What to Expect
Before Coming to Church
Consider Staying Home
This may be the hardest rule to follow. According to current Santa Clara County Health Order guidelines, parishioners over 65, with small children, who are sick, or with health conditions are currently encouraged to stay home and continue Live Streaming the services. We are currently in a restrictive phase of reopening and the Covid-19 virus is still very dangerous. For your own safety and the safety of others, please follow the Santa Clara County Health Order guidelines and consider staying home.
Register in Advance
The Church needs to maintain a log of all people who were in attendance of the services. This allows the Church to follow the capacity limits as stated by the Health Department, as well as to log all participant contact information for contact tracing purposes. Click Here to Register. Please note there will be a strict reservation limit and deadline.
Bring a Mask and Liturgical Materials
Masks will be required to be worn during the entire Liturgy. To comply with the Santa Clara County Health Order guidelines, all liturgical books, pamphlets and other materials will not be available. Weekly bulletins will not be handed out. Luckily, the Liturgical text is available online. Also, there is an Application that you can use and download on the Apple platform: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/digital-chant-stand/id891132857
Please come prepared.
Be aware of the New Rules
If you are reading this, you are off to a great start! It is important that you understand the changes in the way the services will be conducted. Capacity will be limited, seats are assigned, entrances and exits are restricted, among other changes. Being aware of these changes will help make the reopening run smoothly and hopefully allow us to enter later phases sooner.
Be humble, Be Respectful, Be Prayerful
These last few months have been hard for all of us. Coming back to church, while joyous, may also feel frustrating since you are coming back to the place you love in a different way. We ask that we all work together to comply with the rules that the County, Metropolis, clergy, Parish Council and volunteers have laid out.
Upon Arrival
Maintain Social Distance
You will be asked to wait in line maintaining social distance while people ahead of you are entering. Markers will be set (similar to the grocery stores) to guide you where to stand while waiting in line. This is to ensure the volunteers can properly check you in and not to overwhelm the capacity at the entrance.
Enter the New Staging Area
When it is your turn, you will check in at a staging area. Here you will check in for contact tracing as well as perform any tasks needed. You will have your temperature checked. Please bring a mask with you. If you do not have a mask, you will be provided one. If you will be purchasing candles please have exact change or use your credit card. No change will be available. Please be generous, because in addition, no tray will be passed. You can always donate online.
If you have not registered in advance you will be asked to leave
The Santa Clara County Health Order has placed strict limitations on the maximum capacity of those in attendance. The entire Church grounds, including the parking lot is considered part of the Church.
During the Liturgy
Wear your Mask At All Times
To prevent the spread of Covid-19, Parishioners attending Liturgy are required to wear a mask at all times when in the Church.
Do Not Kiss the Icons. Bow In front of them
The Metropolis has put out new guidance for venerating the icons. The Metropolis asks that you do not kiss the icons, but bow humbly before them asking for the Intercession of the Saints in this difficult time.
Follow your Guide to Your assigned Seats
To maintain social distancing we must limit the amount of people during the Liturgy. We must also limit where they can and cannot sit. This may be very difficult for some of our parishioners who have spent their lives sitting in the same location. We ask that you humbly follow the directions of the Volunteers to your assigned seat. This way we can properly fit families and individuals into the church while always safely maintaining social distancing.
Communion will be offered after the liturgy
Please follow the directions of the clergy and volunteers regarding Communion. Again, Communion will be offered at the end of the Liturgy.
Always follow the rules that the Clergy or Volunteers ask of you
This is a new experience for everyone in the world. The Church has survived for 2000 years and it will survive this new challenge. Rules are bound to change over time while we all learn what does and does not work. Please be flexible by following the directions of the priests and volunteers.
Pray for the Sick and For those who Cannot attend
Your role physically attending the Liturgy is more important than ever. You are attending for all those who cannot. Please pray unceasingly that we can all be together again.
After the Service Ends
Do not Congregate, Please go directly home
Coffee hour is a highlight of many people’s weeks. In this time, when we have been away from each other for so long, it is natural to give a hug or a handshake, and to talk of all the things that have been happening. However, congregating after church is currently banned by the Santa Clara County Health Order guidelines. After the service ends, please humbly exit the Church and go directly to your cars and go home.