“The Orthodox Church is not only for one nation, one civilization, one continent. It is like God Himself, for all and for every place.” Patriarch Ignatius IV North Texas Orthodox Missions 13555 Hillcrest Rd. Dallas, TX 75240 Orthodox Christianity hank you for your interest in the ica, they would form church communi- T Orthodox Christian Church. The ties which were administered from the word 'ortho' means straight, or true; and ‘old country’. The thousands of Ameri- the word 'dox' means worship. Ortho- can born converts who have joined the dox therefore means true worship. Or- Orthodox Church have added to the thodox worship is authentic, timeless, ethnic diversity. and sacramental . The Sunday worship service follows an order established and Ancient Unity experienced in the New Testament era. There is absolute unity in terms of faith, worship, and doctrine; and we also Many people are surprised to learn that maintain those important ethnic and churches mentioned in the New Testa- administrative links to our Old World The Orthodox Church sometimes ment, (like those in Jerusalem, Antioch, sponsors. The Greek Orthodox Church displays the Cross as ‘budded’ and Thessalonica) are still in existence - is the largest American archdiocese, cross. The rounded ‘buds’ on the and they are Orthodox! The Orthodox and it was of course founded by Ortho- top, bottom, and both sides of the Church has not strayed from the apos- dox Christians from Greece and the Cross indicate eternal life. The tolic foundation, but has remained true surrounding areas. The Archdiocese of letters IC and XC form an abbre- to what was taught and practiced from Antioch (where the disciples were first viation, in Greek, for the name the beginning. There is an unbroken called Christians) also has a large con- above all names : Jesus Christ. continuity of faith, worship, and doc- tingent in the U.S.; and it was estab- trine established by Jesus Christ, and lished by immigrants from the Middle still present today. East; such as Palestine, Syria, and Jor- Organization dan. The Orthodox Church of America There is only one Orthodox Church, (OCA) has its roots in Eastern Europe which is administratively organized and Russia; and it is the first group to The into several jurisdictions. This is why function in United States as a locally you will find Greek Orthodox, or Rus- administered jurisdiction. sian Orthodox, and others. The faith, Come and See! worship, and doctrine is the same; the This pamphlet is meant to help you only thing that is different is the lan- gain an introductory understanding of guage and the administration. There are Faith the Orthodox faith. The best way to indigenous Orthodox churches from understand Orthodoxy is to visit a Japan to Norway, and from Alaska to church service. The Orthodox Church is Alexandria. In most countries, there is friendly, warm, courteous, and respect- only one Orthodox administration; but ful of those from different beliefs and because the United States is a nation of For backgrounds. A list of Orthodox par- immigrants, the situation here is a little ishes along with the service schedule is different. As Orthodox immigrants found on page 11. We hope you can from around the world came to Amer- visit us soon. All North Texas Orthodox Missions My Journey to Orthodoxy …….3 Contact Information: Ortho FAQ …….5 Phone: 800-753-1926 You Can Always Come Home …….5 Web Site: www.ntom.org Historic Roots …….6 Ages Email: [email protected] Learning More …….7 Address: 13555 Hillcrest Road A 20 Year Quest …….8 Dallas, TX 75240 How We Came to Orthodoxy ...…..9 Visiting an Orthodox Church ...….10 Church Directory ...….11 2 Church Directory Falling Asleep of the St. Barbara's Orthodox Church St. Nicholas Ever-Virgin Mary O.C.A. Greek Orthodox Church Romanian Orthodox Church 6525 Dan Danciger Rd. 617 N. 17th Street, O.C.A. Fort Worth, TX 76133 Waco, TX 76707 3801 Glade Rd., Fr. Basil Zebrun Fr. Theodore Tsitsilianos Colleyville, TX 76043 817-294-0325 254-754-6519 Fr. Dumitru Paun Sunday Divine Liturgy 10:00 AM Call for service schedule 817-858-0801 Sunday Matins 9:15 AM Sunday Divine Liturgy 10:30 AM St. Benedict Antiochian St. Paul the Apostle Holy Apostles Orthodox Chapel Orthodox Church Tyler, TX 75702 Orthodox Church O.C.A. 3808 Old Seymour Road 181 Preston Rd. Fr. Daniel Keller Wichita Falls 76309 Denison, TX 75020 972-216-9625 Fr. James Rooney Fr. Michael Storozuk Saturday Mass 10:00 AM 940-692-3392 903-327-8188/469-688-7644 Sunday Matins 9:15 am Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Sunday Divine Liturgy 9:30 AM High Mass 10:00 am Church St. Peter Antiochian 3804 Old Seymour Road, Saints Constantine and Helen Wichita Falls, TX 76309 Orthodox Church Antiochian Orthodox Church 7601 Bellaire Drive South Fr. Nektarios Morrow 3755 Walnut Hill Rd Fort Worth, TX 76132 940-692-0860 Dallas, TX 75229 Fr. Anthony Miller Sunday Orthros 9:15 AM. Fr. Antony Elbahou Fr. Michael Moore Sunday Divine Liturgy 10:00 AM 214-350-2104 817-263-5554 Holy Transfiguration Hispanic Sunday Orthros 9:00 AM Sunday: Mass 8:30 AM Divine Liturgy 10:00 AM Sunday High Mass 10:45 AM Orthodox Mission, O.C.A. 628 N. Tyler, St. Demetrios St. Sava Orthodox Church, OCA Dallas, TX 75208 Greek Orthodox Church 1614 Mollimar Dr. Fr. Ephraim Najera-Fuentes 2020 NW 21st St. Plano, TX 75075 214-942-4304 Fort Worth, TX 76106 Fr. Seraphim Hipsh Sunday Divine Liturgy 10:00 a.m. Fr. Michael Stearns 972-612-3881 817-626-5578 Sunday Divine Liturgy 9:30 AM Holy Trinity Sunday Orthros 9:00 AM. Greek Orthodox Church Divine Liturgy 10:00 AM St. Seraphim Orthodox Cathedral 13555 Hillcrest Road O.C.A. Dallas, TX 75240 St. John the Baptist 4208 Wycliff Ave. Fr. Anthony Savas, Fr. Nicholas Kati- Greek Orthodox Church Dallas, TX 75219 nas, Fr. Gregory Hohnholt 303 Cullum Drive His Eminence Archbishop DMITRI 972-991-1166 Euless, TX 76040 Fr. John Anderson Sunday Orthros 9:00 AM. Fr. Luke Kontgas 214-528-3741 Sunday Divine Liturgy 10:00 AM 817-283-2291 Sunday Hours 9:00 AM Sunday Orthros 9:00 AM Divine Liturgy 9:30 AM Our Lady of Walsingham Sunday Divine Liturgy 10:00 AM Antiochian Orthodox Church Three Hierarchs 4321 North Beltline Rd., St. Maximus the Confessor Serbian Orthodox Church, O.C.A. Suite #400, Orthodox Church, O.C.A. 909 Balleywood Rd. Mesquite, TX 75150 2026 W. Oak St. Irving, TX 75060 Fr. Daniel Keller Denton, TX 76201 Fr. Milan Zbiljich 972-216-9625 Fr. Justin Frederick 972-953-1365 Sunday Divine Liturgy 10:30 AM 940-565-6753 Call for service schedule Divine Liturgy Sunday 9:00 AM 11 VISITING AN The pattern of worship is the same as Usually, the front icons are placed in ORTHODOX CHURCH was described by Justin Martyr in 155 the following order: to the right of the AD. The order of worship in use today central doors is the icon of Christ; next o begin with, it might help to un- by Orthodox churches throughout the is St. John the Baptist; and the third T derstand that the times posted for world is exactly the same as was used icon is that of the Archangel Gabriel. the schedule of services are approxi- by Saint John Chrysostom in 400AD. To the left of the center doors is an icon mate. The main Sunday service is The service is called ‘The Divine Lit- of Mary holding her Son Jesus; next is called the Divine Liturgy; and it is pre- urgy’. The word liturgy translates from an icon depicting the name of the ceded by another hour-long service Greek as ‘the work of the people’. church; the third icon is of the Archan- called Orthros. There is no break be- gel Michael. tween the two—as Orthros ends, the Upon entering an Orthodox Church, Service books are provided—in Eng- Divine Liturgy begins. It might seem you find yourself in an entry room lish!—to help you follow along. If you like you are late, because a service is called the narthex. You will see Ortho- get lost, just ask. There are times during already in progress. Please be assured dox Christians lighting candles, making the service when people stand. Particu- that you are simply entering an ongoing the sign of the cross and kissing icons. larly during the reading of the Gospel, experience of worship. Christ, major events in the life of Christ we all stand as an expression of atten- or the Church, the Theotokos (Virgin tive respect to the words of our Lord. Orthodox worship is different that what Mary), and the Saints are depicted in You will notice the use of candles, is found in other Christian churches. icons. Icons are like windows to which convey the illumination we re- About three-quarters of the service is heaven, which transcend time and ceive from Christ the True Light. We sung; either by the priest, the choir, or space, reminding us that we are in com- use incense as a physical expression of the congregation. There’s quite a bit of munion with the saints who have gone prayer (Mal 1:11, Rev. 5:8). And, there movement; and the sermon is not the before us but yet stand with us in heav- are processions, pointing to the spiritual focal point of the service. The atmos- enly worship. (Rev. 4, 5, & 7) reality of a procession towards God. phere is reverent but not rigid. We gather as children in the Father’s house.