The magnificent interior of St. John's

    In order to fully understand and comprehend the beauty and spirituality of the Orthodox Church and feel the presence of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, one must attend and participate in the Divine Liturgy service. As is written in the Primary Chronicle, when the legates of Prince Vladimir visited the church of Holy Wisdom (Hagia Sophia) in Constantinople, in the late 10th Century they said: "We didn't know if we were in heaven or on the earth. But this we know God dwells here among His people. And we cannot forget this beauty!"

   Orthodox means "true worship" or "right belief." In the Orthodox Church we believe that our worship is a true ascent into heaven and a real opening of the Kingdom of God to us on earth.

   The Divine Liturgy is the MYSTERY of mysteries through which the Church invokes the Holy Spirit to change the gifts of bread and wine and the people that they might become the Body and Blood of Christ and His disciples in the world.