Russian Orthodox Liturgical Resources

Liturgical Handbook
of the Practices of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad
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Handbook of Liturgical Practice of the Russian Church Abroad
Liturgical Question:
When do we kneel, rather than make a prostration?
Handbook Category: Prostrations, Bows and Kneeling (index)

Kneeling (i.e. standing on one’s knees) is not a traditional posture of prayer for the Divine Services in Orthodoxy. The only occasion on which we kneel in the temple, rather than prostrate ourselves, is during the ‘Kneeling prayers’ on the Vespers of Holy Pentecost.

At all other times we are either standing, or we make a full prostration to the ground.

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This is an entry from our Liturgical Handbook of the practices of the Church Abroad. Please see the full handbook for more than 100 entries on other topics.

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