New Attack from Ancient Faith Radio vs. the True Orthodox

[StephenS]

Pews are alien and an unhelpful intrusion. Benches along the sides meet the needs of those like myself who are mobility impaired and the open middle space allows for the free movement of the majority plus any users of wheelchairs.

Present generations live in more comfortable and easier conditions than any the generations that went before us. We work shorter hours, live more comfortably and have access to a range of foodstuffs year round that would have dazzled our forbears. I have even stood in a church with elderly Jewish ladies and their Russian Orthodox friend for lengthy monastic services. Our forbears were wise in many ways and we should not adopt the ways of the heterodox for reasons of comfort, to no spiritual benefit to ourselves, surely?

[joasia]

Pews are an invention of the Protestants. Their lack of spiritual knowledge became reflected in their way of "worship". It was more about watching a performance since they consider their services a symbolism of what was. Plus, it was another good way of extracting money from the more wealthy parishioners. Get your pew here! Limited offer on special prices. The poor ones would have to stand in the back. Seems kinda Pharisaical. In Orthodoxy, we participate, in worship, with the mind, soul and body. We stand in the presence of God in His Holy House. There is no distinction of honor because of social status. Rich and poor both stand in Church. Just as rich and poor both lie in their graves. Of course, a place to sit should be available for those who need them.

[Matthew]

Here is an interesting and extensive history published in 1844 on the introduction of pews to Christian Churches and advocates having them abolished.

http://anglicanhistory.org/misc/freechu ... s1844.html

Here is a more readable and shorter article that advocates the eradication of the pew in modern language.

http://grahamtomlin.blogspot.ca/2010/02/end-of-pew.html

In it he says,

When they did gradually get introduced, pews were a mixed blessing. They were intimately connected with social division and hierarchy, with pews ranked according to social standing. The rich would have large grand stalls at the front and woe betide anyone who sat in the wrong one. They were exclusive then, and they are exclusive now. Pews today effectively exclude the 90% of people who are not regular attenders of services.

This confirms exactly what Joanna said.

Anyway, hope it is interesting reading.

[Lydia]

I read the articles. In the second one, the author advocates the removal of pews so that the space can be used during the week for other things...like a cafe, a play area, or a BOWLING ALLEY!
Hee hee, those crazy Anglicans! :mrgreen:

[Matthew]

Out of the frying pan, into the fire!

Here is three Orthodox articles that don't have crazy elements:

http://orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/pews.aspx

http://holycrossoca.org/newslet/0708.html

And this article is VERY interesting as it counters the oft heard claim that the introduction of pews was based on the purchase of Protestant or RC parish buildings by Orthodox, and hence came ready made with pews.

My research into this subject is only in its early stages; still, some trends are apparent. Most of the Greek churches founded in the 1900s and 1910s began without pews. Leaners were rather common, and men and women were typically separated. Things began to change in the 1920s, when a number of churches introduced pews (or, in some cases, lines of seats in lieu of pews). I have yet to detect any consistent connection between the introduction of pews and the purchase of former Protestant or Roman Catholic churches. In other words, the addition of pews in Greek churches was typically an active, rather than a passive, phenomenon. For whatever reason, many Greek parishes actively desired pews and added them to their buildings.

http://orthodoxhistory.org/2009/12/09/p ... -churches/

[Hieromonk Enoch]

Even if they did come with pews, it's not super difficult to take them out. Or take them, and put them on the sides of the walls (benches of sorts), and get rid of the rest.

[Matthew]

Yes, that is true. I have never been able to understand why the Greek Orthodox (and I hear the Antiochians too) love pews so much. The Slavic Orthodox never even considered having pews or keeping the ones in buildings they bought. It was beyond question for them: get rid of them because they are not Orthodox.