Inquirers
/ Orthodoxy / Inquirers
/ Orthodoxy / Inquirers
First Time Visitors and Inquirers

Welcome to St. Mary's Orthodox Church of Iron Mountain, MI! 

Vistors and inquirers are always welcome at our church. Please contact us to let us know you are coming and we would be happy to answer any questions you may have about the services or Orthodoxy. Contact Form

 Please view our video series to answer many common questions. You can also view our Orthodoxy 101 Page and our About Orthodoxy Page 

Thank you for your  interest and we look forward to meeting you at an upcoming service!

 


Welcome to St. Mary Orthodox Church

This series of videos was created to help first time visitors and inquirers to the Orthodox faith have a little more information on what to expect the first time they come to an Orthodox Church.  The videos were made in our church, by our then Subdeacon now Deacon Innocent, to help visitors get a little taste of what our church looks like on the inside and feel a little more comfortable on their first visit. 

We pray that you find these videos fruitful and that you soon come join our services in person.  God bless.


Welcome to St. Mary's

Praxis

Preparing for Services

Sign of the Cross-Part 2

Music and Chanting
Entering the Church

Purpose of Praxis

Candles

Incense

Prayer
Theosis

The Narthex

Sign of the Cross

Iconography

Concluding Thoughts

Service Calendar

Tithes, Almsgiving & Donations Online Portal

Ancient Faith Radio

What is Orthodoxy?

"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. 


Hieromartyr Haralambos, Bishop of Magnesia in Thessaly, the Martyrs Porphyrius and Baptus, and three women Martyrs
Hieromartyr Haralambos, Bishop of Magnesia in Thessaly, the Martyrs Porphyrius and Baptus, and three women Martyrs

The Hieromartyr Haralampus, Bishop of Magnesia, the martyrs Porphyrius and Baptus and three women martyrs suffered in the year 202. Saint Haralampus, Bishop of Magnesia (Asia Minor), successfully spread faith in Christ the Savior, guiding people on the way to salvation. News of his preaching…

Read the Life
Troparion & Kontakion
Synaxis of the Hierarchs of Novgorod, Buried in the Cathedral of the Holy Wisdom (Hagia Sophia) in Novgorod

The Synaxis of Novgorod Hierarchs is also celebrated on October 4 and on the third Sunday after Pentecost. On October 4, 1439 Saint John (September 7) appeared to the presiding hierarch Saint Euthymius (March 11) and ordered him to serve a special panikhida in memory of those buried at the Sophia…

Read the Life
Princess Anna of Novgorod
Princess Anna of Novgorod

The Holy Princess Anna of Novgorod, wife of Great Prince Yaroslav the Wise, gave her children a true Christian upbringing, marked by a strong faith in God; and love of work, integrity and learning. Her son Mstislav later became Great Prince of Kiev, and her daughter the queen of a western European…

Read the Life
Troparion & Kontakion
Venerable Prochorus of the Kiev Near Caves
Venerable Prochorus of the Kiev Near Caves

Saint Prochorus of the Caves was a native of Smolensk, and entered the Kiev Caves monastery under the igumen John (1089-1103). He was a great ascetic of strict temperance. In place of bread he ate pigweed (or orach), and so he was called “pigweed-eater.” Every summer, he gathered…

Read the Life
Troparion & Kontakion
Venerable Longinus of Koryazhemsk, Vologda
Venerable Longinus of Koryazhemsk, Vologda

Saint Longinus of Koryazhemsk first pursued asceticism at the monastery of Saint Paul of Obnora, and then lived at the Saints Boris and Gleb Solvychegod monastery. From there he settled with his friend Simon near Vychegda, toward the mouth of the Koryazhema river. Here, deep in the countryside,…

Read the Life
Troparion & Kontakion
Virgin Martyrs Ennatha, Valentina and Paula, of Palestine
Virgin Martyrs Ennatha, Valentina and Paula, of Palestine

The Holy Virgin Martyrs Ennatha, Valentina and Paula suffered in the year 308 under the emperor Maximian II Galerius (305-311). Saint Ennatha came from the city of Gaza (in the south of Palestine), Saint Valentina was a native of Palestinian Caesarea, and Saint Paula was from the region of…

Read the Life
Troparion & Kontakion
Icon of the Mother of God “Areovindus”
Icon of the Mother of God “Areovindus”

There is little information about the history of this Icon, and the story of its appearance is shrouded in mystery. We only know that the now lost original was painted around 845. However, there is reason to believe its iconographic type was the same as the Hagiosoritissa Icon.1 Copies of the…

Read the Life
Saint John Chimchimeli the Philosopher
Saint John Chimchimeli the Philosopher

Little information about the life of Saint John of Chimchimeli has been preserved, but we know that he was a great translator, philosopher, and defender of the Georgian Christian Faith. John received his education in present-day Bulgaria, at the literary school of the famous Petritsoni (now…

Read the Life
Troparion & Kontakion
Saint Ioannikios, Father Confessor of the Dormition Holy Mountain Hermitage

Hieromonk Ioanikkios (in the world Trophimos N. Averkiev) was born in 1823 and was named Trophimos in Holy Baptism. His parents were Government-owned peasants in Orlov Province, and they had a large family. Trophimos was one of the younger children. The boy was quite bright and also very pious. He…

Read the Life
Troparion & Kontakion