What to Expect

At St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church

As the pastor of St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church, I welcome you into our warm and prayerful community.

Whether you are exploring Orthodoxy for the first time or visiting from another Christian tradition, we invite you to experience Holy Mass, the sacraments, and the beauty of worship in the Antiochian Western Rite tradition.

Fr. Gabriel Souza, Pastor

Fr Gabriel at Alter with Reader David Blessing the wine during the Divine Liturgy
Fr. Gabriel reading scripture during the Divine Liturgy

How We Worship

Our parish worships in the Western Rite, a fully Orthodox expression of the ancient Western liturgical tradition.

Holy Mass is reverent, ordered, and rooted in Scripture and the Apostolic faith. You will hear traditional prayers, chant, and readings that have shaped Christian worship for centuries.

When You Arrive

You will be greeted warmly as you enter, and you are free to sit anywhere. You will receive a Missal to help you follow along with Holy Mass. If you have questions, our clergy and parishioners are always happy to assist.

What About Children

We love the presence of Children. They are always welcome at St. Nicholas. We understand that little ones make noise — it is part of the life of the Church. Families may sit anywhere they feel comfortable.

Participation in Worship

We welcome your participation as you feel comfortable. Stand, sit, or kneel as you are able. Visitors may join in the prayers and hymns, or observe quietly

Receiving Holy Communion

Holy Communion is offered to baptized Orthodox Christians who are prepared through prayer, fasting, and confession. If you are not Orthodox or are not receiving Communion, you are still welcome to come forward for a blessing or remain in your place.

After the Liturgy

Following Holy Mass, Father Gabriel will stand in the Narthex waiting to greet every visitor and learn more about them. We also gather for fellowship and coffee hour in the parish hall. Sometimes we even have a sip of wine with crackers and cheese.

Visitors are warmly invited to join us — it’s a wonderful way to meet our clergy and parish community.

Questions or First-time Visits

If you have questions about visiting or would like to speak with Fr. Gabriel, please reach out. We are grateful for your interest and look forward to welcoming you.

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