Holy Dormition 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!

09/28/2026

Photos from Dormition & His Grace Bishop Clement's visit 2026

Shared album · Tap to view!

08/27/2026

FEAST OF THE DORMITION OF THE THEOTOKOS

Thursday, August 27 ~ 5:30pm Vigil
Friday, August 28 ~ 9am Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, His Grace Bishop Clement presiding

Festal luncheon following

06/09/2026

News of the Resurrection: A Journey Through the Eleven Resurrectional Gospels of Sunday Matins

Five Wednesday evenings in a row with Archpriest Philip Tolbert
Beginning June 10 and continuing through July 8, 2026

All sessions starting at 7:30 pm in the parish hall, preceded by Vespers at 6:45 pm.

Put on your traveling shoes and plan to join us!

04/11/2026

Do not lament Me, O Mother,
seeing laid in the tomb
the Son whom thou hast conceived
without seed in thy womb.
For I shall arise,
and shall be glorified,
and as God I shall exalt in everlasting glory
those who magnify Thee with faith and love.

[From the Lamentations of Great and Holy Friday]

04/10/2026

Joseph, together with Nicodemus,
took Thee down from the Tree,
Who clothest Thyself with light as with a garment.
He gazed on Thy body – dead, naked, and unburied,
and in grief and tender compassion he lamented:
“Woe is me, my sweetest Jesus!
A short while ago, the sun beheld Thee hanging on the Cross,
and it hid itself in darkness.
The earth quaked in fear at the sight.
The veil of the Temple was torn in two.
Lo, now I see Thee willingly submit to death for our sake.
How shall I bury Thee, O my God?
How can I wrap Thee in a shroud?
How can I touch Thy most pure body with my hands?
What songs can I sing for Thine exodus, O compassionate One?
I magnify Thy Passion.
I glorify Thy burial,
and Thy holy Resurrection,
crying, O Lord, glory to Thee!”

[From Vespers on Great and Holy Friday]

04/09/2026

We see a strange and fearful mystery accomplished today:
He Whom none may touch is seized.
He Who looses Adam from the curse is bound.
He Who tries the hearts of men is unjustly brought to trial.
He Who closed the abyss is shut in prison.
He before Whom the Hosts of Heaven stand with trembling stands before Pilate.
The Creator is struck by the hand of His creature.
He Who comes to judge the living and the dead is condemned to the Cross.
The Conqueror of Hell is enclosed in a tomb.
Thou Who hast endured all these things in Thy tender love,
hast saved all mankind from the curse.
O long-suffering Lord, glory to Thee!

[From Vespers for Great and Holy Friday]

04/09/2026

Today the Holy Passion
shines forth upon the world
with the light of salvation;
for Christ in His love hastens
to His sufferings,
He Who holds all things
in the hollow of His hand
consents to be hung
upon the Tree,
that He may save mankind.

[From the Bridegroom Matins]