Culture and Language
Background
Orthodoxy came to most of America with Eastern European immigrants in the late 19th Century. They came together and pooled their limited resources to bring a priest from the Old World and build a church which served the twofold purpose of allowing them to worship God correctly and preserving their community and culture. Because American society was viewed as Protestant (or Catholic in some areas), the local church became a bastion against not only false worship but also 'American' culture itself. This is why an ethnic distinctive is often in the name of a local church (i.e. 'Greek' Orthodox Church).
Secondarily, America was originally a mission field of the Russian Orthodox Church but when funding and officlal connection was broken in 1917 with the communist takeover, each ethnic group turned to their homeland for jurisdictional authority. So, while most countries just have a single Orthodox body of authority, America is divided into numerous ethnically distinct jurisdictions.
Culture
Culture and practices play a larger role in Orthodoxy than in the average 'American' Protestant or Catholic church. In some Orthodox churches, in the types of food served at fellowship time as well as distinct traditions or celebrations, you will probably encounter something different (i.e. baklava alongside apple pie), but, that can be a good and enriching experience.
~ Remember, Orthodoxy is like ice cream: it comes in different flavors. Find one you like ~
Background
Orthodoxy came to most of America with Eastern European immigrants in the late 19th Century. They came together and pooled their limited resources to bring a priest from the Old World and build a church which served the twofold purpose of allowing them to worship God correctly and preserving their community and culture. Because American society was viewed as Protestant (or Catholic in some areas), the local church became a bastion against not only false worship but also 'American' culture itself. This is why an ethnic distinctive is often in the name of a local church (i.e. 'Greek' Orthodox Church).
Secondarily, America was originally a mission field of the Russian Orthodox Church but when funding and officlal connection was broken in 1917 with the communist takeover, each ethnic group turned to their homeland for jurisdictional authority. So, while most countries just have a single Orthodox body of authority, America is divided into numerous ethnically distinct jurisdictions.
Culture
Culture and practices play a larger role in Orthodoxy than in the average 'American' Protestant or Catholic church. In some Orthodox churches, in the types of food served at fellowship time as well as distinct traditions or celebrations, you will probably encounter something different (i.e. baklava alongside apple pie), but, that can be a good and enriching experience.