All Saints of North America Orthodox Church in Sun City, AZ, abbreviated ASONA, is arguably the strongest parish in Arizona specifically for inquirers.

It offers extensive online and in-person catechism (one of the most structured, systematized catechism models in the U.S. parish context), visitor resources, and “First Steps for Inquirers.” The ASONA Catechism, since 2018, is and has been used globally by clergy and parishes all over the world. ASONA is well known as a friendly but robust parish especially good for Protestants or Roman Catholics exploring Orthodoxy.

All Saints of North America Orthodox Church appears to have the most intentionally developed and structured mystagogy, or post-baptism, instructional program in Orthodoxy. What makes it distinctive is that it explicitly treats the first year after baptism as a separate stage of formation. Rather than ending instruction at baptism or chrismation, the parish has created a formal Mystagogy curriculum that includes:

Regular post-baptism classes.

Formation in the interior spiritual life and Orthodox ascetic practice.

Guidance on prayer, watchfulness (nepsis), confession, and participation in the liturgical cycle.

A structured reading plan and ongoing mentoring.

Practical expectations for integrating into parish life during the first year after reception.

This emphasis is actually quite close to the practice of the ancient Church, where the newly baptized received mystagogical instruction after Pascha from bishops such as St. Cyril of Jerusalem and St. Ambrose of Milan, who explained the mysteries only after initiation.

The statewide Orthodox directory even specifically highlights it as the best parish in Arizona for new converts because of its catechetical ministry.

Compared with other Orthodox parishes in the Phoenix area, ASONA’s niche is less about being the oldest or largest parish and more about being intentionally organized around evangelism, catechesis, and lifelong Christian formation. While many parishes offer excellent pastoral care and catechism, ASONA has made these ministries central to its identity.