Your first visit to church
You are welcome to attend a service even if you have not been baptised or do not know what to expect.
When and where to come
Esplanade 38, 85049 Ingolstadt. Entrance on the Finanzamt (tax office) side. Check the schedule for the time of each service; services in German are marked separately.
View the service scheduleLanguage, length and arrival time
- Language of worship
- The All-Night Vigil is celebrated mainly in Church Slavonic. This is a traditional liturgical language, not modern Russian or Ukrainian. Approximately 15–20% of the Liturgy is in German. Liturgies celebrated entirely in German are marked separately in the schedule.
- Length of services
- The evening All-Night Vigil and the Divine Liturgy each last approximately two hours.
- When should I arrive?
- Please arrive a little early, before the service begins. This gives you time to find a place, pray quietly and, if you wish, light a candle and venerate the icons.
May I bring a small child?
Yes. Children of any age are welcome in church. If your child needs a break, you can step outside briefly and return.
Is the church open outside services?
There are no regular visiting hours outside services. The church is sometimes open during cleaning or parish activities. If you have a particular need to visit at another time, arrange this with the priest beforehand.
What to do when you enter
- Enter quietlySilence your phone. If the service has already begun, quietly find a free place.
- Look around and listenYou do not need to know the prayers, make the sign of the cross or copy everyone else’s movements straight away.
- Ask if you feel unsureSpeak to the priest after the service and tell him this is your first visit. He will help with questions about faith and church life.
May I simply attend?
Yes. Both baptised and unbaptised visitors may come, listen to the service and pray. Attending worship and receiving the sacraments are different things, however. Communion, Confession, Holy Unction and the other sacraments of church life are for Orthodox Christians after appropriate preparation. If you have not been baptised or do not belong to the Orthodox Church, you cannot yet receive these sacraments. Discuss your next steps with the priest.
How to prepare for Communion · More about the sacraments of the Orthodox Church.
If you have not been baptised and would like to receive Baptism, begin with the preparation guide.
Do I have to stand throughout the service?
In an Orthodox church, people usually pray standing. If standing is difficult, you may sit down. With children, you may step outside briefly and return. Please try not to distract those praying.
What should I wear?
Choose tidy, modest clothing suitable for church. Do not put off your first visit because you do not know all the local customs: you can ask the priest after the service.
What are candles and icons for?
When you obtain a candle at church, you are first of all making a donation towards the church’s upkeep and life. A burning candle also expresses our prayer and offering to God. Lighting a candle is optional. Before icons we pray to God and ask the saints for their prayers. Icons and candles are not talismans.
If you would like to understand church customs or learn how to pray before icons, ask the priest after the service.
Is there an entrance fee?
No. Entering the church and attending worship are free. Voluntary donations help maintain the church.
When can I go to Confession?
Confession is available on Saturdays and the eves of feast days — before, during and after the Vigil. Time before the Liturgy is limited, so it is better to come in the evening. See the schedule for exact times.
Is this your first Confession, or have you not been for a long time? Read our short guide to preparing for Confession.