What To Expect At Services
We warmly welcome all who seek after the fullness of God. It is such a blessing to have so many visitors and we are truly grateful each time someone new joins us at our Church.
If Orthodox Christianity is new to you, you’re not alone. It was new to many of our members too! That’s why we’ve created this resource to help you navigate your first visit (God Willing of many).
Getting To The Church
From I-95
Take I-95 to Georgia exit 109, route 21 north. Take 21 north for 6 and a half miles, to Fort Howard Road. Turn right onto Fort Howard Road, and proceed 2.2 miles, to 1625, which is on the right side.
What to Expect When You Visit
On a typical Sunday morning, you’ll find around 70 people and growing gathered for liturgical worship.
Our primary service, the Divine Liturgy, is the heart of Orthodox Christian life. It is a sung service, offered entirely to God, not designed for entertainment but for worship of Christ in its purest form. The entire service is sung in English, using traditional Slavic and Greek melodies and ancient chant. There are no organ or musical instruments used.
The words you will hear come entirely from Scripture and early Christian texts. You won’t hear contemporary music here, only the timeless prayers and praises of the Church that have been handed down through the centuries.
Participating In The Liturgical Services
Try to Arrive a Few Minutes Early
Arriving early allows you to prepare inwardly and outwardly for the Divine Liturgy. At St. Mary Magdalene, you’ll notice that people who come early often light a candle, venerate the icons, and spend a few quiet moments in prayer before the service begins. It’s a beautiful way to quiet your heart and place yourself in the presence of God.
Orthodox services begin right on time (mostly, give or take a couple of minutes) and we don’t make formal announcements or introductions at the start. We start immediately with Blessed is the Kingdom to note that we are now with God, in His Kingdom. If you arrive late, please enter quietly and respectfully, especially during more solemn moments like the Gospel reading.
By coming a few minutes early, you not only avoid the stress of rushing in, but you also give yourself space to breathe, reflect, and hopefully Fr. Stephen can greet you before service starts.
Come Dressed with Reverence in Mind
When you prepare to attend worship at St. Mary Magdalene, think of it as entering the palace of the King, because that’s what it is. Orthodox Christians understand church as a sacred space, not some casual place to get a drink or hang out at. There’s a time and place for that. While we don’t have a strict dress code, we do encourage clothing that reflects the reverence of the space.
Men typically wear long pants (Jeans are fine) and a button-down or polo shirt. Jackets or ties are fine but not expected. Women often wear dresses or skirts that fall below the knee, with modest tops that cover the shoulders. Pants are fine too. Many women choose to wear a headscarf, though this is not required (it’s merely personal piety). In general, avoid shorts, tank tops, and clothing with distracting slogans or loud graphics. The point is not to impress anyone but to simply to present ourselves with dignity before God. Think business casual and you can likely do no wrong.
Children Are Always Welcome
“Let everything take second place to our care of our children, our bringing them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” – St. John Chrysostom
We absolutely love seeing children in church! We believe children should be part of the services, even when they are young. It may take some patience, but kids adapt quickly and they absorb quite a bit. You should not worry about anyone judging you or being anything but joyful to see your kids in church.
Of course, if your child needs a quick break, feel free to step outside until they’re calm but don’t worry about their moving around the church. We are used to it and happy to have you and your WHOLE family here with us.
Icons, Veneration and Bowing
Orthodox churches are filled with icons, which are images of Christ, the Theotokos (which means Mother of God), the saints, and scenes from the Bible. These aren’t decorations or art pieces you would see in a museum, but are holy images that open a window into the kingdom of heaven and place us there. You’ll see people bowing, making the sign of the cross, and kissing these icons as they enter the church.
This may be unfamiliar, but it’s rooted in deep reverence and just like how you might kiss a photograph of a loved one or place flowers at a grave, we express our love and honor to God through these physical gestures. We don’t worship icons, we do something called venerate them (give them respect) because ultimately, we worship Christ and Christ alone.
You’re not expected to kiss the icons yourself (though you are welcome to if you feel so moved). Simply observing this practice can be a beautiful introduction to the heart of Orthodox Christianity.
All of Your Senses Will Be Engaged
Orthodox worship is not just heard, it’s seen, touched, smelled, and even tasted. When you first walk in, you’ll notice the warm glow of candles, the smell/scent of incense, the beauty of icons all over the church, and the full a capella singing of our amazing choir.
None of our worship is for decoration or theatrics. All of it is to fulfill the expression of Truth that God made in us as body and soul.
The Orthodox Church believes that every part of us is meant to participate in worship. Don’t worry if it feels unfamiliar at first. Participate as you’re able. If you want to sing, sing. If you need to sit, sit. If you want to cross yourself or kiss an icon, do it. The only thing you cannot do yet is receive Communion, but that is okay. Be in the moment right now and let God work in you.
Expect to Stand (A Lot)
If you’ve never been to an Orthodox service, one of the first things you’ll notice is that most people stand for the majority of the service. This isn’t because we forgot to bring chairs it’s because standing is the traditional posture of prayer and reverence. Just as we might stand when someone important walks into a room, in the Liturgy we stand in the presence of the King of Glory.
That said, if you need to sit due to age, health, or for your children, we understand and encourage you to do so. Chairs are available and no one will look twice if you need to use them.
Communion is only for Orthodox Christians
In the Orthodox Church, we believe Communion isn’t something symbolic but the full Body and Blood of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. For us it a sign of full unity with our faith and community. Because of this, Communion is reserved only for Orthodox Christians in good standing who have spiritually prepared themselves through Confession and fasting.
If you’re Orthodox and visiting us for the first time, please let Fr. Stephen or Dn. Vassily know ahead of time (just ask someone at the church to help you).
If you are not Orthodox, we still warmly invite you to come forward at the end of the service to receive a piece of antidoron (blessed bread that is offered to everyone as a sign of love and welcome). This bread is not Communion, but it is part of our tradition of hospitality, and we are honored to share it with you.
No One Expects You to Know What to Do
Don’t worry if the service feels unfamiliar or if you’re unsure when to stand, cross yourself, or what to say. Orthodox worship follows ancient rhythms without printed bulletins or stage directions, and that can feel a bit overwhelming at first, but that’s okay.
Just being present is enough. You’re welcome to quietly observe, follow along as best you can, and simply let the prayers and beauty of the service surround you. If someone offers a service book or helps you, it’s simply a gesture of love, not pressure. No one is judging you or expecting perfection. You are not here to perform and to seek Christ. We’re glad you’re with us.
Stay for Coffee Hour, We’d Love to Meet You
After the Divine Liturgy, we invite you to join us in our parish hall for coffee hour. This for us is our way of getting together to have a meal, share in fellowship, and if you’re lucky, listen to Fr. Stephen’s bad takes on sports. It’s also one of the best ways to get to know our community and ask any questions you may have about what you just experienced.
You’ll find that many of our parishioners are happy to share their journey to Orthodoxy, whether they have been orthodox their whole life or found it later on. You won’t be interrupting or intruding, we are happy to get to know you. St. Mary Magdalene Orthodox Church is a family and you are always welcome. So we hope you’ll stay, enjoy something to eat, and allow us to extend some hospitality to you the way Christ did as well. Welcome!
How can I join this church?
We never rush anyone into joining the Orthodox Church. In fact, many people visit our church for months, even years before deciding if Orthodoxy is the right faith for them, and while you shouldn’t hesitate because this is God’s Kingdom we are talking about here, its perfectly fine to want to wait. However, if after visiting for a few services, you feel ready to become a member, simply talk to Fr. Stephen and on your first visit, fill out the welcome form.
When you do decide, and we pray that you do, you will first become a catechumen (a fancy Greek word for “a learner”) and then spend time getting to learn the services, praying at the services, becoming part of the community, and learning the Orthodox Faith. All catechumens, at some point, will either be Baptized or Chrismated (if you came from a background such as Catholic or a traditional Trinitarian Church that baptizes) and receive Holy Communion. At that point, you are full member of the Orthodox Church and we are so happy to welcome you home.
Speak with Father Directly
