As you prepare to join us for Worship, we want you to know…
We extend a warm and heartfelt welcome to all who visit our parish for worship.
As you enter the narthex, you are invited to light a candle and set aside the cares of this world, preparing your heart as you step into the nave (sanctuary) to worship our Lord and Creator.
The services of Great Vespers, Orthros, and the Divine Liturgy may seem unfamiliar or lengthy to those new to the Orthodox Christian tradition. We encourage you to participate by observing, listening, and prayerfully immersing yourself in the beauty of the ancient services, which engage both body and soul. Together, we offer worship to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
You won’t be asked to do anything that would make you uncomfortable.
We don’t expect visitors to contribute anything to the financial support of our parish or our programs.
Our children worship with us. If you have young children, they are welcome here, too. If you need to step to the back of the Church with your child for any reason, you are not disturbing us. We expect Christian children to be raised in the Church; to do that, they must be in the Church.
All of our facilities are handicap accessible. If you need any assistance, please let us know. We are here to serve you.
The Holy Eucharist (Communion) is reserved for baptized Orthodox Christians who have prepared themselves through prayer, fasting, and recent confession. However, all are invited to come forward at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy to receive a blessing and a piece of antidoron—blessed bread given “instead of the Gifts.” If you would like to receive a blessing during the distribution of Holy Communion, you may approach the priest with your arms crossed over your chest as a sign of reverence. If you are an Orthodox Christian and have prepared to receive Holy Communion according to your Spiritual Father’s direction, introduce yourself to Fr. Christopher or Dn. Joseph, before the service. You are welcome to approach the chalice.
We are truly grateful for your presence and pray that your time with us is both uplifting and filled with grace!
We are part of the worldwide Orthodox Church – the oldest Christian Church in the world. This is not a theological statement; it is a historical one. And in every part of the world, there are Orthodox Christians, Churches, and missions: in traditionally Orthodox countries like Russia, Greece, Romania, Serbia, the Middle East, and India, but also in Japan, China, the Philippines, throughout Europe including Germany, France, Poland, Finland, across the British Isles, throughout the African continent including Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa, across Central and South America and even on the continent of Antarctica.