Chanting
In addition to our beautiful Choir, another major aspect of our liturgical life is the role of the chanter during our Orthros, Divine Liturgy, Great Vespers and other special services. Our chanters work closely with Fr. Alex, offering responses, readings and the gift of song, all for the glory of God.

Choir
The first and most appropriate act of an Orthodox Christian is to wake up each day and give thanks to the Lord, thanks for every breath we take, for every moment, for every opportunity we have to grow closer to the Lord and all he created. Our Choir is a dedicated, talented and faithful group of parishioners that dedicates each Sunday—along with much time spent practicing and preparing—to doing just this during the Divine Liturgy. All are welcome to come, learn, grow and sing to the Lord!

Close Encounters: Marriage!
This fledgling ministry provides an opportunity for our married couples—of every age—to come together in fellowship, learning in the faith, and self-discovery. Activities include marriage seminars for existing couples, the “Crowns of Glory” marriage preparation course, and fun events like wine-tastings and day-trips. In the Orthodox Church, the Sacrament of Marriage is of prime importance; individually, and as a community, we must strive to take our marriages seriously, nurture them, and do everything we can to help our married couples reach their full potential!

Crowns of Glory
Our marriage preparation class prepares engaged couples for the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony—and for the rest of their lives. Couples meet with Fr. Alex for informal get-togethers, featuring straight-talk on the challenges of marriage, the sacrificial and Christ-like character of Orthodox Christian relationships and the realities of child-rearing. Through their studies, interactions and projects, the participants grow in knowledge and faith—and provide a real support network for one another.

ECHO Sunday
Feeding the homeless on Thanksgiving and running a Christmas toy drive are heartfelt, important endeavors, but even more meaningful is the development of a long-term helping relationship between a Church and a deserving philanthropic organization. Our parish has "adopted" ECHO, a local emergency relief organization that does tremendous work throughout Tallahassee. Each Sunday, in response to their food needs, parishioners are asked to bring canned and non-perishable goods to Church for deposit in our two—and very, very colorful—"Giving Boxes," which are situated in the Hellenic Center and Patmos Hall. Further opportunities to connect with ECHO and its clients are available throughout the year and new ideas (and muscles!) are always welcome!

ESL (English as a Second Languange) Program
Do you want to know your level of English proficiency? Do you need to take the TOEFL or TOEIC exams? Are you looking for a job? Do you need to improve your reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills? Or do you simply want to be able to express yourself better in English? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, please join our ESL classes on Sundays, after fellowship. Our English classes are free and open to anyone interested. See you there!

Festival
A Tallahassee favorite, this community celebration and outreach event offers a host of irresistible events for the entire family: Hellenic and Eastern European arts, crafts, classic Greek music, dancing … and of course that food! Bring the whole family and all of your friends, and enjoy hospitality second to none. Volunteers are always needed to help plan and prepare for this amazing, community-building event.

Fire-Flies
There are few things quite as wonderful as seeing those fire-flies light up a dark summer night with their warm glow! Based on the classic concept of the “Wednesday Night Supper,” the “Fire Flies” ministry brings us together on the first Wednesday of each month for a parish dinner, followed by opportunities to hear a guest speaker, and connect a host of our ministries for special events and regular meetings: Philoptochos, JOY, GOYA, etc. It’s important to “keep the lights on” in the Church on the weekdays, and we hope this gathering warms the heart of our community, reminding us how important it is to participate in the life of the Church beyond Sunday worship.

Good Samaritans
This new ministry is based on the magnificent story of the Good Samaritan—the example Christ laid before us to illustrate that everyone is “our neighbor.” One of the best ways to be a good neighbor is to visit those who are sick, homebound, in rehab, or living in long-term care facilities. Participants are trained by Fr. Alex to join him on visits to our special neighbors—and ultimately to engage in these visits independently. Time is put aside each month for the group to come together, reflect on experiences, trouble-shoot, and plan for each month’s efforts.

Homecoming
This group meets monthly and is comprised of those parishioners, visitors and spiritual searchers wishing to explore Baptism and/or Chrismation in the Orthodox Church. The concept behind the group is that we are all trying "to get home," to return to the Lord, to build a relationship with Him. Through much prayer, thanksgiving, study, soul-searching and holy action, we can get there … together.

Orthodox Life Series
Each fall and spring, Fr. Alex initiates a new adult learning series which meets bi-weekly. These get-togethers take place right in the Church sanctuary, and the focus is generally connecting the Traditions, Sacraments, and other major aspects of our Orthodox Faith to Holy Scripture. Together, participants have a chance to study, ask questions in an informal environment, and catch "behind the scenes" glimpses of our weekly and seasonal services. This is also a fantastic way to meet new people and get connected at our parish.

The Outreach Project
This new ministry focuses on welcoming visitors, friends and spiritual searchers to our Church, and offering all of our love, guidance and effort for those interested in learning more about the Orthodox Faith. Current activities include running tours of the Church during our famous spaghetti dinners and festival, designing and carrying out appropriate advertising for the Church’s activities, managing the Outreach Corner in Patmos Hall, to name a few.

Parish Council
This group of elected men and women is responsible for helping Fr. Alex carry out the ministries of our Church; in addition, these dedicated soldiers of the Lord spend a great deal of time managing the day-to-day administrative issues of the Church. Perhaps most importantly, they are "co-ministers" in the Lord with Fr. Alex, people the entire community counts on to exemplify Orthodox values, morality and principles. They are leaders not only in administration—but also in spirituality. Fr. Alex and our entire parish are grateful for their diligent, faithful, generous and inspired work.

Philoptochos
These "friends of the poor" have long, and appropriately, been heralded as the major philanthropic arm of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese. The ladies (men are also now invited, by the way!) of Philoptochos meet regularly and run an ambitious cycle of yearly events, all designed to carry out their mission to serve the "least of our brethren," and they enjoy wonderful fellowship along the way. This group is truly characterized by hard work, a strong community spirit, and an incredible dedication to those in need, within our parish and beyond.

Power Lunch
This new ministry is specifically offered to the men—of all ages—of our parish. Once per month, Fr. Alex joins those who are available for a convenient, informal lunch, where we can catch up, enjoy a laugh, and remind ourselves that we’re not alone in life. Because we’re so busy, and often pulled in many directions throughout the day, it’s easy to forget the importance of maintaining and building friendships within the parish. Here, one may not only find a good meal and conversation, but good people who can share our burdens and concerns. There is “power” in our friendships and mutual support. Locations feature approachable venues like the Atlanta Bread Co. and Crispers. Please consult the parish’s monthly calendar for current details.

The Promise and Great and Holy Lent
The Promise is an extensive program initiated each Great and Holy Lent on Clean Monday; on this holy day, following Great Compline and a simple lunch, Fr. Alex invites all of our parishioners to think of a promise they will make to the Lord for the Lenten season: e.g., coming closer to God, being a better husband, being a better daughter, practicing patience, avoiding gossip. As follow up, and to foster each individual "promise," Holy Confession is available each week of Lent and our Wednesday night lecture program—immediately following Pre-Sanctified Liturgy—features instruction and explanation concerning the days of Holy Week and our holy traditions, as well as further follow-up discussion on the personal commitments made to the Lord by each parishioner. These, and other, aspects of The Promise ministry provide a thoughtful and moving complement to our full schedule of services leading to Great and Holy Pascha.

Spaghetti Dinners
On the first Friday of each month, hungry Tallahasseeans descend upon Holy Mother of God Church for a lovingly-prepared, homemade spaghetti dinner that is second to none. And what’s even better? The wonderful fellowship and the deep satisfaction of building community within our own parish and our entire city. All are welcome: bring your friends and family—and spread the word!

St. Katherine’s Bookstore and Outreach Center
Are you searching for a Church home, interested in learning more about the Orthodox Church, or looking for that perfect icon or book for a nameday, birthday, or upcoming feast? Visit us in Patmos Hall and check out our wonderful collection of books, pamphlets, icons, magazines and devotional items, revealing the history, spirituality and beautiful traditions of our Orthodox Faith. And stick around: there are comfortable chairs and a table for study and reflection. Stop by today and grow in the Faith!

Walk of Faith
St. Paul taught us that the body is the “Temple of the Holy Spirit.” So it’s important not only to exercise our minds and hearts through reading, worship and prayer, but also to make sure our bodies are keeping up! Twice each quarter, participants gather together for an invigorating, fun day of hiking in one of Florida’s or Georgia’s sublime natural areas/national parks. This ministry provides a wonderful venue for making new friends and for catching up with old ones; there are also few better ways to really come to an appreciation of the beauty of God’s creation. Join us for our next walk!

Zoe Endowment Fund
"Zoe" is a Greek word that means "life"; for Orthodox Christians, the only real life is one lived in Christ. To know Him and work for His Holy Church helps us live a truly full, fulfilled life. The Zoe Endowment Fund gives us one more opportunity to focus our lives, blessings, and gifts squarely on our Lord. Established solely for the benefit of our parish, the Endowment seeks to obtain contributions that will be held in perpetuity, and income from the Endowment’s investments are expended only by the Parish Assembly to further its prayerful goals and objectives. The Endowment’s Board of Directors strives to produce income that ensures the growth and prosperity of our parish for generations to come—with the ultimate goal of furthering our ministries and enhancing the life of our Church. Please contact the Church office to learn more and see how you can bless our children and grandchildren with your holy gift of love!