“The Holy Scriptures were not given to us that we should enclose them in books, but that we should engrave them upon our hearts.”

– St. John Chrysostom

Eastern Orthodox chapel in New Lenox practices ancient Christian faith Members of New Lenox chapel eager to share ancient worship with community
Published: Wednesday, May 18, 2016 11:09 p.m. CDT • Updated: Monday, May 23, 2016 1:15 p.m. CDT

NEW LENOX – St. Luke Orthodox Church, South Chapel, a branch of a Palos Hills church, opened in October 2015 at – appropriately – 112 Church St. in New Lenox, and members are eager to share their faith with visitors.

The Rev. Andrew Harrison of St. Luke’s – who prefers “father” to “reverend” – said the New Lenox chapel was opened because many members of the Palos Hills church lived in the New Lenox area.

Harrison said people often think of the Jewish faith when they hear “Orthodox,” although the church is Christian.

Others are taken aback with unfamiliar worship language, such as vespers, matins, liturgy and Pascha. Harrison said vespers is the evening prayer; matins is the morning prayer; Divine Liturgy is the Sunday morning worship
service; and Pascha is Easter.

Divine Liturgy is an ancient worship service, dating back to the fourth century, Harrison said, and although all his church’s services are chanted in English, they are very traditional.

“We are the most liturgical church in the world,” Harrison said. “We have lots of different services, and we have long services.”

For 1,000 years, the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church were one church, until they split in 1054 A.D., according to St. Luke’s website, www.stlukeorthodox.com.

The Orthodox Church’s history can be traced in unbroken continuity back to Christ and his 12 apostles, members believe.

Brian Duracka of New Lenox attended his first Orthodox service last year. A friend had joined an Orthodox church and told him about its beliefs. Duracka began researching and studying. “I felt there were things missing,” Duracka said of the Protestant denomination, in which he was raised, “and I wasn’t very happy with it.” Duracka said the legitimacy of the history of the Orthodox Church is undeniable. “I’d been taught that tradition was bad, basically,” Duracka said. “But you look at the Bible, and God is the same yesterday, today and forever. … The way he set up the church … I don’t think God just changed his mind. The Orthodox Church has remained the same for 2,000 years or so … Others, they constantly morph into other
things.”

Almost immediately, Duracka felt the Orthodox Church’s deep, thoughtful service and way of life, he said.

“Communion is more than just a symbol,” Duracka said. “Baptism is more than just a symbol. Orthodoxy focused more on the Communion [than his previous churches]. It’s a pretty serious thing with them, and I like that. It has a much deeper meaning.”

Before, Duracka said, he was told to pray and read the Bible when he was struggling with sin. Good advice, he said, but it never went further. Using prayer books and scheduling times for prayer have made a big difference in his life.

“I’m a lot more disciplined and a lot more cognizant of it,” he said. Duracka urged people to visit the church. The art, music and prayers are all beautiful, he said.

“Keep an open mind,” he said. “There’s a lot of history there. If the apostles did it, it must be a good thing.”

Duracka said certain elements will be unfamiliar but one can learn them.
“It takes a little more work than just going to church on Sunday,” he said.
Orthodox beliefs, Harrison said, are 99 percent the same as other Christian denominations: God revealed himself through Jesus; Jesus alone is the savior of the world; Jesus died and was resurrected; there is eternal life;
and there is the Holy Trinity – the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
The difference?

“[We believe] Protestants have taken away from the church,” Harrison said, “and Catholics have added to it.”

The Orthodox do not believe in a single head of the worldwide church, and they have a different understanding of being “saved,” Harrison said.

“[We believe] you have to work for your salvation,” he said. “Christians must live the way Jesus Christ wants you to live. … You must reach out to people who are suffering out there, or you’re not living like Christ wanted
you to live. … It’s essential.”

Ron Smith of Mokena attended a Methodist university, took a comparative religion class, and has read the Quran and the works of the Buddha.
“Everything I learned,” Smith said, “solidified my faith in the Orthodox Church. ”Does the Orthodox Church fulfill his spiritual needs? Smith said he believes fulfillment happens in the next life. It’s not his reason for going to church. “I’m not looking to be fulfilled,” Smith said. “I’m looking to worship the creator, who is going to give me eternal life.”

For more information on the chapel, visit http://www.stlukeorthodoxchapel.com/