The Dominican Republic is on one of the Caribbean Islands bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and the Caribbean Sea to the south. The island is shared between the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Puerto Plata is on the North coast of the island.

Puerto Plata has a tropical climate for most of the year with relatively consistent temperatures ranging from 69F(20^℃) – 89F(32^℃). During the winter months (November – February) there is heavy rain and some chilly nights.

The Dominican Republic is in the Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4) zone, which is UTC-4.

The main religion in the Dominican Republic is Christianity, with the majority of the population identifying as Roman Catholic. There is also a significant presence of Protestantism, including various denominations such as Evangelicalism, Pentecostalism, and Seventh-day Adventism.

The primary language spoken in the Dominican Republic is Spanish. It serves as the official language and is used for government, education, business, and everyday communication.

Additionally, since it shares a border with Haiti, many speak Creole and French. In tourist areas and among professionals, English is often spoken and understood, particularly in hotels, restaurants, and businesses that cater to international visitors.

Please verify the health guidelines pertaining to your Country prior to visiting.

Saturday – Vespers at 7:oo pm
Sunday – Matins at 8:30 am followed by the Divine Liturgy at 9:00 am
Additional services, feasts and modifications will be posted here.

All Liturgical services are prayed in Spanish when locals are present. Otherwise, prayers can be a mix of Spanish, English and Coptic.

Spanish is not a requirement to come and serve. We encourage groups to review/prep some of the liturgical hymns, as well as some songs and activities in Spanish.
Although it helps to speak the local languages, guests always find ways to communicate and interact with the locals. Everyone understands the language of love.

Anytime! The church needs and welcomes missionaries to come and serve at any time of the year. However, due to a high demand, groups often book a year in advance. Please make sure to fill out the registration form as soon as possible to ensure availability.

We invite everyone who is looking to serve to come, however all guests are expected to participate in all liturgical services and church activities. If you are coming with a Coptic Orthodox group, permission should be given from the group leader/priest. For individuals interested in coming, please contact us ahead of time to discuss the purpose of the visit and availability.

For groups coming to serve, the recommended time is 8-10 days. However, individuals who wish to come for an extended period are welcome to do so with a written permission from their father of confession and to contact us to discuss availability and schedule.

Please refer to the Service Trips page for more information.

This depends on where you are coming from. Please refer to your Country’s visa requirements. However, everyone is required to have an E-ticket.

In order to enter or exit the country, the Dominican Republic requires you to fill out an “e-Ticket”. This form can be complicated and time consuming. Please ensure you fill it out ahead of time very carefully. You can fill your entry and exit tickets at the same time.

Please find the E-Ticket guide here.

The closest airport to the church is the Banreservas Aeropuerto Gregorio Luperon (POP). Other airport options include Cibao International Airport (STI) which is 71 km (1.5 to 2 hours) away, and Las Americas International Airport (SDQ) which is 244 km (4.5 to 6 hours) away. It is not advisable to fly into Punta Cana as it is a full day’s travel by car (407 km away) and domestic flights are not available.

It is very hot and humid in Puerto Plata all year round. You will want to wear light comfortable clothing most of the time. Please ensure that you have long pants/skirts for church services. During activities, you are encouraged to wear modest summer clothing (no short shorts, tank tops, crop tops, muscle shirts, or any overly revealing clothing). You are welcome to bring a bathing suit, but please refrain from wearing it on the church compound.

Make sure you bring a hat, sunscreen, water bottle and mosquito repellant.  

Note: Rainy season is from November to February. Nights can get chilly. Please bring a raincoat/umbrella and light sweaters.

The compound includes the church building, the social hall, and dorm rooms for guests. Rooms consist primarily of bunk beds with some single beds available. Each room comes with its own bathroom, and is fully equipped with linens, pillows, towels, and basic toiletries. Laundry facilities are available on site. WiFi is also available on site.

Individuals and groups who are coming to serve are expected to stay at church and participate in all services and activities together.

Individuals who are staying at a resort are more than welcome to join us for liturgical prayers, however they will not be able to participate in other activities and services.

Medical groups and individuals are always welcome to come and serve. We often run clinics from the church and nearby communities. Please make sure to contact us ahead of time because these services require more time to plan and inform the locals.

110V Type A & B plugs are used in the Dominican Republic (similar to North America). If you will be using any connections, please make sure to bring your own adaptors and/or transformers.

For more information on donating online or donating items to the church, please visit the donate page.

Please note that cash donations are also accepted in person when visiting.

Dominican Pesos (DOP) are used. Some places accept USD, however it is recommended you use pesos. You can exchange your USD/CAD/EUR to DOPs at a local exchange office located near the church. We do not recommend you exchange at the airport.

Although many restaurants and stores accept these methods of payment, most local shops do not. It is encouraged to carry some cash on you.