Before I ever stepped inside St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in McKees Rocks, PA, I saw a video of their Sunday of Orthodoxy celebration — and it honestly took my breath away. It looked like one of the most beautiful churches I had ever seen. Something in me stirred immediately. My love for Orthodoxy deepened, and I found myself strongly desiring to visit in person. My family has since had the chance to do that, and it was wonderful. But the video was what first opened that door for me.

What stood out wasn’t just the icons, although they are stunning. It was the whole atmosphere — the church, the activity, and especially the people. They looked fully engaged in worship, as if every part of the service mattered. Watching it created a deep longing in me. I wanted that experience of worshipping God to be mine.

There’s a kind of transcendence present in the Divine Liturgy that’s hard to put into words, but this video captures a glimpse of it. My hope is that anyone who watches it senses even a fraction of that beauty — and maybe feels inspired to visit an Orthodox church themselves.

Watch the Sunday of Orthodoxy at St. Nicholas here: