Sitting During the Homily

This is a stsandard practice in Byzantine churches; what is to be done if there are no pews or chairs? I have seen people sit on the floor or carpet, "Indian-style" (that term is undoubtedly not PC these days) but that seems to me to be rather questionable and unrefined, especially since people do not take their shoes off before they enter a temple. Sitting "Japanese" style or seiza seems preferable as one is more mobile and one will not get one's bottom dirty because of a dirty floor or carpet, and it looks a bit more dignified. Did Jews ever sit in the Temple? How did they sit, if at all, when listening to a teacher /rabbi?