Come and See

We know that walking into a new church takes courage. We want you to know: you are welcome here.

St. Nicholas is an Orthodox Christian parish in Pinellas Park, a community of the faith once for all delivered to the saints. Our faith is not a theory or a set of rules. It is life, and it is experience. And we are genuinely glad when someone new walks through our doors.

Come as you are. But come expecting to be changed. The Liturgy, the prayers, the sacraments: all of it exists to draw us into union with the living God, to make us, slowly and by grace, into the likeness of God.

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.

Our services are every Sunday at 10:30 AM. Orthros, a service of morning praise, begins at 9:30. We also gather Wednesday and Saturday evenings for Vespers, a quieter service of prayer and psalmody, at 6:00 PM on Wednesday and 5:00 PM on Saturday. You are welcome to join us for any of them.

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What Is the Divine Liturgy?

When you walk into St. Nicholas on Sunday morning, you are stepping into something that traces back to the night Christ took bread, broke it, and said "Do this in remembrance of me." The incense, the chanting, the icons, the movements of the priest, the prayers of the congregation: all of it passed down intact across twenty centuries.

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.

The Liturgy is built around the Eucharist. The bread and wine 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, the 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 or stand.

What the Service Looks Like

Orthodox worship is participatory. There will be singing throughout, by the deacon, the priest, and the choir and 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.

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 say "Father bless" and bow your head once it's your turn.

Dress

Orthodox dress is modest for both men and women: long sleeves and trousers for men, and for women a skirt or dress below the knee, or dress pants, and a top with covered shoulders. If you are new and come differently dressed, please do not let that keep you away.

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 church 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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