What is an Orthodox Cafe?

Kairos Cafe is a cafe run by Orthodox Christians from the Syracuse area that seeks to emanate Christ’s love in our community, being a business imbued with our faith. Its goals are to give back to the region’s monastic community and local parish ministries that we believe in. We ultimately want to be a positive presence in the Syracuse area that runs a good business while connecting our neighbors to treasures of the Church.

So, is this a church ministry?

Yes and no. The owners and management are faithful Orthodox Christians, and while they seek to live out and share their faith in their business, Kairos Cafe is not an official ministry of the Church, nor does it belong to a local parish—it’s a business that relies on cooperation across parishes and from the public at large. However, Kairos Cafe has the blessing of Metropolitan JOSEPH of the Bulgarian Orthodox Diocese of the USA, as well as that of the priests at Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church in East Syracuse. If we’re going to be working in Christ’s name and representing our faith, we have to be held accountable by our spiritual leaders!

Do I have to be Orthodox to come here? If not, are you trying to convert me?

No and no. We hope that local Orthodox Christians and people with backgrounds from Orthodox Countries (Greeks, Arabs, Russians, Ethiopians, etc.) will feel a little slice of home here, but Kairos Cafe is open to everybody! You certainly don’t have to be Orthodox, or even a Christian, to come and enjoy our space. Think of us as your faithful, well-read Orthodox barista neighbors, who will be happy to talk about our faith or point you to plenty of books if you’re interested in seeing what we’re about.

What’s special about your coffee and other products?

Wherever possible, we try to source our products from Orthodox monasteries in the region, or from businesses we know through our local parishes, or from local businesses we love to partner with. There’s something extraordinary about sourcing products from people you know and who brighten our lives through the beautiful things they create with care and love. That means coffee roasted by monks, tea from nuns, books and icons created by family-owned businesses, and the best local pastries our families and friends could bring to you.

What is Orthodoxy? Why haven’t I heard of it before?

The Orthodox Christian Church believes itself to be the Church established by Jesus Christ nearly 2000 years ago, the living body of Christ and witness to Christ’s teachings kept faithful by generation upon generation of Christians.

You might not have heard of us or might have just a vague understanding, and that’s understandable, because the Orthodox Church has been relatively small and outside the conversation in the West. We’ve always been here, though! Syracuse is home to a handful of Orthodox parishes, some with more than a century of history, and there’s dozens of parishes and a few monasteries in short driving distance. But far more than just a foreign flavor—your local Greek Festival or those odd-looking onion domes you pass by on your commute—the Orthodox Church has kept the tradition that the apostles laid down, and is open to all regardless of ethnic background. Whether we grew up with the faith or found our home in the Church more recently, it’s changed us to become better people and become more like Christ.

If you’re a Protestant or Catholic Christian, we have a lot in common; after all, we shared more than 1000 years of history together, before the split between the Orthodox East and the Catholic West. If you’re not a Christian, we think Orthodoxy has something to offer in the conversation: our understanding of the spiritual path, of communion with the divine, of how to treat our neighbors.

If you want to learn more, we start by suggesting as Jesus did, “Come and see” (John 1:39). The best way is to make a direct connection with Orthodox Christians (you can start with Kairos Cafe!), and even better, with a local parish and priest to guide you and answer your questions. We’ll be happy to point you in the right direction no matter your level of knowledge or interest. It’s easy to get lost in the chaos of the internet, so if you’re interested in doing your own research, we suggest you start at https://www.orthodoxintro.org/ .

Is there an Orthodox Church near me?

Most likely! Follow this map below for Orthodox churches and monasteries of several jurisdictions that we know of. It’s best to visit the parish closest to you, with worship in a language you understand. For any questions, visit the website and contact the priest! We’d be happy to make an introduction to parishes that we are connected to in the Syracuse area.

Meanwhile, monasteries can be great to visit for a retreat, occasional spiritual counsel, and renewal in our prayer lives. They come with different personalities, rules for visitors, and lifestyles — some roast coffee beans, some train dogs, and some print books, for instance. Since they tend to be in secluded areas and involve leaving behind our busy world, we’ve included as many as we are familiar with within a 5-hour drive from Syracuse.