The new Annunciation cathedral recalls the beauty and majesty of other churches more than a millennium old, such as Agia Sophia in Constantinople. Those who have been fortunate enough to witness its construction know that, like those older churches, it is being built to last, and one can imagine it serving the needs of the faithful, God willing, centuries from now. The building is an impressive, outward sign of our community’s conscious outreach to the city and the world. By building a sanctuary for God, we are simultaneously expressing a gesture of welcome to all future generations of Orthodox Christians.
Some of them will be born into our families, while others will marry into the faith. Still others will come to us simply because they are astounded by the beauty of our worship, the richness of our theological traditions, and our special emphasis on the mystery of our intimate encounter with God. Whether future parishioners are drawn into the fold by love for its members, for their resilient, ancient faith, or by a mixture of the two, we must continue to be prepared to accommodate incoming Orthodox Christians of every background.
The Cathedral’s “Introduction to Orthodoxy” class aims to facilitate the spiritual journey of those considering joining our Church. We prepare adult inquirers for their baptisms and chrismations, and we explore the richness of our faith through discussion of Holy Scripture, the theology of the Church Fathers, and the lives of the Saints. The goal of the course is to provide people with acculturation in the Church prior to their becoming full members in it.
These very popular classes are taking place on a weekly basis, remotely, thanks to the dedicated efforts of Alex Kozak. To take part in the remote meetings, please contact Alex.