GOD, CHRIST, AND ETERNAL LIFE:
The Orthodox Faith is founded upon the teachings of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and its basic beliefs are encapsulated in the Nicene Creed. Orthodox Christians believe in the Trinity; that is, God existing as Three Persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – and yet as One God. The Persons of the Trinity share the same essence and relate to each other in love.
God created the Heavens and the Earth, including man in His own Image. He created the physical world for us to use in worshiping Him and to offer back to Him in thanks. God has made His attributes known to us through His Creation and special revelation. He is eternal, holy, all-powerful, omnipresent, and loving.
The Son was incarnate on earth by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary as Jesus Christ. As Christ, He lived on earth and experienced suffering and temptation as all human beings do. He spent many years teaching and healing people and gathered to Himself many followers, including Twelve Apostles who were especially close to Him. Finally, he experienced death, being crucified on the cross, and after three days, he rose from the dead. By his life, death, and resurrection, He organically connected humanity to God and made it possible for us to experience Eternal Life.
The Holy Spirit permeates all of Creation but was bestowed in a special way as Guide and Comforter to the Apostles after Christ departed physically from the earth. This descent of the Holy Spirit marked the birth of the Christian Church. In a similar fashion, the Holy Spirit is bestowed when one is Baptized (immersed in water) and Chrismated (anointed with Holy Oil) into the Body of Christ, the Church.
Orthodox Christians look forward to the Second Coming of Christ, the Resurrection of the physical body, and Everlasting Life with God. The ultimate goal of Orthodox Christianity is theosis, or union with Christ.
HOLY TRADITION AND THE BIBLE:
The source of authority for the Orthodox Christian Faith is Holy Tradition, of which the most important part is Holy Scripture (the New and the Old Testaments).
WORSHIP AND THE DIVINE LITURGY:
Worship is central to the practice of the Orthodox Faith. The central worship service of the Church is The Divine Liturgy, which is celebrated every Sunday morning and on major feast days. Most commonly used is The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom. The Divine Liturgy is divided into two parts:
The Liturgy of the Word – prayers, hymns, the Little Entrance (entrance with the Book of the Gospels), the Trisagion (or “Thrice Holy”) Hymn – ‘Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us’, the reading of the Epistle and the Gospel, and the sermon;
The Liturgy of the Sacrament – the Great Entrance (entrance with the Elements of the Eucharist), prayers, the kiss of peace, the confession of faith (Nicene Creed), the Eucharistic prayer, which includes the ‘Calling Down’ of the Holy Spirit on the Eucharist elements (epiclesis), the Communion, the Thanksgiving, and the final blessing.
The Orthodox pattern of services also includes Matins and Vespers along with six “lesser hours” and services for special occasions like Baptism, Marriage, and Burial of the Dead.
THE SACRAMENTS:
Orthodox Christianity views every act in life as sacramental. However, seven Sacraments hold a special place in the Life of the Church. These are visible means by which the invisible Grace of the Holy Spirit is imparted to us. They are as follows:
MARY AND THE SAINTS:
Orthodox Christians venerate Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and all of the Saints, including Apostles, Martyrs, and other Orthodox Christians who lived particularly holy lives. It is believed that Mary and the other Saints surround us, praying for and with us, as the “cloud of witnesses” mentioned in the Book of Hebrews. The Virgin Mary holds a special place in Orthodoxy Christianity because God the Father chose her to be the Mother of His Son. Mary is often called “Mother of God” (or Theotokos) a title that points to the divinity of her Son. She is also known as the “New Eve”, since her obedience to the will of God overcame Eve’s disobedience in the Garden of Eden.
CHURCH CALENDAR AND FEASTS OF THE CHURCH:
The Orthodox church year begins on September 1st. The church venerates at least one saint or sacred event in the life of the Church every day of the year. Among these are thirteen major feasts. Pascha (Easter), which is the celebration of the Resurrection of Christ from the dead, is the most important feast of the Church, and the week before Pascha, Holy Week, is observed with daily services. The other twelve major feasts of Orthodoxy are as follows:
ICONS, CANDLES, AND INCENSE:
Icons are stylized pictures of Christ, Mary, the Saints, and events associated with the Life of Christ. They are venerated by the Orthodox like “photographs” of people they love. Icons give Orthodox Christians a vision of the spiritual world. Icon painters, although preferably artistically gifted, must work within prescribed rules when creating icons.
Icons exist for all of the major feasts of the church. Icons of Christ and of Mary and her Child are especially beloved by Orthodox Christians. The icon known as “The Hospitality of Abraham”, depicting the Patriarch Abraham’s visitation by three angelic beings, is the Orthodox iconic representation of The Trinity. Another important icon is “Mystical Supper”, a representation of the Eucharist as first instituted by Christ.
A visitor to an Orthodox Christian church will notice the use of candles and incense. Candles represent the Light of Christ, and incense is a physical representation of prayer and is used to honor God. The visitor will also see Orthodox Christians frequently making the “sign of the cross”, which marks them as followers of Jesus.
ORGANIZATION OF THE CHURCH:
The Orthodox Church is a family of self-governing churches that are in full agreement with each other on matters of doctrine and are in full sacramental communion. These self-governing churches include the ancient Patriarchates of Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem, 11 autocephalous churches, and a few autonomous churches (self-governing but not fully independent).
The Orthodox Church is hierarchical in structure and insists on the Apostolic Succession of bishops. There are three major orders – bishop, priest, and deacon – and two minor orders – subdeacon and reader. Only a bishop has the power to ordain. Priests are either ‘white’ (married) or ‘black’ (monastic). Married clergy must be married before ordination. Bishops are drawn from monastic or widowed clergy.
The Orthodox Faith is founded upon the teachings of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and its basic beliefs are encapsulated in the Nicene Creed. Orthodox Christians believe in the Trinity; that is, God existing as Three Persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – and yet as One God. The Persons of the Trinity share the same essence and relate to each other in love.
God created the Heavens and the Earth, including man in His own Image. He created the physical world for us to use in worshiping Him and to offer back to Him in thanks. God has made His attributes known to us through His Creation and special revelation. He is eternal, holy, all-powerful, omnipresent, and loving.
The Son was incarnate on earth by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary as Jesus Christ. As Christ, He lived on earth and experienced suffering and temptation as all human beings do. He spent many years teaching and healing people and gathered to Himself many followers, including Twelve Apostles who were especially close to Him. Finally, he experienced death, being crucified on the cross, and after three days, he rose from the dead. By his life, death, and resurrection, He organically connected humanity to God and made it possible for us to experience Eternal Life.
The Holy Spirit permeates all of Creation but was bestowed in a special way as Guide and Comforter to the Apostles after Christ departed physically from the earth. This descent of the Holy Spirit marked the birth of the Christian Church. In a similar fashion, the Holy Spirit is bestowed when one is Baptized (immersed in water) and Chrismated (anointed with Holy Oil) into the Body of Christ, the Church.
Orthodox Christians look forward to the Second Coming of Christ, the Resurrection of the physical body, and Everlasting Life with God. The ultimate goal of Orthodox Christianity is theosis, or union with Christ.
HOLY TRADITION AND THE BIBLE:
The source of authority for the Orthodox Christian Faith is Holy Tradition, of which the most important part is Holy Scripture (the New and the Old Testaments).
- The Old Testament contains pre-history and traditions leading up to the life of Christ, much of which prefigures His life and work.
- The New Testament reveals the human and divine nature of Jesus Christ and His sacred teachings, which we are charged to follow.
- Holy Tradition includes: Scripture; the writings, teachings, and acts of the apostles, saints, martyrs, and fathers of the Church; the Church’s liturgical and sacramental traditions throughout the ages; the oral tradition of the early Church; and the decisions of the Seven Ecumenical Councils.
WORSHIP AND THE DIVINE LITURGY:
Worship is central to the practice of the Orthodox Faith. The central worship service of the Church is The Divine Liturgy, which is celebrated every Sunday morning and on major feast days. Most commonly used is The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom. The Divine Liturgy is divided into two parts:
The Liturgy of the Word – prayers, hymns, the Little Entrance (entrance with the Book of the Gospels), the Trisagion (or “Thrice Holy”) Hymn – ‘Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us’, the reading of the Epistle and the Gospel, and the sermon;
The Liturgy of the Sacrament – the Great Entrance (entrance with the Elements of the Eucharist), prayers, the kiss of peace, the confession of faith (Nicene Creed), the Eucharistic prayer, which includes the ‘Calling Down’ of the Holy Spirit on the Eucharist elements (epiclesis), the Communion, the Thanksgiving, and the final blessing.
The Orthodox pattern of services also includes Matins and Vespers along with six “lesser hours” and services for special occasions like Baptism, Marriage, and Burial of the Dead.
THE SACRAMENTS:
Orthodox Christianity views every act in life as sacramental. However, seven Sacraments hold a special place in the Life of the Church. These are visible means by which the invisible Grace of the Holy Spirit is imparted to us. They are as follows:
- Baptism – immersion in water to wash away sins and be reborn in Christ, which joins one to Christ’s Church;
- Chrismation – anointing with holy oil to bestow the gift of the Holy Spirit, performed once after Baptism;
- Eucharist (Lord’s Supper) – partaking of bread and wine turned into the Body and Blood of Christ by the Power of the Holy Spirit;
- Confession – confessing sins to an Orthodox priest and receiving forgiveness from Christ;
- Holy Unction – anointing with Holy Oil for physical, emotional, and spiritual healing;
- Holy Matrimony – union of a man and a woman into marriage, representing the union of Christ and His Church;
- Ordination (Holy Orders) – initiation of a man into the Orthodox priesthood.
MARY AND THE SAINTS:
Orthodox Christians venerate Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and all of the Saints, including Apostles, Martyrs, and other Orthodox Christians who lived particularly holy lives. It is believed that Mary and the other Saints surround us, praying for and with us, as the “cloud of witnesses” mentioned in the Book of Hebrews. The Virgin Mary holds a special place in Orthodoxy Christianity because God the Father chose her to be the Mother of His Son. Mary is often called “Mother of God” (or Theotokos) a title that points to the divinity of her Son. She is also known as the “New Eve”, since her obedience to the will of God overcame Eve’s disobedience in the Garden of Eden.
CHURCH CALENDAR AND FEASTS OF THE CHURCH:
The Orthodox church year begins on September 1st. The church venerates at least one saint or sacred event in the life of the Church every day of the year. Among these are thirteen major feasts. Pascha (Easter), which is the celebration of the Resurrection of Christ from the dead, is the most important feast of the Church, and the week before Pascha, Holy Week, is observed with daily services. The other twelve major feasts of Orthodoxy are as follows:
- The Nativity of Mary – September 8th
- The Exaltation of the Holy Cross – September 14th
- The Presentation of Mary in the Temple – November 21st
- The Nativity of Christ – December 25th
- Theophany (Baptism of Christ) – January 6th
- The Presentation of Christ in the Temple – February 2nd
- The Annunciation of the Birth of Christ to the Virgin Mary – March 25th
- Palm Sunday – One week before Pascha
- The Ascension of Christ – 39 days after Pascha
- Pentecost – 49 days after Pascha
- The Transfiguration of Christ – August 6th
- The Dormition (Falling Asleep) of Mary – August 15th
- The Lenten Fast – Monday, seven weeks prior to Easter, through Holy Saturday
- The Fast of the Apostles – Monday, the eighth day after Pentecost, through June 28th
- The Dormition Fast – August 1st through August 14th
- The Christmas Fast – November 15th – December 24th
ICONS, CANDLES, AND INCENSE:
Icons are stylized pictures of Christ, Mary, the Saints, and events associated with the Life of Christ. They are venerated by the Orthodox like “photographs” of people they love. Icons give Orthodox Christians a vision of the spiritual world. Icon painters, although preferably artistically gifted, must work within prescribed rules when creating icons.
Icons exist for all of the major feasts of the church. Icons of Christ and of Mary and her Child are especially beloved by Orthodox Christians. The icon known as “The Hospitality of Abraham”, depicting the Patriarch Abraham’s visitation by three angelic beings, is the Orthodox iconic representation of The Trinity. Another important icon is “Mystical Supper”, a representation of the Eucharist as first instituted by Christ.
A visitor to an Orthodox Christian church will notice the use of candles and incense. Candles represent the Light of Christ, and incense is a physical representation of prayer and is used to honor God. The visitor will also see Orthodox Christians frequently making the “sign of the cross”, which marks them as followers of Jesus.
ORGANIZATION OF THE CHURCH:
The Orthodox Church is a family of self-governing churches that are in full agreement with each other on matters of doctrine and are in full sacramental communion. These self-governing churches include the ancient Patriarchates of Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem, 11 autocephalous churches, and a few autonomous churches (self-governing but not fully independent).
The Orthodox Church is hierarchical in structure and insists on the Apostolic Succession of bishops. There are three major orders – bishop, priest, and deacon – and two minor orders – subdeacon and reader. Only a bishop has the power to ordain. Priests are either ‘white’ (married) or ‘black’ (monastic). Married clergy must be married before ordination. Bishops are drawn from monastic or widowed clergy.
