"Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God." - Romans 15:7

Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church has been serving the Decatur area since 1927. As the first Orthodox Christian parish in Central Illinois, we are committed to placing Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior first in our daily lives. Our faith is firmly rooted in the teaching of Holy Scripture and the unchanging Christian witness of the Ancient Church. Please feel welcome to join us for worship this Sunday!

Services Schedule

Sundays: Orthros 9:00 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am

For services during the week, please see our Parish Calendar.

Upcoming Events

Lazarus Saturday

Saturday 4/27
Orthros 9:00am
Divine Liturgy 10:00am
Folding Palm Crosses and Decorating the Church to follow after services

Palm Sunday
Sunday 4/28
Orthros 9:00am
Divine Liturgy 10:00am

HOLY WEEK

Sunday 4/28
Bridgroom Service 5:30pm

Monday 4/29
Bridgroom Service 5:30pm

Tuesday 4/30
Bridgroom Service 5:30pm

Wednesday 5/1
Holy Unction 2:30pm
Bridgroom Service 5:30pm

Thursday 5/2
Liturgy of the Last Supper 10:00am
Passion Gospels Service 5:30pm

Friday 5/3
Royal Hours 9:00am
Decoration of the Kouvouklion
Vespers of Taking Christ off the Cross 2:00pm
Lamentations 5:30pm

Saturday 5/4
Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil 10:00am
Resurrection Service 11:30pm

Sunday 5/5
Agape Service 11:00am

Online Chapel

Saints, Feasts, and Readings for 11/20/2024

Wednesday of the 10th Week

Today's Readings

St. Paul's Letter to the Colossians 3:17-25; 4:1

Luke 18:15-17, 26-30

Saints and Feasts Commemorated

The Forefeast of the Presentation of the Theotokos into the Temple; Gregory the Righteous of Decapolis; Proclus, Archbishop of Constantinople

Visit the Online Chapel for more daily readings, hymns, a monthly calendar of saints and feasts, and more.


Getting to Know God

And this is eternal life, that they know You the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. — John 17:3

In Greek, the sense that is most closely associated with the verb to know is sight. This is quite familiar to those of us who have grown up within Western culture. We believe what we can see; however, the verb to know in Hebrew is primarily associated with hearing.

Therefore, the Orthodox Church has a holistic understanding of how one gets to know God. Our worship engages all of the senses so that no matter what the physical or mental capabilities of the worshipper happen to be, they can come to know God in their own unique and unrepeatable way.

Our faith demands that each human person — no matter the age, sex, mental or physical capacity, ethnic background or culture — should not only be acknowledged as capable of worshipping and knowing God, but that they are valuable.

We, therefore, would like to warmly welcome anyone to come to experience the ancient faith of Orthodox Christianity and come to know God and Jesus Christ whom He sent.