St. Sophia Mission

One of the oldest and most beautiful expressions of Christian worship.

Eastern Catholics worship according to the Byzantine Rite—the same liturgical and spiritual tradition that developed in the Christian East around Constantinople. It is shared with the Orthodox Churches, and it draws the worshiper into the worship of heaven through beauty, reverence, and ancient prayer.

The Divine Liturgy

The principal service is the Divine Liturgy, most often the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom. It is sung from beginning to end, rich with incense, icons, and processions. The faithful receive the Eucharist—the true Body and Blood of Christ—under both forms. Far from being a performance to watch, the Divine Liturgy is the whole community lifted up together into the heavenly worship of God.

A Life of Prayer

The Byzantine tradition also includes the cycle of daily prayer—Vespers in the evening, Matins in the morning, and other services—as well as devotions such as Akathists (hymns of praise) and the Typika, a service of psalms and prayers that our community prays together as we await the regular celebration of the Divine Liturgy.

Theosis: Becoming Like God

Eastern Christian spirituality emphasizes theosis—union with God, by which we are transformed by grace into the likeness of Christ. Through icons, fasting, the Jesus Prayer, and the sacramental life, the Byzantine tradition offers a path of deep and ancient holiness. The goal of the Christian life, the Eastern Fathers teach, is nothing less than to share in the very life of God.