BRIER — Diversity for members of the St. Paul Antiochian Orthodox Church is a way to connect to their historical roots.
The parish of 150 people has Eastern European, Greek and Arab members, said the Very Rev. James Bernstein. But the majority of adult members are converts from other Christian denominations who became Orthodox Christians after being disillusioned with churches they previously belonged to.
Many hold degrees in biblical studies and were raised in churches, Bernstein said. “Most of these people are what I call sophisticated Christians,” he said.
All services here are held in English. It’s the music that reflects the church’s diversity, Bernstein said. Latin and Slavic music is used during the service, but so is Byzantine music, which goes back to the early days of Christianity and sounds more Middle Eastern.
“There are a lot of different traditions represented,” Bernstein said. “It brings a richness of cultural diversity that helps us tap into the various Orthodox traditions throughout the world. It helps us become more cosmopolitan in our Christian experience.”
The historical roots of Antiochian Orthodox churches around the world go back to the ancient city of Antioch, Bernstein said. The are several hundred churches across the country and a few in Snohomish County, he said.
The parishioners are a mix of different ages with an emphasis on younger people, Bernstein said.
People turn to the Antiochian Orthodox churches because they long for the stability embedded in the centuries-long tradition. “We want to retain the essence of who we are, but we have to change to make that more understandable to the generation of people we live among,” Bernstein said.
Members of the St. Paul parish on Wednesday celebrated the Leave-taking of Pascha with a special service. The Greek word meaning Passover, Pascha is the word used for Easter, Bernstein said. Wednesday marked the conclusion of the church’s Paschal season. During the service, Bernstein repeated a part that is said multiple times in different languages.
“It reminds us of the universality of Christianity and our roots, too, in Greece, in Russia and the Middle East,” he said.
Katya Yefimova: 425-339-3452, kyefimova@heraldnet.com.
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