the universal and unbroken faith of the Apostles.
Orthodox Christianity
The Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church begins with Jesus Christ and for over two millennia has continued the unbroken tradition of belief and practice that He gave to the Apostles. The word “Orthodox” means “right belief” or “right worship” and does not refer to a mere institution. Rather, it describes the way that the Holy Spirit has guarded and handed down the revelation of Jesus Christ in a united and unbroken communion of disciples.
The Orthodox Church is a universal Church, existing throughout the world and found in fullness in each local expression. It is not tied to a particular country or language. Wherever the Church is present, it acts as a living witness to the Gospel in a way that both reflects and speaks to its local context and remains faithful to the historically consistent guidance of the Holy Spirit.
The witness of the Orthodox Church is that the unbroken and inspired revelation of Jesus Christ made present throughout history by the Holy Spirit serves to transform human beings into divine likeness of God, leading us to the Kingdom of Heaven and eternal life.
The Orthodox Faith
Everything Orthodox Christians do and believe is rooted in the person and work of Jesus Christ – His incarnation, teaching, passion, resurrection on the third day, ascension, and glorious second coming.
We follow the historic teachings about Christ, especially in the creeds and statements taught by the holy ecumenical councils wherein the Church gathered as one and spoke with one voice. These teachings affirm and preach that Jesus is fully human and fully divine, the Son of God in the flesh and the divine Logos (Word) which existed before time (Jn 1.1-3).
We believe that this Logos has made Himself known throughout history, both before and after His incarnation, through the prophets and saints. We believe that the Bible is the sacred and divinely inspired record of God’s revelation to man and that this revelation is preserved, passed down, and guarded without error in the Holy Tradition of the Church (2 Thess 2.13-15; Jn 16.13; Matt 16.18).
Christ is the head of the Church (1 Col 8.18; Eph 5.22) and founded the Church to be a united Body under His headship through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles at Pentecost (Acts 2). This Apostolic witness continues in the apostolic succession of faithful Orthodox Christian bishops throughout the world. While the clergy are responsible for guardian and preserving the teachings and way of life revealed to us by God, they do not possess greater access to God than the rest of the faithful. The Holy Spirit dwells in the entire Church and the heart of every Orthodox Christian (Jn 14.23). In this way, the Holy Spirit remains alive and active, guiding and transfiguring the entire Church by making each member holy and set apart (1 Peter 2.9).
The Orthodox Way
Every person in the world is invited into the eternal Kingdom of the Lord. The Church is the living presence of that Kingdom in this world and calls people from all backgrounds, ethnicities, and walks of life into its warm embrace.
Entering into the Church is not about subscribing to the beliefs described above, however. Rather, becoming an Orthodox Christian is about entering into a transformative way of life.
It takes time to “become” Orthodox, not just because it may take some months to be initiated into the Church’s mysterical (sacramental) life, but because conforming our whole life and mind to Christ is neither easy nor straightforward. We must grapple with our passions, distance ourselves from sinful habits, and face past traumas.
To do so, we turn to the healing power of Christ, Whose Body (the Church) acts as a hospital. This hospital not only bears our burdens, heals our infirmities, and cleanses us from our sins. It also teaches us how to live in a new and life giving way that manifests the love of God in our hearts and the whole world.
These are some of the practices that those who enter into the Orthodox Church begin to make the pillars of their day to day life:
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Learning to love God above all else by praying and worshiping in an Orthodox manner, both in the holy temple and at home
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Entrusting our lives to God by allowing him to transform and transfigure us through the Mystical life of the Church, both its sacraments and divine services
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Filling our minds with holy thoughts and aims by attending to the Holy Scriptures and the lives of the saints
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Engaging in on-going self-reflection, repentance, and Confession, practicing obedience through a relationship with a father confessor who guides us spiritually
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Strengthening our will and regaining control of our spiritual and physical desires by observing the fast days and seasons of the Church
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Learning to love our neighbor, especially our enemies, by laying our life down for them in accordance with Christ’s example and commandments
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Offering our time, talent, and treasure in ways that reflect Christ’s own self-offering on the Cross
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