Frequently Asked Questions

The Orthodox Church is the original Christian Church, the Church founded by the Lord Jesus Christ and described in the pages of the New Testament. Her history can be traced in unbroken continuity all the way back to Christ and His Twelve Apostles. "Orthodox" means "right praise" or "correct belief". The term "Eastern" is only added as a historical signifier to describe its geographical location in the "Great Schism" [1054 AD] between the Western (Roman Catholic/Latin) and Eastern (Byzantine/Orthodox) bishops. 

Yes! Orthodox worship and the Scriptures are interwoven together in every church service. The words prayed by the priest, sung by the choir, and read by the chanter come from many sources in Scripture. We read the Old Testament every service (mostly from the Psalms and Prophets) and every Liturgy has a reading from the Epistle and the Gospels. You won't need to bring a Bible as the Scriptures are read and sung throughout the services. 

Services can seem strange at first, especially if one is used to something being said and sung TO or AT us rather than the opposite. You'll note that the worship is akin to what is described in the Old Testament with the focus being the altar. The entire service engages all our senses as we focus our attention on God and giving thanks. We recommend reading this short article to get a feel for the services: First Visit to and Orthodox Church - Twelve Things I Wish I'd Known.

We also recommend coming to a Saturday night Vespers service for your first visit as it is shorter and usually less overwhelming (it also sets the stage for liturgy the next day). Take a seat or find your space, jot down any questions, and feel free to bring them to the priest.

Yes, surprisingly so! In the Book of Proverbs it tells us "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." We do not offer separate children's services during the services of the church because we believe that children should fully participate in the Liturgy. Everyone has something to offer up to the Lord. Children are especially drawn to the service because it engages all the senses and gives them a chance to explore and learn from the adults in the community. We're all in training in some respect and we welcome children to be fully participating members. We have families of all different sizes and ages who attend our services.

Only those who are baptized Orthodox Christians in good standing (having received recent confession according to your Father confessor) are able to commune. One should properly prepare themselves according to the guidelines set forth by their father confessor (typically praying the pre-communion prayers and fasting from midnight). If you are a visiting Orthodox Christian from another parish, please have your father confessor email or call Fr. Herman before communing.

The Sunday potluck has been a staple of the Church since the beginning! Basically, the fellowship and celebration doesn't end with the liturgy. Each Sunday and Feast Day, we typically have a potluck meal where all are invited to come sit a spell and enjoy fellowship together. It's a great chance to get to know the community better and ask questions. Don't worry if you didn't bring anything...all are welcome!

Joining the Orthodox Church is not simply about filling out a membership card and scheduling your baptism. The process is tailored to each person and their particular needs. Be sure to check our "How to join..." page for more information. Essentially, check our service schedule and "come and see"! 

Only parishioners in good standing are able to have the sacraments of the Church scheduled for them. We do not rent space or perform services for anyone outside the Church.

Due to our limited resources, we only partner with local non-profits and cannot provide any direct almsgiving to individuals at this time. We encourage you to reach out and send your prayer requests.