Visitors:
We love having visitors at our parish, and we look forward to having you with us to worship the one Holy Triune God! There are a few things to know before attending Orthodox Divine Services.
Modest Apparel:
Firstly, the Church, our place of worship, is a place of highest reverence, and we should take care to dress modestly out of respect for not only our brothers and sisters in Christ, but also for the angels, and for God Himself.
How are we to dress modestly? Modest apparel applies to both men and women. For women, dresses should be long, and they should take care to wear a headcovering inside the church, as Saint Paul instructed in his first Epistle to the Corinthians. Saint Paul also instructed that men should not cover their heads while praying or prophesying, so for this reason, men should not wear hats in church. Men and women both should wear modest shirts with long sleeves, and men should wear long pants.
1 Corinthians 11:2-16 Taken from the EOB (Eastern/Greek Orthodox Bible) translation of the New Testament
“2 Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you. 3 But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. 4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head. 5 But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved. 6 For if a woman is not covered, let her also be shorn. But if it is shameful for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be covered. 7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. 8 For man is not from the woman, but woman from man. 9 Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man. 10 For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless, neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of the man, in the Lord. 12 For as woman came from man, even so man also comes through woman; but all things are from God. 13 Judge among yourselves. Is it proper for a woman to pray with her head uncovered? 14 Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him? 15 But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory for her; for her hair is given to her for a covering. 16 But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God.”
That being said, if you do not own any headcoverings, and it is your first time attending an Orthodox Christian Church, don’t worry! We have plenty of extra headcoverings for visitors inside our chapel, and we are happy to help you find them and wear one if you have never worn one before. If you need help, just ask one of the sisters.
Important Information for Baptized Orthodox Christians:
All Orthodox Christians are welcome to commune here with the proper preparation completed. The ROCOR Synod of Bishops standards for the Communion of the Most Holy Body, and the Most Precious Blood of Christ are as follows:
1. Visitors should contact the parish priest prior to attending Church Services
2. Have confessed recently (in the last two weeks)
3. Are under no penances
4. Attend the Vigil or Vespers & Matins services.
5. Attend Hours starting at 9 a.m.
6. The Pre-Communion Canon and Prayers should be read before Divine Liturgy
Please note that confessions are heard at our confession services, and confessions will not be heard during any other services or before the Divine Liturgy.
If you have any questions, please contact our Rector, Father Steven Mitchell.