WELCOME TO Saint Seraphim Orthodox Cathedral!

Thank you for visiting our website. We hope that you will also visit our parish soon. This page contains lots of information about our community, and you can follow the included links to get more details both from this website and from others.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

Orthodox services are very distinctive, so, while we hope that you’ll worship with us soon, we also want you to be prepared for what you will encounter. There are also a few other things about our parish community that we want you to know right up front.

WE DO LOTS OF STANDING

Christians have historically stood during worship because that posture best expresses the reverence and respect that are due the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Everyone may sit down during the homily—or sermon—and people take a seat whenever they get tired. But we don’t have pews or rows of chairs in our facility. There are benches and chairs along the walls, but most of the space is open because most of the time we are standing. Of course, that doesn’t mean you have to stand through the entire service. If you need to sit down, please go ahead and find a spot on one of the chairs or benches.

WE LOVE BEAUTIFUL MUSIC

One of the most striking characteristics of Orthodox music is the fact that it’s sung without any instrumental accompaniment. In other words, we don’t use organs or pianos or guitars in our services. That’s because Christians have historically worshipped without musical instruments. Of course, there’s nothing at all wrong with organs and pianos and guitars, but none of those instruments can approach the beauty of the redeemed and sanctified human voice. Also, we don’t use hymn books, and we don’t project hymn lyrics on to screens. However, we do have a booklet with the text of Liturgy in both English and Church Slavonic at the candle desk next to the entrance to the Cathedral. Feel free to use it during the service and do not forget to return them to the same place afterwards.

WE HAVE LOTS OF CHILDREN

In the Orthodox worship, we don’t segregate ourselves according to age and developmental capacity. So you will see many, many children and young people in our services.

JOINING THE ORTHODOX CHURCH

Because the people in our community are so friendly, and because Orthodox worship is so compelling and so beautiful, folks often ask “how do I join?” Please contact our priest Father Gerasim or Deacon Theophan to learn more.