Although Orthodox missions did evangelize the native Alaskan people in the 18th Century, Orthodoxy was largely brought to America by immigrants at the end of the 19th and early 20th Century. Early Greek, Russian, and other Eastern European and Arab immigrants set up churches to celebrate the faith they grew with in their homelands, and to culturally connect with other immigrants.
Due to various political reasons that I won’t get into now, a single primate for an American Orthodox Church was never established, and the various ethnic churches simply aligned themselves with the Patriarch’s of their home countries.
Although members of Greek Orthodox and Russian Orthodox parishes may be of different cultural backgrounds, their theology and beliefs are the same. The Liturgy that is celebrated at the Greek Orthodox parish in Boston is the same as the liturgy celebrated at Russian Orthodox parish in Pittsburgh, and is the same as the Liturgy celebrated at the Antiochian parish in Atlanta. The only difference is culture.
As time has marched on from the early settlers of the 19th and 20th Centuries, the different groups have intermarried with Americans of different backgrounds, and non-Orthodox Americans have converted upon studying the truth that is Orthodoxy. Thus, while you will certainly feel the “flavor” of the culture of these churches, you don’t have to be Greek, Russian, or Arabic to attend.
You asked about the Orthodox Church in America. The OCA claims its origins back to the Russian missionaries who evangelized the native Alaskans in the 18th Century. While the OCA parishes use the Russian style of polyphonic chant, the services are conducted in English, many of their priests are converts, and many of their parishes are filled with converts to Orthodoxy. While some parishes may use a smattering of Church Slavonic, almost all of the service is in English.
As far as one jurisdiction being more liberal than another, that all depends on how you define the word “liberal.” Theologically, we all hold the same beliefs. There are some things that you will see in some jurisdictions that you won’t see in others. For example, many Greek parishes have an organ, something that is completely foreign to Orthodoxy and doesn’t belong in Orthodoxy, but the Greeks adopted in an effort to be more “American.”
While other faith traditions are arguing over whether or not homosexuals should be ordained, our “liberal” vs. “conservative” arguments are based around whether or not we should have pews and organs in our parishes. Our dogma and doctrine were established long ago concerning the “big” matters, so its stuff like pews that gets us worked up.
So overall, Orthodoxy, regardless of jurisdiction, is very conservative.
My advice to you is to go to orthodoxyinamerica.com and find the Orthodox parishes nearest you. Visit them all at least once. Talk to the priests, the people, go to coffee hour. See where you are most comfortable, and that is where you belong.
