Contacting the priest can still be helpful when your situation needs pastoral attention, when you are anxious about entering, or when you want to begin a serious conversation about becoming Orthodox.
When contact helps
Send a message if you are bringing a group, need accessibility help, have a question about where to go, or want to know whether a certain service is the best one to attend. Contact is especially wise for questions about Communion, confession, baptism, marriage, conversion, trauma, or family complications.
Those topics are not handled well by guessing in the moment. They need care, context, and priestly guidance.
What to say
A simple message is enough: “I am interested in visiting the Divine Liturgy for the first time. Is there anything I should know, and may I introduce myself afterward?”
That gives Abouna enough information without turning the visit into an appointment. If you do not receive a reply in time, still come. After the service, introduce yourself briefly and ask when a longer conversation would be appropriate.
The first visit can remain simple: come, pray with attention, and let a more serious conversation happen at the right time.