St Nicholas Orthodox Church

My husband and I visited St. Nicholas’s Fall Bazaar last October (3 Oct 2015). The bazaar itself, with its offerings of fresh food, juice (an apple press!), books being de-​accessioned by a congregant with tastes similar to mine, etc., was terrific.
Then, at 1:00, the handout indicated that there’d be a «choir presentation.» I’ve sung with a large symphonic chorus, a quartet, and almost everything in between, and all of them pretty good. :-) Fr. Stephan, the priest, is *also* the choir director – clearly a busy man. The choir knocked my socks off. Simultaneity of vocal movement, crisp enunciation (I counted over 20 languages go by as they were announced), blend, expression – this choir had everything.
Although we live in the East Bay and I was already approaching the Orthodox church in another parish, Fr. Stephan’s choir *almost* got me over to Marin…
If you love hearing religious chant, song, etc., done exceptionally well, this is the place.

We visited St Nicholas on a whim several years ago and the music and liturgy was incredibly moving I could not wait to go back. I was new to Orthodoxy and the community and the priest, Fr. Stephan, were so welcoming. We especially love the fellowship time together (lunch!) after every church Sunday. We have now been a part of the Parish for the last 3+ years and they have become family to us.

If you’re looking for a cult to join, this is the church for you. Of course Father Stephen is charismatic – all cult leaders are. Hitler was charismatic, too.