Our youngest son had taken to it from the start, but the first time my husband and I visited the Orthodox Church, back in 2008 (after having been in the Protestant Church for many years) was for me like entering a foreign country. Why so much standing, why all the going in and out of the altar, who was this Theotokos they kept referring to?
"Why so much standing, why all the going in and out of the altar, who was this Theotokos they kept referring to?"
Thankfully, our son was determined to be in the Orthodox Church, so we continued to attend and after several weeks a book was loaned to us that was a big turning point, "Facing East: A Pilgrim's Journey into the Mysteries of Orthodoxy," by Frederica Mathewes-Green, a convert to Orthodoxy and wife of an Orthodox Priest. This wonderful book answered so many questions, and many copies have since been given or loaned to fellow seekers.
Another huge help was the gift of my Godmother, along with another SMM friend, both cradle Orthodox and very knowledgeable about the Orthodox faith. So many church related discussions and questions would end with, "I'll ask Irene or Jeannette."
"...the community here at St. Mary Magdalene, who...love and care for one another..."
Now, eight years later, we can't imagine being anywhere else. The beautiful Liturgy, with its glorious hymnography; the richness of Orthodox theology, with depths to plumb for a lifetime; the inspiration of the blessed Theotokos and the saints and martyrs, and being privileged to seek their prayers; and the community here at St. Mary Magdalene, who pray and sing together and love and care for one another. This is family, this is home. All glory to God!