Getting Started
Creating an Account
Visit the registration page and enter your name, email, and password. You will receive a confirmation email. Click the link in the email to verify your account and you will be redirected to the parish setup wizard.
Setting Up Your Parish
After registration, you will walk through a five-step setup wizard:
- Details -- Enter your parish name, jurisdiction, calendar preference (Old or New), and contact information.
- Template -- Choose a catechumen journey template or skip this step to configure it later.
- Import -- Upload a CSV file of your existing members, or skip to add them manually later.
- Team -- Invite other administrators or council members by email.
- Done -- Review your setup and enter the dashboard.
Understanding Your Trial
Every new parish receives a 14-day free trial with access to all features across every tier. No credit card is required to start. Before the trial expires, you will need to select a plan and enter payment information in Settings > Billing. If the trial expires without a plan selected, your dashboard will be locked until you subscribe, but your data will be preserved.
Plans & Billing
Mission -- $99/month
Designed for small parishes and mission communities. Includes:
- Member directory (up to 75 members)
- 1 admin seat
- Liturgical calendar with Old/New Calendar support
- Daily Scripture readings (28 translations)
- General parish chat
- Prayer requests
- Announcements
- Ministry groups with auto-created group chats
- Events with RSVPs
- Service scheduling with volunteer coordination
- Catechumen tracking and QR code onboarding
- Online donations via Stripe Connect
Parish -- $299/month
Everything in Mission, plus:
- Up to 250 members
- 3 admin seats
- Direct messages between members
- Service journal with annual report generation
- Sacramental records (baptisms, weddings, funerals)
- Weekly newsletter
- Parish council tools
Parish Plus -- $399/month
Everything in Parish, plus:
- Up to 500 members
- 5 admin seats
- Stewardship module (pledges, payments, fund tracking)
- Appointment scheduling
- Advanced communications tools
Unlimited -- $599/month
Everything in Parish Plus, plus:
- Unlimited members
- 10 admin seats
- Priority support
- All current and future features included
Upgrading & Downgrading
Go to Settings > Billing to change your plan at any time. Upgrades take effect immediately and you will be charged a prorated amount for the remainder of your billing cycle. Downgrades take effect at the end of the current billing period. If your member or admin count exceeds the limits of the new plan, you will need to reduce them before the downgrade can complete.
Member & Admin Limits
Member limits are soft limits. You will receive a notification when approaching the cap, but existing members will not be removed. Admin limits are hard limits. You cannot add more admin accounts than your plan allows. To add another admin, either upgrade your plan or remove an existing admin from Settings > Accounts.
Member Directory
Adding Members
From the Directory page, click "Add Member" to create a new entry. Enter the member's name, email, phone number, and any other details. New members are added with a status of Inactive until they are invited and accept their invitation.
Importing via CSV
You can bulk-import members during setup or from Settings. Prepare a CSV file with the following columns:
Only first_name and last_name are required. All other columns are optional. The import will skip rows with missing names and report any errors after processing.
Member Statuses
Every member moves through three statuses:
- Inactive -- The member exists in the directory but has not been invited or has not yet created an account.
- Pending -- An invitation email has been sent but the member has not yet signed in.
- Active -- The member has signed in and has full access to the parish dashboard.
Inviting Members
To invite a single member, open their profile and click "Send Invite." The member will receive an email with a link to create their account. To invite all uninvited members at once, use the "Invite All" button on the Directory page. This sends invitations to every member with an email address who has not yet been invited.
Roles
Vigil uses four roles with ascending access levels:
- Parishioner -- Can view the directory, calendar, readings, messages, events, prayer requests, and announcements. Can RSVP to events and volunteer for services.
- Council -- Everything a parishioner can do, plus access to council meeting tools, communications, and parish reports.
- Clergy -- Everything council can do, plus access to sacramental records, catechumen management with priest-only sections, and the service journal.
- Admin -- Full access to all features, including settings, billing, member management, imports, and account administration.
Catechumen Management
Catechumen Template
The catechumen template defines the structure of every catechumen's journey. Set it up from the Catechumens page by clicking "Edit Template." You can define milestones (major steps like "First Confession" or "Baptism"), sections for tracking progress, and curriculum items. Each new catechumen automatically inherits the current template.
Section Types
Each section in the catechumen template can be one of three types:
- Text -- A free-form text area for notes, reflections, or instructions.
- Checklist -- A list of items that can be individually checked off as completed (for example, assigned readings or classes attended).
- Log -- A dated entry log for recording meetings, conversations, or pastoral notes over time.
Section Visibility
Each section has a visibility setting that controls who can see it:
- Priest Only -- Visible only to clergy and admins. Use this for pastoral notes and private observations.
- Shared -- Visible to clergy, admins, and the catechumen (read-only for the catechumen).
- Catechumen Editable -- Visible to all parties, and the catechumen can edit the content. Useful for journals, reflections, or question lists.
My Journey Page
Catechumens who sign in to Vigil see a "My Journey" page in their sidebar. This page shows their current stage, completed and upcoming milestones, and any sections marked as Shared or Catechumen Editable. They do not see Priest Only sections. This gives catechumens a clear view of their progress without exposing private pastoral notes.
Stages
Catechumens progress through four stages:
- Inquirer -- Someone exploring Orthodoxy. They may have come through the QR code form or been added manually.
- Catechumen -- Formally enrolled in catechesis under the guidance of the parish priest.
- Photizomenoi -- "Those being illumined." The final preparation stage before reception into the Church.
- Received -- Received into the Orthodox Church through baptism, chrismation, or profession of faith.
QR Code Onboarding
How It Works
Vigil generates a unique QR code for your parish. Print it and place it in your narthex, fellowship hall, or on printed materials. When someone scans the code with their phone, they are taken to a short form where they identify themselves and provide contact information.
Three Paths
After scanning, visitors choose one of three paths:
- Current Member -- They are matched to an existing directory entry (by email) and can request an account invitation.
- Interested in Orthodoxy -- They are added to the Inquirers list. Admins receive a notification and can follow up.
- Catechumen -- They are added directly to the catechumen tracking system at the Inquirer stage.
Where to Find the QR Code
Your parish QR code is available in three places: the Directory page (for quick access), the Inquirers page, and Settings > Parish. You can download it as a PNG or print it directly from any of these locations.
Messaging
General Chat
Every parish has a general chat channel that all active members can see. This is the main community communication channel, available on all plans. Messages are delivered in real time.
Group Chats
When you create a ministry group, Vigil automatically creates a group chat for its members. Group members are added to the chat automatically when they join the group and removed when they leave. These chats appear in the Messages section alongside the general chat.
Direct Messages
Direct messaging is available on the Parish tier and above. Members can start a private conversation with any other active member from the Messages page. Direct messages are visible only to the two participants.
Deleting & Hiding
You can delete your own messages at any time. Admins can delete any message. You can also hide a conversation to remove it from your sidebar without leaving the group. Hidden conversations reappear when a new message is sent in them.
Calendar & Readings
Liturgical Calendar
The calendar displays the full Orthodox liturgical year, including feast days, fasting periods, and saints' commemorations. Your parish's calendar preference (Old Calendar or New Calendar) is set during setup and can be changed in Settings > Parish. Click any day to see details, readings, and any scheduled services.
Daily Readings
Vigil provides the daily Epistle and Gospel readings in 28 translations, including English, Greek, Church Slavonic, Arabic, Romanian, Serbian, and Georgian. Select your preferred translation from the dropdown and it will be remembered for future visits.
Feast Days
Great feasts, parish patron feast days, and major commemorations are highlighted on the calendar and appear on the dashboard. The calendar accounts for the Paschal cycle and correctly calculates moveable feasts each year.
Scheduling
Creating Services
From the Scheduling page, click "Add Service" to create a new entry. Set the service type (Divine Liturgy, Vespers, Orthros, Paraklesis, etc.), date, time, and any notes. Services appear on the parish calendar and on the dashboard for all members.
Assigning Volunteers
Each service can have roles that need to be filled: readers, chanters, altar servers, greeters, and any custom roles your parish defines. Assign members to roles when creating or editing a service. You can also let members volunteer themselves for open roles.
Notifications & Confirmation
When you assign a volunteer, they receive an email notification with the service details and a one-click confirmation link. Volunteers can confirm or decline directly from the email without logging in. Their response is recorded and visible to admins on the service detail page.
Google Calendar Integration
Members can connect their Google Calendar from their personal settings. Once connected, services they are assigned to are automatically added to their Google Calendar. This integration uses only the minimum required permissions (FreeBusy and event creation) and can be disconnected at any time.
Events
Creating Events
Admins and council members can create events from the Events page. Enter the event name, date, time, location, and description. Events appear on the calendar and on the dashboard for all members.
RSVPs
Members can respond to events with Going, Maybe, or Can't Go. The event detail page shows a real-time count of responses and the full list of who has responded with each status. Members can change their RSVP at any time before the event.
Volunteer Coordination
Events can include volunteer roles (setup, cleanup, food preparation, etc.). Members can volunteer themselves directly from the event page. Admins can also assign volunteers manually.
Prayer Requests
Request Types
Prayer requests are categorized by type: Health, Repose, Travel, Thanksgiving, and General. Each type is displayed with its own indicator so the community can pray appropriately. Any active member can submit a prayer request.
Auto-Archive
Prayer requests are automatically archived after 40 days, following the traditional Orthodox commemoration period. This keeps the active prayer list current without requiring manual cleanup.
Archiving & Restoring
Admins can manually archive a request at any time. Archived requests are not deleted and can be viewed by toggling "Show Archived" on the Prayer Requests page. Any archived request can be restored to the active list if continued prayer is needed.
Announcements
Creating Announcements
Admins and council members can create announcements that appear on every member's dashboard. Enter a title and body text. Announcements are displayed in reverse chronological order, with the newest at the top.
Managing Announcements
Pin important announcements to keep them at the top of the list regardless of date. Edit or delete announcements at any time. Old announcements can be left in place as an archive or removed when they are no longer relevant.
Ministry Groups
Creating Groups
Create ministry groups from the Groups page. Enter a name and description, then add members. Groups can represent any parish ministry or committee: choir, altar servers, youth group, building committee, etc.
Auto-Created Chats
Every ministry group automatically gets a group chat in the Messages section. When a member is added to the group, they are added to the chat. When a member is removed, they are removed from the chat. This keeps communication channels aligned with group membership without any manual setup.
Donations
Stripe Connect Setup
Vigil uses Stripe Connect so donations go directly to your parish's bank account. Go to Settings > Billing and click "Connect Stripe Account." You will be guided through Stripe's onboarding process to verify your parish's identity and bank details. Once connected, your donation page is automatically activated.
Parish Donation Page
Each parish gets a public donation page that anyone can access, even without a Vigil account. Donors can make one-time contributions and optionally cover the processing fee. Receipts are sent automatically via email.
Donation QR Code
A separate QR code links directly to your parish's donation page. Print it for use during stewardship campaigns, in the parish bulletin, or in the narthex. This is a different code from the onboarding QR code.
Service Journal
Available on Parish tier and above
Logging Services
After each service, record the details: attendance, number of communions, confessions heard, offerings collected, clergy who served, readings, and any notes. This creates a permanent record of your parish's liturgical life for diocese reporting and internal records.
Annual Report
Generate an annual report with one click. The report summarizes total services, attendance trends, sacraments administered, and other key statistics for the year. Export the report as a CSV for your diocese or parish council.
Sacramental Records
Available on Parish tier and above
Baptisms
Record baptisms with the date, officiating priest, sponsor (godparent), baptismal name, and any additional notes. Baptism records are linked to the member's profile for easy reference.
Weddings
Record weddings with the date, officiating priest, sponsor (koumbaro/koumbara), and the names of both spouses. Wedding records include all fields required for standard diocese reporting.
Funerals
Record funerals with the date, officiating priest, place of burial, and any memorial details. Funeral records are linked to the deceased member's profile.
Stewardship
Available on Parish Plus tier and above
Pledges & Payments
Track annual stewardship pledges for each member or family. Record payments against pledges and view fulfillment progress. Members can see their own pledge status from their dashboard. Admins can view a summary of all pledges and payment progress across the parish.
Fund Tracking
Create named funds (building fund, general operating, missions, etc.) and track donations and pledges against each fund separately. View totals and progress toward goals for each fund.
Settings
Personal Settings
Update your display name, email notification preferences, and privacy settings. You can choose whether your contact information (phone, email, address) is visible to other members in the directory.
Parish Settings
Admins can update the parish name, jurisdiction, calendar preference (Old/New Calendar), contact email, phone, and physical address. These details appear on the donation page and in member communications.
Accounts Management
From Settings > Accounts, admins can add or remove other admins and council members. Each user's role determines their access level throughout the application. Remember that admin seats are limited by your plan.
Billing & Plan Management
View your current plan, usage statistics, and billing history in Settings > Billing. From here you can upgrade or downgrade your plan, update your payment method, connect your Stripe account for donations, and download invoices. All billing is handled securely through Stripe.