St. Paul the Apostle Orthodox Church

10/03/2026

Please be advised of our parish expectations regarding children at the Divine Liturgy:

If your kids are loud, please still come to Liturgy.
If you’re running late because getting everyone dressed and out the door was a battle, please still come to Liturgy.
If your toddler won’t sit still, please still come to Liturgy.
If your baby needs to eat, please still come to Liturgy.
If your child asks questions at the least convenient moment, please still come to Liturgy.
If someone cries, drops a toy, or has to make their third trip to the bathroom, please still come to Liturgy.
If your child doesn’t know all the prayers, responses, or exactly when to sit or stand, please still come to Liturgy.
If you feel like you spent the entire Liturgy managing your children and heard approximately 12% of the homily, please still come to Liturgy.
If Sunday morning feels messy instead of peaceful, please still come to Liturgy.
If you’re worried your children are distracting the people around you, please still come to Liturgy.
If your child has a disability or special needs, please still come to Liturgy.

Children do not learn how to be part of the Church by staying home until they can sit quietly. They learn by being here.

They learn the Sign of the Cross by watching us make it.
They learn the prayers by hearing us pray them.
They learn the Scriptures by hearing the Word of God proclaimed.
They learn reverence by watching us bow and make prostrations.
They learn that Christ is truly present in the Holy Eucharist by seeing the love and reverence with which we approach the Holy Chalice.
They learn that the Church is their home because we make room for them here.

The wiggles, whispers, crying babies, and little voices are not signs that children don’t belong at Liturgy. They are signs that the Church is alive.

So bring the babies. Bring the toddlers. Bring the big kids. Sit where the little ones can see. Step out when you need to, but always come back in.

At Baptism and Chrismation, these children became full members of the Body of Christ. They belong here. They need the grace of the Holy Mysteries, the example of their parents, and the love and patience of their parish family.

Children are not simply the future of the Orthodox Church. They are part of the Church right now!

10/02/2026

Let us attend!

09/23/2026

Today the Church commemorates the Conception of the Holy Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist John. Before his voice cried out in the wilderness, his life was announced as a gift of joy and an answer to prayer.

Holy Forerunner and Baptist John, pray to God for us. ☦️

07/31/2026

Today we joyfully wish His Eminence, our emeritus Archbishop Benjamin a blessed nameday on the feast of his heavenly patron, the Holy Hieromartyr Benjamin.

May God grant His Eminence continued strength, peace, good health, and many blessed years!

Eis polla eti, Despota!
Many Years, Master!

12/24/2025

2025 Nativity Message from His Grace, Bishop Vasily:

The 2025 Nativity/Christmas Message of His Eminence, Bishop Vasily of the Diocese of the West, OCA. Christ is Born! Glorify Him!

11/12/2025

On the feast of the Holy Archangel Michael and All the Bodiless Hosts, His Grace Bishop Vasily met with seminarians, wives, family members, and friends from the Diocese of the West at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary. Following the Divine Liturgy, His Grace took the seminarians out to brunch and subsequently met with each seminarian individually. Archpriest Kirill Sokolov, Diocesan Chancellor, also had conversations with the seminarians that week. His Grace will be making a similar visit to his seminarians at St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in the near future. In recent months, the Diocesan Council of the Diocese of the West has increased its support for diocesan seminarians in gratitude to God for his blessings on the Diocese and in appreciation of the sacrifices our seminarians make in preparation for their high callings.

09/11/2025