Your first visit
If you've never attended an Orthodox service, you are warmly welcome — no background or preparation is needed. Come as you are, sit or stand as you're able, and simply take it in.
Orthodox worship can feel strikingly different from Western services: it is sung almost from beginning to end, the faithful stand for much of it, and the church is full of icons, incense, and movement. Don't worry about following everything perfectly — simply enter in, and let the beauty of the Liturgy speak for itself. For a warm, practical introduction to what you'll see, the essay below is a wonderful place to start.
Helpful introductions
- My First Visit to an Orthodox Church — Twelve Things I Wish I'd Known
- The Orthodox Faith (Orthodox Church in America)
However the service unfolds, please introduce yourself to the priest afterward — we would love to meet you, answer your questions, and welcome you to fellowship after the Liturgy.