Holy Virgin Protection Orthodox Cathedral — Attraction in New York

I started attending services here a few months ago after searching for a church, and I am happy to say that I have found my spiritual home in NYC.

I had been looking for a church to call home after coming back to my faith, and both Fr. Christopher and Fr. Michael have been nothing short of amazing in helping me feel welcomed and accepted into their community - they have helped strengthen my faith in a way that I really needed.

Everyone here is wonderful and extremely friendly, and there is also diversity in ethnicity and age. I personally prefer a church like this in contrast to the more “traditional” ethnic churches within Orthodoxy - especially since we are in America. On that note, this is a great church to attend if you are, for example, someone interested in ancient Christianity but put off by the idea of attending a church that only does services in Old Slavonic. Here the liturgy is done in a the local vernacular - English, which is traditional within Orthodoxy. For example when the first Russian missionaries came to Alaska they did services in Aleutian, a language of indigenous Alaskans.

They also offer classes for catechumens, and have a great library full of all sorts of books covering aspects of theology.

I am blessed to have been so welcomed by everyone here and I genuinely feel the love in the community!

Wholly recommend this church for anyone who is already Orthodox or is interested becoming...

Thanks BT for your courage and your review! I was debating if I should say something or not. Its hard to honestly post a review if you are an orthodox christian and the orthodox church is not at all traditional. I was there yesterday, Sunday June 2, 2019 at the beginning of the service and I couldn't believe this woman takes out her smart phone and starts concentrating on and filming the congregation. AND NO USHERS SAID ANYTHING! Except when I saw her she was in the very front of the church but on the other side. It made me so uncomfortable and it was clear no one was going to say anything to her...

I was interested in learning about the Orthodox faith. Called ahead about visiting the book store to purchase some books and a prayer rope and was told I could come prior to the vigil on Saturday night. Ok, so I made the trip by car. I spoke to a parishioner who asked a clergyman about opening the religious article room. I was told that I could not at this time, in a manner that was not particularly welcoming. I understand humans are humans. I will not generalise onto the Church from one brief experience. However, left a cold...