Holy Protection
Orthodox Christian Church
UOC of the USA-Ecumenical Patriarchate
3820 Moores Lake Road Dover FL 33527
/ About Us / How Do I Become a Member?
Becoming Orthodox

If you are not Orthodox, the first steps involve learning about the faith and attending liturgical services (especially Sunday Liturgy and other important services throughout the year), the primary way that the faith is learned.  Please note that the reception of Holy Communion is the final step in becoming Orthodox, not a "first step".  This is because once you receive Communion you are received into the Communion of the Orthodox Church.  However, until that point, you may come up for a blessing with the chalice and receive blessed bread (different from communion) at the end of Liturgy.  The Liturgical services are replete with Scripture from front to back, and are a continuation of the early Church's liturgical worship (see writings of the Apostolic Fathers, which demonstrate this fact). 

Becoming an Orthodox Christian involves: 

1.  Dedication to live the life in Christ, as a member of Christ's Body, the Church.  

2.  Learning.  Please review the "Becoming Orthodox" section on this webpage.  We encourage you to watch our "Basic Orthodoxy" series on our Youtube station.  Please also see our education website at www.orthodoxchristianed.org.  You will meet with the Priest to plan reception into the Church and to answer any questions you may have.      

  • If you are confirmed Roman Catholic, our Archdiocese receives Roman Catholics into the Church based on the canonical principles of the 6th Ecumenical Council, that is, by profession of Faith and reception of Communion.  Profession of Faith usually takes the form of Confession, but in any case entails profession of the original form of the Creed (which we do every Sunday in Liturgy) and belief in the principles of the Faith found HERE, and then receiving Holy Communion.  At that point, you will be Orthodox Catholic, that is, an Orthodox Christian in full Communion with the God's Holy Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic Church.  The same holds true for Oriental Christians (Copts, Armenians, Syriacs, etc.).    
  • If you are a Christian from one of the Protestant confessions (Episcopalian, Lutheran, Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, or even non-denominational), and have received Baptism in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, you will be received, once agreeing to the precepts of Faith found HERE, by confession of sins, receiving anointing with Holy Chrism, and then, finally, partaking of Holy Communion.  

  • If you have never received Christian Baptism, but accept Christ as your Savior and accept the basic precepts of the Faith and are dedicated to living the life in Christ, you will be received into the Church by professing the faith and receiving the Sacraments of Baptism, Chrismation (anointing with chrism oil, the seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit), and Communion.  If you are already baptized with a valid Christian Baptism, then you will profess the faith, receive Holy Chrism, and partake of Communion.  

3.  To be a regular participant in the parish by attending services regularly, by praying during the Liturgy for the life of the world, by identifying your calling within Christ's Body, and by tithing or working toward tithing based on God's standards for the building up of God's Kingdom.  

If you are Orthodox

If you are Orthodox and have relocated and are looking for a parish home, please join us for liturgical services, and review the guidelines for Communion before partaking.  At the point when you wish to become a member of the parish, please fill out one of the member information forms and hand it in the offering plate or in one of the baskets in the entryway, or hand it to a greeter. 

Our parish believes that we must care for one another, and so we do.  We do not consider the parish lucky to have us come or attend, but rather consider ourselves blessed to have a place provided by God to be able to come and join with each other with Christ in our midst in word and sacrament, for He is truly in our midst.  We expect all of our members to do as Christ said, and seek out their calling based on their talents and use them in God's ministry to the world as members of the Church, even if it is in small ways on a daily basis, but at our jobs and when we are not at work.  We expect our members to pray daily for the Church, themselves, their spouse and family, friends, and even their enemies (Christ commanded it).      

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