- How long
- The Divine Liturgy lasts 1.5–2 hours, often preceded by Matins. Arriving and leaving quietly is normal.
- Standing & sitting
- Mostly standing. There are chairs along the walls for anyone who needs them.
- Communion
- Only Orthodox Christians who have prepared, by fasting and usually with recent confession, receive Communion. Everyone is welcome to receive the blessed bread (antidoron) at the end.
- If you belong to another church
- Catholics and other Christians are warmly welcome at the whole service, but do not receive Communion. The Orthodox Church reserves it for its own faithful, and the Catholic Church allows Catholics to receive in an Orthodox church only in exceptional circumstances. Orthodox Christians are likewise asked by their church to receive Communion only in Orthodox churches.
- What to wear
- Modest dress. Many women cover their heads.
- Good to know
- Lighting a candle and venerating the icons on arrival is customary but never required. Some parishes follow the Julian calendar, with Christmas on 7 January.