Advent Begins on November 15 in the Orthodox Church

In the Orthodox Church, the season of the Nativity Fast (know as Advent in Western Christianity) begins on November 15 (forty days before Christmas). The celebration of the feast of the Nativity of Christ in the Orthodox Church is patterned after the celebration of the feast of the Lord’s Resurrection. A fast of forty days precedes the feast, with special preparatory days announcing the approaching birth of the Savior. We invite the Long Island community to worship with us at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, 369 Green Avenue, East Meadow during this holy season. Holy Trinity is a diverse community of Orthodox Christians worshipping God in the fullness of the Church’s ancient tradition and liturgical life. The parish, founded in 1924, is the first Orthodox Christian parish in the Nassau/Suffolk area and centrally located in mid-island East Meadow. We are open to all people seeking a community rooted in the oldest Christian Church with an emphasis on sacraments, prayer, Holy Scripture, and theology.

All services are conducted in English. The Divine Liturgy (Eucharist) is celebrated every Sunday and feast day at 9:30 AM. Please be aware that only Orthodox Christians are allowed to partake of the Eucharist and other sacraments according to the Church’s canons, but all are welcome to receive a blessing. Coffee hour follows the Divine Liturgy every Sunday. Vespers (evening prayer) are served every Saturday and on the eve of feast days at 6 PM.

Vaccinated attendees are not required to wear masks nor to be socially distanced, but unvaccinated persons are encouraged to do so. Services are also streamed on https://www.facebook.com/htocem. To register for the parish distribution list or for inquiries, email htocem@gmail.com. Additional information and schedules can be found on the parish website, www.htocem.org.