Religious Experiences, part I: amazing religious services

Where have you been able to go to consistently find amazing religious services?

The story of the baptism of Russia goes that Prince Vladimir sent out envoys to different religious communities to observe their religious services in an effort to find a religion that appealed to him, which he (and his people, after all “Cuius regio, eius religio,” the king’s religion is the people’s religion) would follow.

His envoys met Muslims, and were not impressed. They met Catholics, and were not impressed. But then they attended the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of Hag[sup]v[/sup]ia Sophia, which they described as literally being in Heaven on earth. And so Prince Vladimir and, by extension, all of Russia embraced Orthodox Christianity.

Some people characterize the religious services of certain religious communities as always being inspiring or otherwise spiritually moving. Some examples are: the Roman Catholic Latin High Mass, the Orthodox Divine Liturgy, the Muslim Hajj, the Hindu abhishekam of a murti, Latter-day Saint temple ordinances, and Afro-genous bembe (held by practitioners of Santeria, Vodun, Candomble, and Ifa).

In your experience, what religious service always inspires, thrills, or wows you?

WRS/Thû

Hearing a full choir sing Kyrie Eleison in a huge, stunning marble cathedral, their voices echoing to the rafters… wow. I had goosebumps and chills running up my spine.

It’s not stunning or thrilling, but I always love hearing my pastor’s sermon every Sunday morning. He truly is a man of God. :slight_smile:

In which service were you in? Catholic or Orthodox?

WRS/Thû

Many Black Protestant churches in the Deep South are awe-inspiring from a musical level, a cultural level, and a level of committment from the members. It is also a type of hidden culture that not many see unless they are invited or seek it out. I am from the Deep South (Louisiana) and my older black nanny, who raised me from age 1, took me to several services, funerals, and weddings. I don’t think there is anything comparable.