Moderator: Mark Templet
I was hoping that someone familiar with the Greek Orthodox Church could help me answer some questions. I understand that there are some differences between the Russian Orthodox Church & the Greek Orthodox Church, but why is it that the Greeks do not have vespers on Saturday evenings? Also, why do they have such different attitudes about the rules/frequency of confessions and communion?
Thanks in advance!
Sorry if the questions seem ignorant, however it is just that I have no experience with anything but the Russian Orthodox Church. I have asked other people these things before, even cradle Greek Orthodox, and no one can ever answer these questions!
As far as I understand it, the Greek Church typikon calls for vespers in the evenings(especially evenings before liturgy-e.g. Saturday evenings) but then Matins(Orthros)on the morning of liturgy whereas the Russian practice(based on the monastics typikon of St.Sava of Jerusalem) calls for Vespers, Matins, First Hour on the eve before liturgy. The St. Sava typikon was the one translated into Slavonic first I believe, so that may account for the difference. As far as frequency of confession in relation to communion, I think that most of the world's Orthodox jurisdictions don't call for confession as a kind of requirement before communion. I think this may be almost unique to ROCOR practice.
Keep in mind...I just gave quite a few "I think"s and "I believe"'s 
What Peter said is true of Greek practice. We usually have vespers only on Saturday evening and then Orthros immediantly before liturgy the next morning. This is how the monastics at Saint Anthony's and Philotheou do it, but I am not positive about the other Greek monastics. Greek parishes tend to skip a few minor things here and there (censing during the epistle and reading the Beatittudes) while monastics do not omit anything. I don't know whether these last two were from the problems with modernism that the GOA suffers or if they began in Greece. FWIW my Divine Liturgy book published by the Holy Synod in Greece doesn't have the Beatitudes....I could ask some people though about the other stuff in Greece compared to GOA.
Nektarios,
I am sorry for the ignorant reply, even though thats not what I intended.
Most new-calendar Greek churches in my area do not have Vespers because nobody shows up. In addition, they almost never have Orthos ( I only know of one that does) and ALWAYS skip the liturgy of the Catechumens. All night vigils are completly unknown, even on PASCHA!
As for confession and communion: When I was still in the OCA some years ago, I visited St. Athanasios. After the service everyone gathered in the gym for snacks. I was talking to a woman who I asked a question about confession. This big look of shock came over her, I will never forget it - it was as if I was an alien, she said: "Confession, are you Roman Catholic?" !!
The GENUINE Greek practice is Vespers the evening before any Liturgy. Confession as often as your conscience demands but at least once every 40 days (AT LEAST). Commune often as you are able, at LEAST once every 40 days, or every week if you can. But always with the blessing of the priest.
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Peter, do you mean the Ninth Hour before Vespers?
