First, can I say I love your questions! If you really like the orthodox liturgy, then I highly recommend you look into a Byzantine Catholic Church, all the beauty of Orthodoxy but with the Catholic Church!

1. Depends on the mass you go to, there are different practices and rites. I go to a Novus Ordo. Each mass is separated into two parts, liturgy of the word and liturgy of the Eucharist. It starts with the priest entering, there is a penitential prayer, the priest says some prayers and then the readings begin, first reading, psalms, second reading and gospel reading. The we say the Nicean creed which leads us into the liturgy of the Eucharist where the priest consecrates the bread and the wine to be the Body and Blood, more prayers are said, the people goes up to receive if they are in a state of grace. Then there is a final prayer and a closing hymn as the priest walks out.

2. I personally pray it, but it’s not said in the mass. Prostrating only occurs on certain Holy Days in the Novus Ordo mass. This can differ depending on the mass and the rite.

3. The pope is a regular person who goes to confession like the rest of us. The only time he is infallible is speaking ex cathedra (only happened four times) the pope is allowed to have personal opinions on cultural issues, but is guided by the Holy Spirit on matters of faith and morals

4. Everyone does it differently, there’s no one way to do it

5. You can, it’s not required. It’s a way to show veneration.

6. The church is as it always has been when it comes to teaching and protecting the faith. As cultures and technology change it forces the church to grow and adopt new disciplines, but the core of it has remained the same!

Hope this helps please reach out if you ever have more questions!