The Christian Orthodox Church

Tenents of the Orthodox Church
-What We Believe-

CHRISTIAN

Orthodoxy believes in the Incarnation, and believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God, and that Jesus is in fact, God in the flesh. He is the savior of all mankind, unique in all of history, and that only through a personal relationship with Him can we find God.

ORTHODOX

The Greek word Orthodox is derived from two words: Orthros, right or true; and Doxa, praise or worship. This word, true-worship, was coined in ancient times to define the true faith of the Church against heresies. Today, over 250 million faithful all over the world constitute the “One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church’ (from the Nicene Creed). They all pride Orthodoxy as the true faith of the Apostles.

Orthodoxy is often referred to as Eastern or Byzantine, with its historic center in ‘eastern (Greek)’ Constantinople, in contrast to ‘western (Latin)’ Rome. Another term used is Greek Church. The word Greek when used in connection with Orthodoxy has no national aspect. The Greek language, philosophy, and culture served best to bring the message of Christ to the people of the old world. The New Testament was written in the Greek language, and the Christian faith was at that time, mostly a ‘Greek’ faith throughout the world. Even today, Greek language and thought have remained the true interpretation of the Gospel.

SCRIPTURAL

Orthodoxy believes that the bible is the sacred and divinely inspired revelation of God to human history. The Orthodox faith and devotion are firmly rooted in scripture. There is no worship service in the Orthodox Church which does not include bible readings from both the Old and New Testaments.

The source of the New Testament goes beyond the apostolic authorship. Christ Himself is the good teacher, and He is the ‘Word of God’. The teachings of the Church are embodied in the Life of Christ. Jesus himself left no writings of His own. What He gave us was His life, and a lifestyle known simply as, ‘The Way’. He also formed a Church headed by the Apostles, making a new covenant, sealed by His last and most precious gift, the Holy Spirit. The Spirit speaks through the Word, but is alive and active in Christ’s followers; the Church.

TRINITARIAN

The Holy Spirit is God, just as Jesus Christ is God. Both lead us to the Father, the very God of the Old Testament. Yet there is one God. One in essence, yet three persons; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the Holy Trinity. All three are eternal, transcendent, and equal, yet the Father is pre-eminent. Orthodox believe the mystery of the Trinity is beyond the comprehension of finite human understanding.

TRADITIONAL

Early Christians had only limited access to bibles until the invention of the printing press in 1493. The source of their unity and faith in the centuries before bibles were available was the Oral Tradition. Tradition is ‘The Way’ of life, based on Christ’s teachings and sayings, and handed down from the Apostles and their successors. Orthodoxy observes strictly this traditional way of life. Scripture is not open to individual interpretation. It is understood by the Holy Spirit in the Living Tradition of the Church. Scripture compliments and strengthens Tradition, and likewise, Scripture requires the dynamic embodiment of Tradition, where the Spirit thrives.

HOLY

The word Saint in Greek means Holy, and the Church has been blessed throughout the ages with an abundance of Holies. The Saints are shining examples of the Life in Christ and the Power of the Holy Spirit. They perpetuate the ministry of Christ by their lives, prayers, and self-sacrifice.

Jesus taught the Apostles not only by words, but by actions. Christianity is a faith of deeds before words. Spirituality is a state of being, not a proclamation. Jesus Himself said, “He who believes in me will also do the works that I do, and greater works than these will he do...’ The Orthodox faith is rich with saints, sacred traditions, miracles and mystical depth, making Orthodoxy alive and real.

CATHOLIC

The universal unity of the Church is an important element of Christ’s Church. This oneness is known as ‘Catholicity’. The symbol of this unity is the ‘Communion’ of the millions of Orthodox around the world, and their common summary of faith known as the Nicene Creed. This Creed is Christianity’s oldest, and was universal among Christians until the llth century schism between Rome and the East. It is still recited during the Orthodox Divine Liturgy (Eucharist) in its original form, with no deletions or additions.

PENTECOSTAL

The book of Acts records that on the Day of Pentecost; the Apostles were gathered and received the fire of the Holy Spirit. From that time their commission was to spread Christianity through the world with the promise, that the gates of hell would not prevail against the Church.

APOSTOLIC

Orthodoxy enjoys a continued existence from Pentecostal most any common encyclopedia will testify to this. Throughout the centuries, the same teachings, principles, faith, and unity in Christ have remained steadfast. The hierarchy (Bishops) of the Orthodox Church can trace the order of their succession all the way back to Christ and the Apostles, in an unbroken chain known as Apostolic Succession.

MYSTICAL

He is not God of the dead, but of the living; this teaches us that not even death can separate faithful Christians. The Orthodox maintains that the saints are present during worship, and fill their Churches with Icons (images) of various saints as reminders. The entire Church, past and present is mystically united in Christ by the Holy Spirit. Its members are the 2000 year old family of Christ, and the Orthodox lovingly kiss the icons in reverence (not worship) of His Saints, who are depicted in the icons.

Orthodox worship is mystical, uniting both the living and the dead; the spiritual with the physical, through God’s grace. By the Lord’s command do we continue the sacred ordinances of communion, unction, ordination, confession, marriage, chrismation and baptism.

BORN AGAIN

All Orthodox Christians are baptized by total immersion in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This mystical induction to the resurrection is a scriptural command to be born again, and a universal Christian practice.

RESURRECTIONAL

Eternal life in Orthodoxy is revealed in the event of the Resurrection. It is God’s ancient covenant to provide salvation from sin and death, restoring paradise to his followers. Orthodoxy proclaims the resurrection of all life before judgment, and the beginning of a New Time when the Lord returns again.

HISTORICAL

As the Church awaits its future union with Christ, it also can look back on several millennia of growth in the Lord. Orthodoxy is well rooted in history, undisputedly proclaiming its uninterrupted descendance from the Apostolic Church. Its hierarchy is, to this day, centered in the four ancient Christian capitols: Constantinople, Antioch, Alexandria, and Jerusalem.

LITURGICAL

Orthodoxy is a living tradition best expressed in its Liturgical worship. Ancient traditions and deep symbolism dating back to Apostolic and Judaic times unite worldly offerings with Diving Grace. Symbols and ritual are stirring testimony and rich learning aids. With prayers, icons, incense, hymnology, responses, Scripture readings, sermons, and reliving Biblical events, the Church utilizes all the senses as a link to the Spiritual. The whole person; body, mind, and soul, participates in worship as a part of God’s Kingdom.

“...He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6.54). Central to the Liturgical life of the Church is the ‘Eucharist’ (Thanks in Greek) or Communion. The Orthodox believe that it is truly the body and blood of Jesus Christ, and all Baptized Orthodox are required to partake for salvation as commanded. For Orthodox Christians, Jesus Christ is God, He is real, and He is ever-present. His commands are obligatory, and His mercies great. He requires from us love, humility, and faith, as He calls us to a lifestyle of growth in His Divine Love, centered in His eternal Church.

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ALL RIGHTS RESERVED (c)2008 by Most Rev. Ignatius D.Min.