Christ is in our midst! · المسيح بيننا
The prayer of Saint Elias never really stops — Vespers on Saturday evening, Orthros and the Divine Liturgy on Sunday morning, and the great feasts through the year, chanted in both English and Arabic. Come to any of them; all are welcome.
Every Week
The same cycle of prayer that has marked Orthodox life for centuries. These weekly services do not change; simply come as you are.
This Season
Through the long green weeks after Pentecost the Church walks through the life and teaching of Christ, remembering the saints and martyrs Sunday by Sunday. Weekday feast-day liturgies are added as they come; watch the calendar for the exact days and times each month.
If the words are unfamiliar, don't worry. Here is a gentle introduction to what happens when we gather, and why.
In the Orthodox Church the day begins at sunset, so our week of worship opens on Saturday evening with Great Vespers. As the light fades we sing the ancient hymn "O Gladsome Light," offer incense, and read the psalms that have been the Church's evening prayer since the beginning. It is quiet, unhurried, and a beautiful way to lay down the week and turn toward Sunday. Newcomers often find Vespers the easiest service to visit first.
Early on Sunday morning we pray Orthros, the Church's service of morning praise. It unfolds gradually with psalms, the resurrection Gospel, and the canons and hymns appointed for the day, leading us without a break into the Divine Liturgy. You are welcome to arrive at any point during Orthros; many parishioners come partway through, and the church fills as the morning goes on.
The Divine Liturgy is the heart of everything — the whole parish gathered around the altar to offer thanksgiving and to receive Holy Communion. It lasts about ninety minutes and is sung almost from beginning to end, in a weaving of English and Arabic. There is incense, there are icons and processions, and there is the deep, familiar rhythm of prayers the Church has offered for more than a thousand years. You do not need to know when to stand or sit or how to follow along; simply pray with us. Visitors are always welcome to come and go quietly if they need to step out.
When the Liturgy ends the fasting ends too, and the parish moves to the hall for coffee hour — coffee, food, and a great deal of conversation. This is where our community truly meets one another, and it is the easiest place to say hello, ask a question, or simply be welcomed. If you are visiting, please stay; there is always a seat and a warm greeting waiting for you.
The Feast of Feasts
The most sacred week of the Christian year — from Lazarus Saturday and the palms, through the Cross, to the midnight cry of the Resurrection.
The parish celebrates the full cycle of Great & Holy Week in English and Arabic. Dates shift each year — please confirm the current calendar.
Great and Holy Pascha — المسيح قام! حقاً قام · Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!
Alongside the feasts, the Church keeps four longer fasts through the year — the Nativity Fast before Christmas, Great Lent before Pascha, the Apostles' Fast after Pentecost, and the Dormition Fast in early August — as well as most Wednesdays and Fridays. Fasting is never meant to be a burden or a competition; it is a gentle discipline that prepares the heart for the feast. If you are new, or unsure how to begin, please don't worry about doing it "perfectly" — simply ask Father for guidance, and keep the fast as your health and life allow.
Come & See
Whether it is your first Vespers or your thousandth Liturgy, there is a place for you at Saint Elias. Plan your visit ahead of time, or pray along with us from wherever you are.
