Frequently Asked Questions
Many who visit Evangelist Luke Orthodox Mission Church are encountering Orthodox Christianity for the first time or returning to it after many years. This page gathers answers to some of the most common questions about our worship, faith, and community life.
If you don’t see what you’re looking for, please reach out — we would be glad to speak with you personally.
Frequently Asked Questions
Many who visit Evangelist Luke Orthodox Mission Church are encountering Orthodox Christianity for the first time or returning to it after many years. This page gathers answers to some of the most common questions about our worship, faith, and community life.
If you don’t see what you’re looking for, please reach out — we would be glad to speak with you personally.
Below are answers to the questions we hear most often.
You can expect a peaceful, prayerful atmosphere centered on worship and reverence. Services are filled with chant, incense, and Scripture, reflecting the beauty of the early Christian tradition.
If it’s your first time in an Orthodox service, you are welcome to observe or participate as you feel comfortable. The chapel is small and candle-lit, creating an intimate sense of prayer and community, and someone will gladly help you follow along.
Everyone is welcome to attend our services — whether exploring Orthodoxy, deepening faith, or simply curious. While Holy Communion is reserved for baptized Orthodox Christians, all are invited to join in prayer and may come forward for a pastoral blessing.
Visitors are also encouraged to stay after the service for coffee or a meal, where there’s always time for conversation and questions.
Our services are conducted primarily in English so that everyone can understand and participate fully. Portions of the service are Greek to preserve the beauty and continuity of the Orthodox liturgical tradition.
Our worship follows the Byzantine Orthodox tradition, the ancient form of Christian worship rooted in the life of the early Church. Services are sung and chanted with incense, icons, and sacred readings.
As part of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR), we also include select Slavonic hymns and prayers, reflecting the unity of Orthodox faith across cultures.
ELOMC follows the Julian (Old) Calendar, used by the Russian Orthodox Church and many traditional Orthodox jurisdictions. This means our feasts occur thirteen days later than those on the Western calendar.
You may notice certain feast days and fasts falling on different dates — this rhythm connects us to the ancient life of the Church and her timeless worship.
We gather for prayer and Divine Liturgy at 6 Windsor Hill Road, Highland, NY, 12528 in a small chapel. The setting is humble but reverent, reflecting the simplicity and warmth of early Orthodox worship.
For directions, parking details, and accessibility information, please visit our Visit Us page or Contact Us directly before your first visit
Regular services include Wednesday Morning Prayers, Saturday Great Vespers, and the Divine Liturgy every Sunday morning. Because feast days and visiting clergy may alter the schedule, please visit our Service Calendar page for the most current information.
Holy Communion is the central act of Orthodox worship and is received by baptized Orthodox Christians who have prepared through prayer, fasting, and confession.
If you are not Orthodox, you are warmly invited to join us in prayer and may come forward at the end of the service to receive a pastoral blessing from the priest.
ELOMC offers catechumen instruction for those who wish to enter the Orthodox Church. This time of learning and prayer is personal and conversational, often one-on-one or in small groups, guided by Fr. Gregory.
If you are interested in becoming Orthodox, please reach out through the Contact Us page—we’ll gladly walk with you on this journey.
As a small mission, every contribution matters. Parishioners and friends often assist with setup, reading, chanting, or preparing meals after services.
If you’d like to serve in any way—musical, practical, or spiritual—please speak with Fr. Gregory or contact us through the Contact Us page. Your presence and talents are always welcome.
ELOMC depends on the prayers, presence, and generosity of those who share in our ministry. Gifts help sustain worship, maintain the chapel, and support outreach and hospitality efforts.
To contribute, please visit the Donate page for secure online giving or mailing instructions. All donations are tax-deductible as permitted by law.
Your prayers and encouragement are also deeply valued forms of support.
We welcome your questions and interest in the mission. You can schedule a call or meeting with Father Gregory, by email at info@elomc.org, or through the Contact Us form.
Whether you’re exploring Orthodoxy or seeking a deeper spiritual home, we would be blessed to hear from you.
You can expect a peaceful, prayerful atmosphere centered on worship and reverence. Services are filled with chant, incense, and Scripture, reflecting the beauty of the early Christian tradition.
If it’s your first time in an Orthodox service, you are welcome to observe or participate as you feel comfortable. The chapel is small and candle-lit, creating an intimate sense of prayer and community, and someone will gladly help you follow along.
Everyone is welcome to attend our services — whether exploring Orthodoxy, deepening faith, or simply curious. While Holy Communion is reserved for baptized Orthodox Christians, all are invited to join in prayer and may come forward for a pastoral blessing.
Visitors are also encouraged to stay after the service for coffee or a meal, where there’s always time for conversation and questions.
Our services are conducted primarily in English so that everyone can understand and participate fully. Portions of the service are Greek to preserve the beauty and continuity of the Orthodox liturgical tradition.
Our worship follows the Byzantine Orthodox tradition, the ancient form of Christian worship rooted in the life of the early Church. Services are sung and chanted with incense, icons, and sacred readings.
As part of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR), we also include select Slavonic hymns and prayers, reflecting the unity of Orthodox faith across cultures.
ELOMC follows the Julian (Old) Calendar, used by the Russian Orthodox Church and many traditional Orthodox jurisdictions. This means our feasts occur thirteen days later than those on the Western calendar.
You may notice certain feast days and fasts falling on different dates — this rhythm connects us to the ancient life of the Church and her timeless worship.
We gather for prayer and Divine Liturgy at 6 Windsor Hill Road, Highland, NY, 12528 in a small chapel. The setting is humble but reverent, reflecting the simplicity and warmth of early Orthodox worship.
For directions, parking details, and accessibility information, please visit our Visit Us page or Contact Us directly before your first visit
Regular services include Wednesday Morning Prayers, Saturday Great Vespers, and the Divine Liturgy every Sunday morning. Because feast days and visiting clergy may alter the schedule, please visit our Service Calendar page for the most current information.
Holy Communion is the central act of Orthodox worship and is received by baptized Orthodox Christians who have prepared through prayer, fasting, and confession.
If you are not Orthodox, you are warmly invited to join us in prayer and may come forward at the end of the service to receive a pastoral blessing from the priest.
ELOMC offers catechumen instruction for those who wish to enter the Orthodox Church. This time of learning and prayer is personal and conversational, often one-on-one or in small groups, guided by Fr. Gregory.
If you are interested in becoming Orthodox, please reach out through the Contact Us page—we’ll gladly walk with you on this journey.
As a small mission, every contribution matters. Parishioners and friends often assist with setup, reading, chanting, or preparing meals after services.
If you’d like to serve in any way—musical, practical, or spiritual—please speak with Fr. Gregory or contact us through the Contact Us page. Your presence and talents are always welcome.
ELOMC depends on the prayers, presence, and generosity of those who share in our ministry. Gifts help sustain worship, maintain the chapel, and support outreach and hospitality efforts.
To contribute, please visit the Donate page for secure online giving or mailing instructions. All donations are tax-deductible as permitted by law.
Your prayers and encouragement are also deeply valued forms of support.
We welcome your questions and interest in the mission. You can schedule a call or meeting with Father Gregory, by email at info@elomc.org, or through the Contact Us form.
Whether you’re exploring Orthodoxy or seeking a deeper spiritual home, we would be blessed to hear from you.
Need to Follow Up?
If you’re unsure where to begin, consider visiting a service, reaching out with your questions, or asking to meet with Fr. Gregory personally. Every encounter begins with a conversation and we look forward to meeting you.
Peace and blessings in the Risen Lord,
Fr. Gregory & the community of Evangelist Luke Orthodox Mission Church
