WELCOME to St. Timothy Church
There are a number of things about our worship that are different from the
services of other churches. In an effort to help alleviate confusion, here
are a few things to keep in mind:
A Sense of Holiness: You will find yourself surrounded by colorful
priests' vestments, icons on the walls, and the pungent odor, incense. Rich,
deeply moving, but unfamiliar music will fill your ears. All around you,
people will be lighting candles, kissing icons, making the sign of the cross,
bowing, standing in prayer.
By This Sign, Pray: We make the sign of the cross whenever the Trinity is
invoked, whenever we venerate the cross or an icon, and on many other
occasions in the course of the Liturgy.
Holy Kiss: When we first come into the church, we kiss the icons and we all
line up to kiss the cross at the end of the service. We kiss each other
("Greet one another with a holy kiss." 1 Pet. 5:14) before we take communion.
In America, many parishes exchange a hug instead.
Feel Free: There is great freedom in the our church. Although we are
liturgical, we are not formal. You may stand, sit, move around, light a candle,
make the sign of the cross, kiss an icon or the cross.
Receiving Communion: The priest desires to give a blessing to all that attend.
However, the Holy Communion is served only to Orthodox Christians. However,
if you desire to receive a blessing, please come forward as others come for
Communion. All are invited to receive Holy Bread from the altar servers.