Many first time visitors have questions about what to expect when attending services at a new church so we have compiled several resources to help answer some of those most commonly asked questions.
Our parish is a member of the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America and follows the liturgical practice and canoncial discipline of our Archdiocese and Patriarchate. All our services are in English.
Things I Wish I'd Known Before Attending-A Guide to Your First Venture into an Eastern Orthodox Church "What is a Liturgy? Am I Welcome? Do They Speak English?" This blog post by an Orthodox seminary student covers some of the most commonly asked questions that people have regarding Orthodox services.
First Visit to An Orthodox Church: Twelve Things I Wish I'd Known "Information to make you feel more at home in Orthodox worship. This article is also available in booklet format at our church.
A Guide to Church Etiquette: How to Show Proper Respect and Reverence in Church To help answer etiquette questions the Archdiocese has prepared this easy-to-read booklet to answer many frequently asked questions about church etiquette. The booklet includes topics such as entering and leaving church, lighting candles, venerating icons, crossing oneself, socializing, receiving antidoron, children in church, church attire, photography in the church, and much more. When we come to the church and its services we are entering the Kingdom of God on earth, His habitation, and we choose to honor this sacred place by our attentiveness to what is proper and ordered. We have the opportunity to reflect the image of Christ within us by our actions...This guide is meant for personal reflection..." From the introduction page of the Church Etiquette booklet.
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His Beatitude Patriarch John X |
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His Eminence Metropolitan Saba |
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Archimandrite Jeremy, Archiepiscopal Vicar |
To learn more about His Beatitude Patriarch JOHN X and the Patriarchate of Antioch:
Biography on His Beatitude John X, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East
To learn more about His Eminence Metropolitan SABA and the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America:
Biography of His Eminence Metropolitan Saba
History of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
To learn more about Archimandrite Jeremy, Archiepiscopal Vicar of the Toledo & Midwest Diocese:
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"Sometimes called the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Orthodox Church is the first 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. For twenty centuries, she has continued in her undiminished and unaltered faith and practice. Today her apostolic doctrine, worship, and structure remain intact. The Orthodox Church maintains that the Church is the living Body of Jesus Christ."
Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America.
Saint Euthymius the New of Thessalonica and Mt Athos, in the world was named Nicetas, and he was a native of the city of Ancyra in Galatia. His parents, Epiphanius and Anna, led virtuous Christian lives, and from childhood their son was meek, pious and obedient. At age seven he was left fatherless…
The Hieromartyr Lucian, Presbyter of Antioch, was born in the Syrian city of Samosata. At twelve years of age he was left orphaned. Lucian distributed his possessions to the poor, and went to the city of Edessa to the confessor Macarius, under the guidance of whom he diligently read Holy Scripture…
Saint John, Bishop of Suzdal, entered one of the monasteries of Suzdal while a youth. For his virtuous and humble life, the saint was made the first Bishop of Suzdal and Nizhegorod in 1350. Bishop John merited a great mercy of God: Prince Boris of Suzdal saw how an angel of God attended the saint…
Saint Lucian the Presbyter lived in the XIII century, and suffered martyrdom under Batu around 1243. Nothing else is known about him. Saint Lucian's relics are in the Far Caves of Saint Theodosios, and his Feast Day is on October 15, because of his Patron Saint, Hieromartyr Lucian, the Presbyter…
The Holy Martyrs Sarbelus and Bebaia (Barbea) of Edessa were brother and sister, suffering in the second century under the emperor Trajan for confessing Christianity. Saint Sarbelus was a priest of the idols at Edessa, but was converted to Christ by a certain bishop, then he and his sister were…
Saint Sabinus, Bishop of Catania in Sicily, fervently desiring to serve the Lord, withdrew into the wilderness. Here he led a strict ascetic life and received from the Lord gifts of wonderworking and discernment.
The Icon of the Mother of God, the “Multiplier of Wheat”, was painted at the blessing of the Elder Ambrose (October 10) of the Visitation Optina wilderness monastery. Saint Ambrose, a great Russian ascetic of the nineteenth century, was ardent with a childlike faith towards the Mother…
