Come and See

We know that walking into a new church, especially one you know little about, takes courage. We want you to know: you are welcome here, exactly as you are.

St. Nicholas is an Orthodox Christian parish in Pinellas Park. We are a warm, diverse community rooted in the ancient faith of the Apostles, and genuinely happy when someone new walks through our doors.

You don't have to be Orthodox to come. You don't have to know the words, the customs, or the prayers. We have been at this for a long time, and we remember what it is like to walk in for the first time.

The best thing we can tell you is this: come and see. No obligation. No pressure. Just come.

Our services are every Sunday at 10:30 AM. Orthros (a service of morning praise) begins at 9:30. You are welcome at either or both.

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What Is the Divine Liturgy?

When you walk into St. Nicholas on Sunday morning, you are stepping into something that has been happening, without interruption, since the earliest centuries of Christianity. The incense, the chanting, the icons, the specific movements of the priest, the prayers of the congregation: all of it has been handed down, refined, and preserved across time as a vessel for the presence of God.

This is the Divine Liturgy.

The word "liturgy" comes from the Greek leitourgia, meaning "the work of the people." Orthodox worship is not a spectator event. The entire congregation participates: through sung responses, through the movement of processions, through standing in prayer, through receiving the Eucharist. It is the whole body of Christ, gathered together, doing what it was made to do.

The Liturgy is built around the Eucharist. The bread and wine, in the Orthodox understanding, truly become the Body and Blood of Christ. This is not merely symbolic. It is the fulfillment of Jesus' words: "This is my body… this is my blood" (Matthew 26:26–28). At every Liturgy, we receive His life into our own.

But the Liturgy is also an encounter with all of time. The saints depicted on the walls of the church are not decorations. They are the cloud of witnesses surrounding us (Hebrews 12:1). The prayers we pray are the same prayers Christians have prayed for centuries. In the Liturgy, past, present, and eternity meet.

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What to Expect on Your First Visit

When You Arrive

Park in the lot off 76th Ave. N. Come in through the main entrance. You will likely be greeted at the door. Feel free to introduce yourself or simply find a seat. There is no wrong place to sit.

What the Service Looks Like

Orthodox worship is participatory. There will be singing throughout, by the choir and by the congregation together. There will be Scripture readings, a sermon, and the Eucharist (Holy Communion). The liturgy lasts about 90 minutes. You are welcome to observe everything. Please do not feel pressure to participate in anything you are unfamiliar with.

Holy Communion

In Orthodox tradition, Holy Communion is shared among baptized and chrismated Orthodox Christians who have prepared through fasting and prayer. If you are visiting and have not been received into the Orthodox Church, you are warmly invited to come forward to receive a blessing from the priest instead. Simply cross your arms over your chest.

Dress

Come as you are. Many parishioners dress modestly as an expression of reverence, but there is no enforced dress code. You will not feel out of place.

Children

Children are a full part of our worship. If yours gets restless, do not worry. It happens, and no one minds. There is a room available if you need a moment. Sunday School (K–12) meets following Communion.

After the Service

We gather in the hall after Liturgy for coffee hour: food, conversation, and welcome. Please join us. It is a good place to meet Fr. Nathaniel and the parish family.

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