Source: The Missourian
April 23, 2016
At Columbia’s only Orthodox church, the pews are filled every weekend — and most weekdays as well — with a mix of nationalities including Greek, Russian, Romanian, Ukrainian, Egyptian, Eritrean and American. Some of the worshippers grew up in Columbia, while others are recent immigrants to the United States.
St. Luke Greek Orthodox Church on Audubon Drive has always been home to a racially and ethnically diverse congregation, said the Rev. Michael Monos.
“We have the evangelical duty to preach the gospel and welcome anybody who seeks the truth," Monos said.
Although the church is within the Greek tradition, the diversity of its membership is more pronounced because it is the only Orthodox church in Columbia, Monos said.
The spiritual leader of Eastern Orthodoxy is called a patriarch, rather than a pope, which separates it from the Roman Catholic Church. The patriarch is the highest-ranking bishop, and each church is typically governed by a Holy Synod.
Geographically, most Eastern Orthodox Christians live in Greece, Eastern Europe, Russia and former Byzantine regions around the Middle East and the eastern Mediterranean.
While there are no modifications to the service at St. Luke Greek Orthodox Church to accommodate various languages and traditions, Monos said some portions are repeated to include every worshiper’s background.
“People learn to pray first in their native language," he said. "It’s the most comfortable for people who are from different languages and backgrounds.”
When the time comes in the service to say the Lord’s Prayer the congregation can be heard reciting in English and in unison. It is always followed by a second recitation in Greek.
Afterward, families or groups are welcome to repeat the prayer in their native language. Each group pops in after the other, leading the congregation through the prayer for a third, fourthand fifth time or more.
On any given day it can be heard in Arabic, Romanian, Russian, Ukrainian, Tigrinya (a common language in Eritrea) and other languages.
Monos said that faith for the St. Luke’s congregation “supersedes race.”
“After baptism they’re all equal and in equal standing within the church,” Monos said. “They are the same race... the race of Christ.”
The Lord's Prayer
ENGLISH
Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
GREEK
Πάτερ ἡμῶν ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς
ἁγιασθήτω τὸ ὄνομά σου•
ἐλθέτω ἡ βασιλεία σου•
γενηθήτω τὸ θέλημά σου,
ὡς ἐν οὐρανῷ καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς•
τὸν ἄρτον ἡμῶν τὸν ἐπιούσιον δὸς ἡμῖν σήμερον•
καὶ ἄφες ἡμῖν τὰ ὀφελήματα ἡμῶν,
ὡς καὶ ἡμεῖς ἀφίεμεν τοῖς ὀφειλέταις ἡμῶν•
καὶ μὴ εἰσενέγκῃς ἡμᾶς εἰς πειρασμόν,
ἀλλὰ ρῦσαι ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ τοῦ πονηροῦ.
[Ὅτι σοῦ ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία καὶ ἡ δύναμις καὶ ἡ δόξα εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας•]
ἀμήν.
ROMANIAN
Tatăl nostru, Care eşti în ceruri, sfinţească-se numele Tău.
Vie împărăţia Ta. Facă-se voia Ta, precum în cer aşa şi pe pământ.
Pâinea noastră cea spre fiinţă, dă-ne-o nouă în fiecare zi.
Şi ne iartă nouă păcatele noastre,
căci şi noi înşine iertăm tuturor celor ce ne greşesc nouă.
Şi nu ne duce pe noi în ispită, ci ne izbăveşte de cel rău.
RUSSIAN
Отче наш, сущий на небесах!
да святится имя Твое;
да приидет Царствие Твое;
да будет воля Твоя и на земле, как на небе;
хлеб наш насущный дай нам на сей день;
и прости нам долги наши, как и мы прощаем должникам нашим;
и не введи нас в искушение, но избавь нас от лукавого.
Ибо Твое есть Царство и сила и слава во веки.
Аминь.
UKRAINIAN
Отче наш, що єси на небесах!
Нехай святиться Ім'я Твоє,
нехай прийде Царство Твоє,
нехай буде воля Твоя,
як на небі, так і на землі.
Хліба нашого насущного дай нам сьогодні.
І прости нам довги наші, як і ми прощаємо винуватцям нашим.
І не введи нас у випробовування, але визволи нас від лукавого.
Бо Твоє є царство, і сила, і слава навіки.
Амінь.
