Thank you for visiting the St. Innocent of Irkutsk Church website. We hope you find our site informative and edifying. We also invite you to join us for one of our liturgical services – services that have been part of the worshipping tradition of apostolic Christianity since the era of the “early Christian Church."

Our parish is part of the Moscow Patriarchate in the USA. Our ruling hierarch is the Patriarch of Moscow himself. We are part of the global Eastern Orthodox Church community which includes national churches in traditionally Orthodox countries like Russia, Greece, Romania, Serbia, Bulgaria, Cyprus, and the Middle East, but also in Japan, China, India, the Philippines, throughout Europe including Germany, France, Poland, Finland, across the British Isles, throughout the African continent including Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa, and across North, Central and South America.  There are over 250 million Eastern Orthodox Christians in the world today and over 1 million in the United States. 

Our parish is more than just a place where people come to worship the living God (although it is first and foremost that!). St. Innocent is a vibrant faith community of people of all ages and backgrounds who are working out their faith and salvation together and raising their families in accordance with the commandments of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the sacred norms for spiritual life of the ancient Holy Eastern Orthodox Church.

Many of our parishioners journeyed to the Orthodox Church from other Christian faith traditions and denominations and some non-Christian religious and spiritual traditions. Whether you are “on a journey” or just wanting to visit a local Orthodox parish you will be welcome at St. Innocent. We are always honored to have visitors join us for prayer and worship.

Preparation for Holy Communion 

Orthodox Christians who are in communion with the Moscow Patriarchate are invited to receive Holy Communion if they are properly prepared and are not under any penance.  Amongst other things, proper preparation includes faithful fasting, recent confession (within one month), a blessing from one's spiritual father, being at peace with others, and being on time to the divine services.

If you are visiting and you are not an Orthodox Christian, please do not approach the chalice during the distribution of Holy Communion. If you are uncertain if you are blessed to approach the chalice, please do not come forward until you have met and spoken with Father Joshua.