We are Christian Orthodox-Catholics called to realize our spirituality by studying, living and preaching Christ's teachings. We are dedicated to the practice of the Orthodox Catholic Faith.
We are called to encounter the forgiving and loving presence of the Holy Trinity in one another and in our celebration of the Sacraments. Together we endeavor to love, comfort and give the hope of Our Savior Jesus Christ to all through acts of kindness and Love Of Christ.
Our church was founded by a small group of concerned Orthodox and Catholics that perceived that there was a great need for an expression of authentic Catholic, Orthodox spirituality that was independent (Autocephalous) from other churches. They sought to provide a necessary alternative for the many people who were being excluded because of their views and the longing's of their hearts.
Christianity was born in the Middle East in the land of Israel, also called the Holy Land. The Church spread out from Jerusalem and took on the ways of the people of different geographical areas that accepted the message of salvation of Our Lord Jesus Christ. That is why today we have Eastern, and Western traditions reflecting these cultures. In this country most Christian churches are "Western Rite" because their roots are in Western Europe. They reflect the cultures of the European immigrants who founded them. Other churches were started by people from Eastern Europe or the Middle East; many still keep the religious ways of the Holy Land: Jerusalem, where Christ the Messiah founded His church; Antioch, where the name "Christian" was first used; Damascus, where Paul was converted. In the Middle East several cultures have given the Church its rich inheritance of traditions also called rites of the church. The Byzantine Catholic Church reflects the traditions of Russian, Semitic, Greek, Slavic and Byzantine cultures as well as the Western Orthodox Rite. We are called Byzantine Catholics, from the ancient name of the city of Constantinople in the Byzantium Empire, presently called Istanbul, since the Islamic conquest.
We are an active body of Christians loving each other as members of Gods Holy family. We belong to Christ and to one another. Because of this great love we have for God, we come together and join in worship celebrating the risen Christ among us with joy and jubilation. In the Byzantine tradition we are exposed to experiences by all of our senses in worship. We see icons, vestments, candles; we smell incense; we hear continual singing; we taste blessed foods and we use physical gestures such as bowing, prostrating and crossing ourselves, to express our wonder at the glory of God.
Christianity was born in the Middle East in the land of Israel, also called the Holy Land. The Church spread out from Jerusalem and took on the ways of the people of different geographical areas that accepted the message of salvation of Our Lord Jesus Christ. That is why today we have Eastern, and Western traditions reflecting these cultures. In this country most Christian churches are "Western Rite" because their roots are in Western Europe. They reflect the cultures of the European immigrants who founded them. Other churches were started by people from Eastern Europe or the Middle East; many still keep the religious ways of the Holy Land: Jerusalem, where Christ the Messiah founded His church; Antioch, where the name "Christian" was first used; Damascus, where Paul was converted. In the Middle East several cultures have given the Church its rich inheritance of traditions also called rites of the church. The Byzantine Catholic Church reflects the traditions of Russian, Semitic, Greek, Slavic and Byzantine cultures as well as the Western Orthodox Rite. We are called Byzantine Catholics, from the ancient name of the city of Constantinople in the Byzantium Empire, presently called Istanbul, since the Islamic conquest.
We are an active body of Christians loving each other as members of Gods Holy family. We belong to Christ and to one another. Because of this great love we have for God, we come together and join in worship celebrating the risen Christ among us with joy and jubilation. In the Byzantine tradition we are exposed to experiences by all of our senses in worship. We see icons, vestments, candles; we smell incense; we hear continual singing; we taste blessed foods and we use physical gestures such as bowing, prostrating and crossing ourselves, to express our wonder at the glory of God.
Our love for the risen Christ expresses itself in the joy in each others company, so we find the time to share frequent meals and social times. We open ourselves to support one another in the trials of daily life. We live one day at a time in the unity with the Holy Trinity and a constant approach for our spiritual nourishment the Holy Eucharist.
Byzantines also stress a personal spiritual life "in secret," so that the Father, who sees all in secret, will reward you" (Matthew 6:6). Greatest of these is personal prayer in the silence of our own hearts, where we can speak honestly with God. We call to the Most High in the prayer that our Lord taught us to pray, "The Our Father," which sums up our constant need of the love of God. Byzantine Christians are called to fast and search within in secret as Jesus commanded (Matthew 6:1-8). By refusing to answer immediately to all of our "earthly desires, we express our need to continue our daily conversion by subjecting our weaknesses to the Power of the Holy Spirit that will work within us in order for us to unite with the Holy One. The most difficult obstacle to our growth is the weakness and brokenness of our personalities. This is why the Byzantine Churches call on their members to engage in "Spiritual Warfare" in the arena of their hearts and minds," with the help of the spiritual direction of the church in order to provide clear advice and guidance.
We warmly invite you to contact us with any questions that you may have. You will find us very approachable and laid back.
