Saints Peter and Paul Serbian Orthodox Church
Saints Peter and Paul Serbian Orthodox Church
Perhaps this is your first time inside an Orthodox church.
You may have noticed the icons, candles, incense, chanting, and the beauty of the church. Some of it may have seemed familiar. Some of it may have been completely new.
You may also have questions.
What do Orthodox Christians believe? Why does Orthodox worship look so different? Why are there icons? What is the Divine Liturgy?
We are glad you are here.
You do not need to understand everything at once. You are welcome simply to learn, ask questions, and discover more.
Orthodox Christianity is the ancient Christian faith of the Apostles and the early Church.
Orthodox Christians believe in one God — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — and in Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Savior of the world.
The Orthodox Church has preserved and lived the Christian faith through the centuries in its worship, prayer, Holy Scripture, Sacraments, spiritual teaching, and life of the Christian community.
For Orthodox Christians, faith is not only something we believe with our minds.
It is something we live.
The Christian life is a life of prayer, repentance, love, forgiveness, service, and continual growth in Christ.
At the center of everything is Jesus Christ.
The Divine Liturgy is the central worship service of the Orthodox Church.
It is the gathering of the Church to pray, hear the Holy Scriptures, give thanks to God, and celebrate the Holy Eucharist.
Orthodox worship is not meant to be a performance that people simply watch.
It is prayer.
It is the worship of the whole Church gathered before God.
If you visit for the first time, you do not need to know what to do. You are welcome simply to stand, listen, pray, and observe.
Understanding comes with time.
Icons are sacred images of Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, the Apostles, and the saints.
Orthodox Christians do not worship icons.
We honor them because they point us toward the persons they represent.
Icons also express something very important about Christianity: Jesus Christ truly became man. God entered human history, took on human flesh, and made it possible for human life to be transformed and sanctified.
An icon is therefore not simply religious decoration.
It is a witness to the reality of Christ and to the holiness to which every human person is called.
Candles and incense have been part of Christian worship since ancient times.
Candles remind us of Christ, the Light of the world, and of our prayers offered before God.
Incense is an ancient biblical symbol of prayer rising toward heaven.
These things are not used simply to create an atmosphere.
They help involve the whole person in worship — our eyes, ears, minds, hearts, and even our sense of smell.
Orthodox worship reminds us that we worship God not only with our thoughts, but with our whole being.
Prayer is at the heart of Orthodox Christian life.
We pray in church, but we are also called to pray every day.
Prayer is not simply asking God for things.
It is learning to stand before God with honesty, humility, gratitude, repentance, and love.
Through prayer, we gradually learn to turn our hearts toward God and to see ourselves, other people, and the world differently.
Orthodox Christians honor the saints because they are examples of lives transformed by the grace of God.
We do not believe that the saints replace Jesus Christ.
Christ alone is our Savior.
The saints are members of His Church who lived faithfully and now stand before God. We ask for their prayers in the same spirit in which Christians ask one another to pray for them.
Their lives remind us that holiness is not only something from the distant past.
It is the calling of every Christian.
No.
Our parish has a Serbian heritage, and we are grateful for that heritage, but the Orthodox Christian faith belongs to no single nationality.
The Orthodox Church includes people from many nations, languages, and cultures throughout the world.
Some of our services include Serbian, but English is also used so that everyone can participate.
You do not need to be Serbian to visit, worship with us, or learn about Orthodox Christianity.
Everyone is welcome.
Not at all.
You are welcome whether you are another kind of Christian, someone who has been away from church, someone from another religious background, or simply someone who is curious.
You do not need to know the prayers.
You do not need to know when to make the sign of the Cross.
You do not need to understand everything you see.
Just come.
Listen.
Observe.
Ask questions.
Take your time.
Holy Communion is the most sacred Mystery of the Orthodox Church and is reserved for Orthodox Christians who are properly prepared to receive it.
If you are visiting and are not Orthodox, please do not feel uncomfortable.
You are warmly welcome to remain throughout the Divine Liturgy, pray with us, and experience the worship of the Church.
If you have questions about Holy Communion or anything else you see during the service, please feel free to speak with the priest afterward.
Learning about Christianity is important, but the Christian life is more than learning information.
It is about encountering Jesus Christ and allowing Him to transform our lives.
In the Orthodox Church, faith is experienced in worship, prayer, repentance, Scripture, the Sacraments, and in a community of people learning to love God and one another.
It is the same faith lived by the Apostles, the early Christians, and countless saints through the centuries.
You do not need to have all the answers before you begin.
Many people begin simply with curiosity.
With a question.
With a desire to understand more.
You only need the willingness to seek God and take the next step.
Then we offer you the same simple invitation found in the Gospel:
“Come and see.” — John 1:46
Attend a service.
Ask questions.
Speak with the priest.
Come back again.
There is no need to rush.
If your interest grows, we also offer introductory gatherings where you can learn more about Orthodox Christianity in a relaxed setting and ask whatever questions you may have.
No previous knowledge is necessary.
No commitment is expected.
Come as you are. Come with your questions.
Saturday Vespers — 6:00 PM
Sunday Divine Liturgy — 10:00 AM
Visitors are always welcome.
Fr. Miladin
frmiladin@gmail.com
724-219-5456
Saints Peter and Paul Serbian Orthodox Church
May God bless you on your journey of faith and discovery.
Click the button above for a tax deductible donation to St. Peter & Paul Serbian Orthodox Church. In 1993 St. Peter & Paul Serbian Orthodox Church received tax exempt status, 501C(3), from the Internal Revenue Service.as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
