Local Orthodox church welcoming to those from non-Orthodox backgrounds

[Anonymous]

My husband is strongly considering converting to Orthodox Christianity (long story) and I'm trying to learn more about local Orthodox churches. FWIW I'm a Protestant Christian and don't intend to convert, but I support my husband's decision and am happy to attend services with him, though we will probably continue to primarily attend my church.

Not sure how many Orthodox Christians there are out in DCUM, but I'm be interested in hearing about what some options would be for those of us without the typical Orthodox background (i.e. not Russian, Greek, etc.). Would particularly appreciate recommendations for a family-friendly church with a good homilist.

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

We haven't been to a mass there -- we go to their food festival every year, but Church of the Holy Transfiguration seems very welcoming. (It's Melkite Catholic.)

We ended up talking with one of the priests there last year and he was super friendly, telling us about his journey to the faith (he was Roman Catholic) and the difference between the two churches. We periodically talk about checking out a mass, but we haven't yet. I'm sure we will eventually.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We haven't been to a mass there -- we go to their food festival every year, but Church of the Holy Transfiguration seems very welcoming. (It's Melkite Catholic.)

We ended up talking with one of the priests there last year and he was super friendly, telling us about his journey to the faith (he was Roman Catholic) and the difference between the two churches. We periodically talk about checking out a mass, but we haven't yet. I'm sure we will eventually.

Here it is -- https://holytransfiguration.org/
it's in mclean.

[Anonymous]

Melkite Catholics are Catholics in communion with Rome. They recognize Rome’s supremacy and papal infallibility. There are maybe a dozen or so Eastern Rite Catholics like this. Does the OP mean what are generally considered “Eastern Orthodox” - those churches not in full communion with Rome, but do recognize the Patriarch of Constantinople as the “first among equals”? These would be the Greek, Russian, Serbian, Romanian, Ukrainian, etc. Orthodox Churches... There are also very large churches that do call themselves orthodox but are not in communion with either Rome nor any Eastern Orthodox - these are the Oriental Orthodox Churches like the Copts in Egypt, the Armenian Church, the Ethiopian Church, the Syriac Church, and the Assyrian Church.

[Anonymous]

Any Orthodox church in cahoots with the Pope and Rome is not truly Orthodox.

[Anonymous]

My husband and I are concerts and have found St. John, the ROCOR cathedral in DC, very welcoming. We’re not going to be back until there’s a vaccine though.

[Anonymous]

Where are you located?

I was raised Orthodox but I don’t speak Greek or Russian. Look for churches under the Orthodox Church of America umbrella. They tend to be more welcoming than the Greek or Russian etc.

if you are in MD, I like St Matthew in Columbia and St Mark in Bethesda as welcoming.

[Anonymous]

I looked into this myself last year but then discovered none are welcoming to LGBTQ. I do not want to join a church that would reject my brother and his husband. Jesus would not do that. I did love reading about the the Orthodox history, though.

I am still a Presbyterian.

[Anonymous]

St Thecla in Kensington MD seems small and welcoming.

[Anonymous]

St Mary's in Falls Church is extremely welcoming. I haven't visited any MD churches, but it's the most welcoming one out of the closer-in VA parishes. We love it there. We converted last spring. It's OCA and 95% of the Liturgy is in English. Lots of converts, as well as cradle Orthodox from various backgrounds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:St Mary's in Falls Church is extremely welcoming. I haven't visited any MD churches, but it's the most welcoming one out of the closer-in VA parishes. We love it there. We converted last spring. It's OCA and 95% of the Liturgy is in English. Lots of converts, as well as cradle Orthodox from various backgrounds.

PP again. Lots of kids, very good Sunday school program. Our priest's sermons are posted on YouTube if you want to check them out.

[Anonymous]

Orthodox Hipster Coffee Hour is a great Facebook group to join and ask for recs or ask questions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I looked into this myself last year but then discovered none are welcoming to LGBTQ. I do not want to join a church that would reject my brother and his husband. Jesus would not do that. I did love reading about the the Orthodox history, though.

I am still a Presbyterian.

I'm Orthodox and this is true. In addition, it is not proselytizing so it's difficult to break in without prior religious or national ties.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:St Thecla in Kensington MD seems small and welcoming.

St. Thecla is great! I’d say you should say hi from me but I don’t want Fr. John to know I read DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I looked into this myself last year but then discovered none are welcoming to LGBTQ. I do not want to join a church that would reject my brother and his husband. Jesus would not do that. I did love reading about the the Orthodox history, though.

I am still a Presbyterian.

I'm Orthodox and this is true. In addition, it is not proselytizing so it's difficult to break in without prior religious or national ties.

It's not hard to "break in." I visited 3 parishes before deciding which one was the best fit and you just talk to the priest and go to catechism classes and then are received when he feels you're ready. I'm completely Western European and there are plenty of POC at our church, as well. Most of the converts at our parish had no ethnic or religious ties.