The Orthodox Church is the original Christian Church founded by Jesus and continued by his Apostles. It is the same Church described in the Bible as the Body of Christ and the Bride of Christ (1 Corinthians 12 : 27; Ephesians 5 : 23–25). Throughout its 2000-year history Orthodox Christianity has remained faithful to the teachings and practices passed on from the Apostles and early Church Fathers (2 Thessalonians 2 : 15).

The Orthodox Church began in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2), and from there spread throughout the world. Today some 200 million people identify themselves as Orthodox, most of whom live in Greece, Russia, Romania, Serbia and other eastern European countries, as well as throughout the Middle East. Approximately four million Orthodox live in the United States.

Orthodoxy is the worship of Jesus Christ as God and Savior of the Human Race, who gave His life in crucifixion to liberate us from slavery to sin and to unite us with God. We worship Him as the Son of God, but also the second person of the Trinity, who is co-substantial with God the Father and the Holy Spirit who are all equally God in the Holy Trinity.

Our beliefs are best summarized in our Symbol Faith, which is as follows:

I believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages. Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten, not created, of one essence with the Father, through whom all things were made. For us and for our salvation, He came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became man.
He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and He suffered and was buried. On the third day He rose according to the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead. His Kingdom will have no end.
And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father, who together with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who spoke through the prophets. In one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. I expect the resurrection of the dead. And the life of the age to come. Amen.

The Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR) is a semi-autonomous jurisdiction of the Eastern Orthodox Church. It resides under the spiritual auspices of the Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate). It is governed by the Holy Synod, its council of Bishops, which is currently headed by its reigning Bishop, Nicholas the First Hierarch of ROCOR. ROCOR is headquartered in the United States but maintains parishes throughout the world. It operates principally in North America, Europe, and Australia.

ROCOR was born out of necessity to bring order and stability to the life of the Russian Church during the chaos and upheaval following the Russian Revolution in 1917. In that year, the 1,000-year Russian Monarchy ended, and a bloody civil war ensued that lasted from 1917-1923. Its victors were the Communists, who sought to control and ultimately destroy the Church in Russia with various state policies. In 1920, due to the great uncertainty regarding the future of the Church, the then Patriarch of Moscow, St. Tikhon, issued a resolution with his Synod of Bishops (Ukase No. 362) instructing all Russian Orthodox Bishops in Russia and abroad that should they be unable to maintain connection with the Church Administration in Moscow, they should seek protection and guidance by organizing among themselves.

In 1927, when the Soviet Government eventually required that all bishops in Russia swear oaths of loyalty to the Communist regime, some of the hierarchy in Russia complied while those who refused were murdered, exiled, or imprisoned. It was now no longer possible for those who remained faithful to Holy Tradition to maintain communion with a Church that was now effectively run by the Communist secret police. Those bishops in exile now had no choice but to organize themselves into a self-governing body as St. Tikhon had instructed. The prophetic and providential nature of this resolution had now been fully realized.

For eighty years, ROCOR preserved in the exile the ancient faith of the Rus which had been handed down in Russia for 1,000 years prior to the Soviet Regime. There was still much confusion and struggle amongst the faithful, but throughout it all, the worship of Christ in the Russian tradition was faithfully maintained. In 1991, the Soviet Union collapsed, and a rebirth of a Russian Church liberated from the communist yoke soon followed. This paved the way for re-establishing communion between ROCOR and the Moscow Patriarchate in 2007 with the signing of the Act of Canonical Communion. Today ROCOR is in communion with the Moscow Patriarchate and recognizes its spiritual authority but maintains its self-governing structure. Then and now, it has never ceased its eternal mission to spread the faith of Christ as handed down by the Apostles and the Holy Fathers to all the world.

We invite you to visit our church for a service. Take the plunge and do it! It's the best way to learn. You are most welcome to visit us at any time, and especially when there is a scheduled service.

Ancient Traditions
Our Orthodox Christian practices might appear strange because they are ancient and original—dating back as far as 2,000 years to the time of Christ and His apostles, and even further, to the Old Testament. If you believe in God—the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—pray to Him to guide you and help you not to be scared away by what may seem at first sight to be different.

Participation
We do not expect visitors and newcomers to know about our practices ahead of time. Many of our parishioners found the church by doing exactly what you are thinking of doing, and we remember clearly what it was like to encounter the Orthodox Church for the first time. Orthodox traditions are different from what Americans expect from a church service, so we have a lot of sympathy and understanding for anyone "trying it out" for the first time.

Many actions in the church service may seem strange to you, such as people making the sign of the cross, bowing, and then kissing an icon. They also light candles near these icons. Of course, you don't have to do these things. After the service we will be happy to explain these ancient traditions to you—they all have a deep spiritual meaning.

When you come, just enter the church. By tradition, men usually stand on the right side and women on the left, but this is not a rigid rule. Actually, none of our rules are rigid. Men and women (spouses or friends) can certainly stand together.

Attire
Simple attire reflects our desire to show respect for the holiness of God in an Orthodox church. Dress conservatively: no shorts or sleeveless shirts or blouses; for women, a dress or skirt knee length or longer.

Wear comfortable shoes! The Sunday morning liturgies last about 2 hours, and 90 minutes on weekdays. We usually stand during the services, but there are benches around the back and sides where you can sit down to rest your feet.

Community
The priest and other parishioners will be happy to talk with you after the service. We also invite you to stay for the shared meal in the church hall, served after every Sunday celebration of the Divine Liturgy.

All are welcome to attend any service, whether Orthodox or not, but participation in the Holy Mysteries (Eucharist, Confession, etc,) requires a period of formal instruction where the inquirer is initiated into the Truths of the Faith. During this time, the inquirer becomes what is known as a “catechumen,” and learns the faith under the spiritual guidance of a Priest. The length of the this period depends on the circumstances of the individual, but is concluded when the Priest deems the catechumen ready to be received into the Church by Holy Baptism. Please contact Fr. Sebastian directly if you wish to become a catechumen.