My First OCA Visit

Right Side of the Iconostasis at St. John's 

Today was another wonderful day in my journey to Orthodoxy! I'm very blessed to have become a member of the Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) here at the University of Georgia. Mary Anna, the wonderful president/dictator of OCF, invited us all to her home parish, St. John the Wonderworker's, in Atlanta.

Of course, having never been to the Russian-influenced Orthodox Church in America (OCA), I, of course, accepted her lovely offer, keen on learning the difference between Russian and Greek Orthodoxy.

Side View of an Icon/ Candles

So we arrived and I noticed something immediately off the bat...

There were no pews! Unlike St. Philothea's, in which pews dominated the sanctuary, St. John's had several on the side, but everyone was standing. Having worked in the service industry for 6+ years, I had no problem standing, and it was wonderful.

St. John's had more people present than St. Philothea's, no organ, and let me say, their choir was *phenomenal*. I truly felt God present in the worship.

The service was also noticeably longer, but it followed St. John Chrysostom's Divine Liturgy, as St. Philothea's does.

Wonderful View of St. John's Iconostasis 

Side note: That's one thing I love about Orthodoxy. No matter where you attend, you will find the same worship of God, with fervent people, no matter what!

So, apart from the lack of pews dominating the space, the OCA also seemed to have a "nursery" in the center of the sanctuary. That is, they don't believe in separating the infants from the service. Therefore, they all just piled up and made noise in the middle of the floor. It was distracting at some points, and people moved around quite a bit, but I loved the atmosphere. It seemed real, and there was a noticeable silence as the Eucharist was brought out from behind the iconostasis. Christ was present among us.

Another View (Joanna Creeping...)

The best way I can describe my experience with the OCA was that the service was "busy." This, of course, isn't a bad thing. And I enjoyed it immensely. I felt edified and renewed as I attended, as I have felt with all Orthodox services before.

After the service, a wonderful lunch was provided by the church. Would I attend an OCA church again? Absolutely! I would even love to attend St. John's again. What draws me to Orthodoxy, as a sub-point, is the fact that it remains the same no matter where you attend. Some might find this to be a hindrance, or an annoyance. I, instead, find this to be refreshing. 

Christ Jesus on the Ceiling

In a society seemingly dominated by "modern" music trends, feel-good messages, and an implacable desire for modernity and a watered-down Gospel, the only rebellion is Orthodoxy. This is where I find Christ.

Pray for me,

Christian

The Majority of the OCF Group (Me on the Right)