Laity

The people of God — the non-ordained faithful who are nonetheless the Church and not merely its recipients.

The laity (laikos, from laos, people) are the non-ordained members of the Church. Orthodox ecclesiology resists the clericalization of the Church that treats the laity as passive recipients of the clergy's ministry: the laos (people) is the Church, and the ordained are ministers within and for the people. The liturgical role of the laity is not merely to attend: they respond, they sing (in principle), they receive communion, they are the witnesses who confirm the validity of ordinations ('He is worthy!'), and they participate in the reception of councils.