Why do parishioners stand in a Russian church instead of sitting, like in Catholic churches?
You won’t see rows of benches in Russian Orthodox churches – one is supposed to stand during services. And the tradition has ancient roots.
In the first centuries of Christianity, before the division into Orthodoxy and Catholicism, believers prayed while sitting. However, at certain moments of the service, it was still necessary to stand up – for example, during the reading of the Gospel.
The tradition of standing during services came to the Russian Orthodox churches gradually. Some church historians believe that it came from monasteries, where there were stricter rules. It was a tribute of attention and respect to the process, an opportunity to concentrate on prayer. Prayer in Orthodoxy is a labor of mind and body and parishioners make a small physical effort for the sake of spiritual growth.
Another explanation is related to the climate: temples in ancient Rus’ were built small, in order to maximize heat retention in winter, and believers could only fit inside while standing.
There are also benches in Orthodox churches. They stand along the walls and are needed for those who physically cannot stand. By the way, in some Orthodox churches of the world, for example, in Greece, benches are present. But, parishioners still spend most of the service on their feet.
