Could i go to Serbian church services to learn Serbian?

Question

I wanted to learn serbian but find it hard because i can't find anyone to teach me, so i was thinking about goin to a serbian orthodox mass and seein if after a while i can either meet someone or pick up on it because the whole mass is in serbian.

Any tips, is it a good idea and what should i wear?

Answer 1

As far as I know, Serbs usually use Old Slavonic in church services, which is comprehensible to Slavic language speakers, but still a different language.

If you are in a Western country, most churches have an agape (after-liturgy meal), so you can meet Serbs over there.

If you are not an Orthodox Christian, it would be sort of disrespectful to go to church only to meet people, without actually being interested in worshipping God.

Finally, if the church has a website, perhaps you could contact someone and ask for help.

About clothes: if you are male, no shorts (only long pants), shirts fully covering the shoulders, not unbuttoned (except perhaps for the first). Shirts with weird prints (heavy metal bands etc.), piercings, spiky hair would also look kinda weird. (These are also valid if you are female.) If you are female, you have to wear a skirt fully covering your knees (some churches don't accept pants for girls--I'm not sure about the Serbian), shirts follow the same rules as for the guys, no low cleavages, no close fitting clothes. Heavy make-up is to be avoided, especially lipstick. Have a scarf prepared, just in case you have to cover your head (usually, most young women don't; in America I haven't seen anyone wearing them).

I hope this doesn't sound too restrictive; since it's winter (except in Australia), probably almost anything you might wear would seem ok.

Answer 2

Many churches are increasing the use of English due to increases in non-Orthodox spouses as a result of intermarriage.

There should be notebooks or prayerbooks with English translations of the Old Slavonic.

I've seen women wear headscarves in Orthodox churches in the US - specifically Antiochian and Russian.

Answer 3

Ja sam iz Srbije. Jeste, tezak im je. Imam jednu prijateljicu iz Londona, ona je pokusala da cita i uopste kaze nesto na srpsko0m, ali nije mogla da izgovori. hehe :D pozz