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You
you will first and foremost always be welcomed and respected.
You
are invited to worship with us, to experience Orthodox worship with us,
and to learn about Orthodox Christianity with us.
The
difference between the inside of an Orthodox church and the interiors of
other churches may be quite striking to a first-time visitor. The rich
beauty in an Orthodox Church is intentional. Its purpose is to help us
appreciate that through worship we can experience the magnificence of
closeness to God and the glory of life in His heavenly Kingdom.
Read more...
You
will not be pressured. We will always respect your free will and
your freedom to believe and worship according to your own conscience.
You
are certainly welcome to embrace the Orthodox Christian faith, and we
invite you to do so. But we do not proselytize. You will find that
the overwhelming majority of our parishioners are converts from various
Christian traditions and denominations. Their first visit to an Orthodox
Church was much like yours.
Read about varios individuals’ “Journeys to Orthodoxy”...
An
increasing number of individuals from many religious backgrounds are
encountering Orthodox Christianity. Some are drawn by its continuity with
the first-century Apostolic Church, its authentic Biblical faith, and its
ancient traditions. Others are moved by its mystical vision of God and His
Kingdom, by the rich beauty of its worship, and by the purity of its
authentic Christian faith.
Read more...
Your
first visit will most likely be at our Sunday morning Worship Service. This is
what you will see and experience:
At
about 9:10 am a “Reader” will intone the
“Hours.”
This is a preparatory time, consisting of Biblical Psalms and
brief prayers. Some of our parishioners come to church before the
Hours, while others will arriving during this period.
At
about 9:30 am the Priest will begin the
“Divine Liturgy.”
The Liturgy is comprised of hymns,
prayers, Scripture readings, a sermon, and “Holy Communion.” The
Liturgy is chanted antiphonally by the Priest, choir, and congregation.
Our
invitation to you is simple and genuine: “Come and see.”
The article
“12 Things I Wish I’d Known”
by Frederica Mathews-Green, is a helpful – and sometimes humorous –
guide to questions you might have on your first visit.
You
may also wish to read through the information on our
“Church Etiquette” web
page.
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