How One Should Pray in Church

Orthodox Christians have received from the Holy Fathers and observe the following practice throughout the world:1. Entering the holy temple and making the sign of the Cross upon oneself thrice, one makes a bow with each, saying: "Thou hast created me, O Lord, have mercy on me." "O God, be merciful to me a sinner." "Countless times have I sinned, O Lord, forgive me."2. Then, having bowed to the right and the left, one stands in one’s place and listens to the psalms and prayers read in church, but one does not say to oneself other prayers of one’s own choosing nor read from a prayer-book, since this would disturb one’s own prayer and that of others standing nearby.3. At the most solemn moments of the service — at the reading of the Gospel, the Great Entrance, the Eucharistic Canon, Holy Communion — one stands with special reverence, not moving from one’s place, not conversing, not walking about the church.4. At the words "Let us bow our heads before the Lord" and "Let us bow down" — bow. At "Let us stand aright" — stand upright.5. Leaving the church, one again makes three bows with the sign of the Cross, as when entering, and bows to those present.