About the Orthodox Faith
About the Orthodox Faith
If you are new to Orthodoxy, welcome! The Orthodox Church may be unfamiliar to many Americans, but it is actually the oldest Christian Church in the world. We are glad you are here to learn more.
What is the Orthodox Church?
The Orthodox Church is the original Christian Church, founded by Jesus Christ and His Apostles at Pentecost nearly 2,000 years ago. From Jerusalem, the Apostles carried the Gospel throughout the world, establishing churches in Antioch, Constantinople, Alexandria, Rome, and beyond.
For over twenty centuries, the Orthodox Church has preserved the fullness of the Christian faith without addition or subtraction. The same prayers, hymns, and teachings handed down from the Apostles continue in our parishes today. When you walk into an Orthodox church, you are stepping into a living connection with the earliest Christians.
What We Believe
Orthodox Christians hold the faith expressed in the Nicene Creed, professed at every Divine Liturgy (our main Sunday worship). We believe in:
- The Holy Trinity - one God in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
- Jesus Christ - fully God and fully human, who suffered, died, and rose again for our salvation
- The Church - the Body of Christ, guided by the Holy Spirit through the centuries
- Scripture and Holy Tradition - the Bible as understood and lived by the Church from the beginning
- Salvation as healing - God desires to restore every person to communion with Him
The Holy Mysteries
The Orthodox Church celebrates seven Holy Mysteries (often called Sacraments in the West). These are not merely symbolic. They are real encounters with the living God - moments where heaven touches earth. They include Baptism, Chrismation, the Holy Eucharist, Confession, Marriage, Holy Unction, and Ordination.
Icons and Worship
Walking into an Orthodox church, you will notice icons everywhere. Icons are not decorations. They are windows into heaven - prayerful images of Christ, the Theotokos (the Mother of God), and the saints who remind us that we worship alongside the whole company of heaven.
Orthodox worship engages the whole person: we see icons and candlelight, hear ancient chant, smell incense, taste the Holy Eucharist, and make the Sign of the Cross. Every sense is drawn toward God.
How Does Orthodoxy Relate to Other Christians?
The Orthodox Church shares much with other Christians - love for Christ, reverence for Scripture, and commitment to following His commandments. The Orthodox Church was united with the Roman Catholic Church for the first thousand years of Christianity before the Great Schism of 1054. Protestant churches emerged later, in the 1500s. While we have meaningful differences in theology and worship, we respect all who seek Christ sincerely.
Why Orthodoxy?
Many people today are drawn to Orthodoxy because it offers something they have been searching for: roots. In a world of constant change, the Orthodox Church stands as an anchor - the same faith, the same worship, the same Christ, from the Apostles until now.
You do not need to have all the answers before you visit. The ancient invitation of Christ still echoes through our doors: Come and see.
If you have questions about the Orthodox faith, please reach out to our parish priest, Fr. Stephen Siniari, at 727-503-5207. He would be happy to talk with you.