound system	-1
Upright piano	-1	discouraged A piano doesn't suit this tradition's worship.
Decor
Advent wreath	no fit
Banner	0
Christmas Eve candles	no fit
Cross	+1	expected An empty cross is the expected focal symbol.
Crucifix	0
Easter lilies	no fit
Eternal flame	no fit
Flag of the church	0
Great dome	+1
Icon	+1	expected Icons are windows to heaven; the faithful expect to venerate them.
Memorial plaque	no fit
National flag	0
Painting of Christ	0
Paschal candle	no fit
Plain spire	no fit
Small dome	no fit
Stained glass window	+1
Statue	-1	discouraged Statues are not part of this tradition's worship space.
Steeple and bells	+1
Votive candle stand	no fit
Furnishings
Alms box	no fit
Coffee pot	no fit
Commercial coffee pot	no fit
Computer	no fit
Crib	no fit
Desk	no fit
Desk chair	no fit
Folding table	no fit
Full-length mirror	no fit
Pillar	+1
Prie-dieu	+1
Projection screen	-1
Vestment cabinet	+1
Wooden table	no fit
Utility
A/V rack	no fit
Camera	no fit
Cast-iron boiler	no fit
Central air conditioner	no fit
Commercial HVAC plant	no fit
Commercial stove	no fit
Congregation van	no fit
Ductless heat pump	no fit
Electric wall heater	no fit
Gas furnace	no fit
Hearing loop	no fit
Lift	no fit
Packaged heat pump	no fit
Plumbing stack	no fit
Ramp	no fit
Shuttle bus	no fit
Sink	no fit
Solar panels	no fit
Stairs	no fit
Toilet	no fit
Used school bus	no fit
Wall camera	no fit
Window air conditioner	no fit
Grounds
Evergreen tree	no fit
Flower bed	no fit
Fountain	no fit
Garden bench	no fit
Hedge	no fit
Lychgate	+1
Playground	no fit
Shade tree	no fit
Standing cross	no fit

Sources

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, Regulations (Archdiocesan, Uniform Metropolis, and Uniform Parish Regulations), May 2025 (link)
Alexei Krindatch, US Orthodox census 2020 (Orthodox Reality) (link)
GOA, Instructions for Weddings, Divorces, Baptisms, Funerals, and Memorials (link)
GOA, Why Non-Orthodox are Excluded from the Sacrament of Holy Communion (link)
Metropolis of Chicago, The Sacraments of Baptism and Chrismation: Revised Directives (2021) (link)
Metropolis of Denver, Fasting (link)
OrthodoxHistory.org, Organs in Greek Orthodox churches (link)
GOA, The Sacrament of Marriage and its Impediments (link)
Orthodox Times, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America released financial results for 2024 (link)