Come, let us worship and
fall down before Christ,
who rose from the dead!
Save us who sing to You:
Alleluia!

- Entrance hymn of the Divine Liturgy

. .Worship / Liturgical Services

. .Schedule of Services at Holy Trinity

Orthodox worship encompasses all of the senses. We see the images, we hear the singing and join our voices to the choir's, we smell the sweet fragrance of the incense, and if Orthodox, we partake of Holy Communion which is the Body and Blood of the Lord.

Here is information about the different services found within the Orthodox Church's liturgical tradition:

Divine Liturgy

The Divine Liturgy is the primary worship service of the Orthodox Church. In it Christ’s triumph over death and destruction is both proclaimed and realized. From the earliest centuries of the Church, Christians gathered together each Sunday, the “Lord’s Day,” to celebrate Christ’s Resurrection and to participate in Holy Communion, the “banquet of the Kingdom” that He inaugurated. By the power of the Holy Spirit whom
He sent into this world, they entered into a new life of communion with God and with each other, becoming
one body in Him.

In the Divine Liturgy we are given a foretaste of this “banquet of the Kingdom.” Over the centuries the service itself has evolved in various ways, but its central meaning has remained the same. The Divine Liturgy is a service of thanksgiving, of eucharist (the Greek word for thanksgiving). We give thanks to God for the gift of His Son, whom we now receive in sacramental form.

The Liturgy is the expression of the real purpose of the church, witnessing to the Kingdom of God. In the Liturgy, the people gathered become the church - giving us purpose, meaning, and the nourishment to lead our daily lives.

Learn more

Vespers 

In the Orthodox Church the liturgical day begins in the evening with the setting of the sun. This practice follows the Biblical account of creation: "And there was evening and there was morning, one day" (Gen 1:5).

The Vesper (or evening) service in the Church always begins with the chanting of the evening psalm: "...the sun knows it's time for setting, Thou makest darkness and it is night...." (Psalm 104: 19-20) This psalm, which glorifies God's creation of the world, is man's very first act of worship, for man first of all meets God as Creator.

Learn more

Matins 

The Matins service of the Church unites the elements of morning psalmody (from the Old Testament book of Psalms) and prayer with meditation on the Biblical canticles (particular selections of sacred texts drawn from various books of the Bible), the Gospel reading (selected readings from the New Testament of the Bible), and the particular theme of the day in the given verses and hymns. The themes of God's revelation and light are also always central to the morning service of the Church.

Learn more

Hours, Compline, and Nocturns

These services are chanted in monasteries (communities dedicated to a life of abstinence and separation from the secular world) but are seldom used in parish churches except perhaps during Lent and Holy Week (the periods leading up to Easter and the celebration of Jesus Christ's death and resurrection), and on special feast days.

Learn more

Marriage, Baptism, Funerals

For Orthodox Christians, the church plays a central role in our personal lives. This is particularly apparent at prominent moments such as marriage, the birth of a child, and death of a loved one. Since the Church sanctifies all aspects of the world, it is only logical that divine services would be the outward expression of the Church of Christ blessing its members at these moments.

Learn more

Proper Etiquette

In the Orthodox Church there are numerous customs and traditions that are important parts of our worship. Some of these customs are universal to the Church, while some may vary from parish to parish, or cultural tradition.

The following article Church Etiquette, adapted from an article by Father David Barr of the Antiochian Archdiocese, addresses questions most often asked about how to act in an Orthodox Church.

Divine Liturgy
from the Orthodox Faith Series
by V. Rev. Thomas Hopko

Vespers
from the Orthodox Faith Series
by V. Rev. Thomas Hopko

Matins
from the Orthodox Faith Series
by V. Rev. Thomas Hopko

Hours, Compline, and Nocturns
from the Orthodox Faith Series
by V. Rev. Thomas Hopko

Here is a list of books we recommend:

The Orthodox Faith Series
by V. Rev. Thomas Hopko

An online version of this four volume set covers various
topics including Doctrine, Worship, Bible and Church
History, and Spirituality

The Orthodox Church
by Bishop Kallistos (Ware)

Introducing the Orthodox Church: Its Faith and Life
by Rev. Anthony M. Coniaris

Orthodox Church: Its Past and Its Role in the World
Today
by V. Rev. John Meyendorff

The Faith: Understanding Orthodox Christianity:
An Orthodox Catechism
by Clark Carlton

The Orthodox Study Bible
Includes a study guide and introductory information as
part of the appendix.

Thirsting For God in a Land of Shallow Wells
by Matthew Gallatin

The Faith We Hold
by Archbishop Paul of Finland

Common Prayers for Orthodox Christians