What Orthodox Christians Believe
The Father is God, the Source, Cause, and Origin of all things. As the head of the Holy Trinity, God the Father exists before all things, eternally begetting the Son and sending forth the Holy Spirit.
God the Father is the transcendent Creator of all things visible and invisible, whom believers come to know and encounter through Jesus Christ. Orthodox Christians believe that God is a god of love, sending His son, Jesus Christ to redeem the world.Orthodox Christians do not believe in a god of vengeance to be assuaged of his anger, this is a false teaching rejected throughout Christian history.
Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, fully divine and fully human, existing with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit from all time.
He became incarnate of the Virgin Mary to redeem and restore humanity to full communion with God through his voluntary death on the cross and resurrection from the dead.
These life-saving acts are experssions of God's love and mercy for his creation. Reconciling creation to God the Father, Jesus Christ established the Orthodox Church and sent the apostles and all Christians to preach the Good News of salvation to the ends of the earth.
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Holy Trinity, who eternally proceeds from the Father and rests in the Son, sent into the world as the Lord and Giver of Life.
God the Holy Spirit enlivens, guides, and sanctifies both the individual believer and the Church, making Christ present in its Sacraments.
The Holy Spirit has existed before creation, and like the Son of God, is known to us through His relationship to God the Father. He inspired and prophets and saints to speak God's word and guides the work of the Church in today's world.
Orthodox Christians believe in one God in three distinct, co-equal, and co-eternal Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
The Divine Reality or as affirmed in Orthodox Tradition called the Godhead, is the Holy Trinity.
They share one divine essence without blending together or dividing the Godhead, a mystery at the absolute center of Orthodox theology.
The mystery of the Holy Trinity reveals to us the love of God: expressed between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It is in this love, that God creates the world and humanity.
Orthodox Christians believe that Scripture and the Bible are the inspired Word of God. The message of both the Old and New Testaments reveals the relationship of humanity with God, through the lens of the person of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
This relationship is grounded in God's love which is the source of all life, and Scripture reveals this love in creation, the Law, the Prophets, the Psalms, and the incarnation of Jesus Christ.
Scripture is understood as the product of and foremost authority within Holy Tradition, and is not understood apart from it. Scripture is understood, interpreted, and expressed through the experience of the Church.
Scripture is not a historical treatise but texts inspired and guided by the Holy Spirit to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ.
The Orthodox Church rejects the concept of sola scriptura since the Bible was assembled and affirmed through the concensus of the Church and seen as equal to Holy Tradition and experienced most fully in the life of the Church.
The Eucharist is the mystical and literal Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
The Eucharist, or Communion, is not a symbol or metaphor, but a bloodless sacrifice in which the Church offers to God bread and wine during the celebration of the Divine Liturgy.
God, in hearing our unworthy prayers and offering, responds, mystically sending down the Holy Spirit to make the Holy Gifts into the life-saving Body and Blood of Christ, for the spiritual nourishment, forgiveness of sins, and salvation, restoring our communion to God.
Orthodox Christians refuse to explain exactly what happens in the sacred moment of the Liturgy. We know what happens, and that it occurs through the actions of the Holy Spirit. We believe this, since Jesus Christ promised and directed us to "do this in remembrance" of His selfless and voluntary sacrifice for our sake.
We receive the Eucharist is faith, and hope in God, that through our reception of It, we may live in the Light of God. It is for this reason, that the Eucharist is only given to Orthodox Christians in good standing, since participating in the Eucharist unites the individual to the Body of Christ.
Orthodox Christians prepare to receive the Eucharist with prayer and fasting (from at least midnight the night before the Liturgy), and regular reception of the Sacrament of Confession, at least four times a year (during each of the four major fasting seasons).
The Virgin Mary is revered by Orthodox Christians as the Theotokos (Mother of God) because she gave birth to the incarnate Son of God: Jesus Christ. The Virgin Mary is not referred to as the "God Bearer" because that description is not accurate and lacks the articulation that Mary is the Mother of Jesus.
While fully human and saved by Christ, she is honored as the greatest of all saints who is ever-virgin and revered as sinless, because she refused to sin in her life, focusing solely on Jesus Christ.
In this way, Mary is the foremost example for Christians of how to live a Christ-centered life. Standing before the Throne of God, she is our spiritual mother, and is a faithful intercessor for all of humanity.
Saints are the holy women and men who have been revealed to us by God as being living examples of the Christian faith.
Orthodox Christians do not worship saints, but profess that they are alive in Christ. Just as we ask those around us here on earth to pray for us, we call to the saints asking for their prayers, believing they stand in the presence of God as worthy intercessors for us.
The saints serve as examples and inspiration in our daily lives, reminding us of the calling we all have to be godly and center our lives on Jesus Christ, so that we too might one day stand before God and hear the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord."
Orthodox Christians are called to live godly lives, preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ through their words, deeds, and actions.
For most Orthodox Christians, this means having a daily prayer rule in the morning and evening, and before meals. It also means participating in the divine services and liturgical life of the Church on a regular basis, especially the Divine Liturgy on Sundays.
The sacramental life of the Church plays an important part in the lives of Orthodox Christians who receive the sacrament of Confession at least once during each of the four fasting seasons of the year.
Orthodox Christians fast on Wednesday and Fridays in remembrance of the betrayal and crucifixion of our Lord. The reading of scripture is encouraged, along with chartiable acts of service and financially supporting programs that help those less fortunate.
Prayer is a daily practice of Orthodox Christians, the means of communicating with God, offering prayer and praise, thanksgiving, and petitions of intercession for both the living and departed.
Prayer is also the means of repentance and confessing sins to God both privately and in the sacrament of confession.
Personal prayer consists of daily prayers like the Trisagion and Lord's Prayer, morning and evening prayers, and prayers before meals. Corporate prayers include those of the liturgical services and intercessions before God as community.
All prayers should resemble or find their origins in the Lord's Prayer and the words of our Savior.
Orthodox Christians receive guidance from their spiritual fathers or parish priest on the rule of prayer to be used in their lives and do not use self-guided prayer practices.
Fasting is a spiritual discipline involving abstinence from certain foods (like meat and dairy) and distractions to tame bodily passions and sharpen focus on prayer.
There are four major fasting periods in the liturgical year: The Great Fast (from Clean Monday until Great and Holy Saturday, including all of Holy Week); The Apostles' Fast (from the Monday after the Sunday of All Saints through June 28, the eve of the feast of Ss. Peter & Paul); The Dormition Fast (from August 1 through August 14, the eve of the Dormition of the Mother of God), and the Advent Fast (from November 15 through December 24, the eve of the Nativity of Our Lord).
Orthodox Christians traditionally fast from meat and dairy during each of these fasting seasons, and focus on incorporating more prayer and almsgiving to reorient their lives to Jesus Christ. Orthodox Christians also fast on Wednesday and Fridays throughout the year, excluding the full week after Pascha (Bright Week), the full week after Pentecost, the week after Christmas, and the first week of the Triodion.
It is important to note that while the Church prescribes particular fasting expectations, the application of the rules of fasting should be done only with the pastoral guidance of one's spiritual father and not on one's own - either ignoring the fast completely or fasting to an extreme.
The point of fasting is not to be viewed as a punishment, but as a means to master the body so that the spiritual guides our words, thoughts, and actions for healing and godly living. Fasting is a joyous and freeing experience which allows us to be released from the constraints of this earthly life and the manner in which our bodies dictate our behaviors, turning instead to God for His merciful instructions which ultimately help us on the path to salvation.
Feasting is the joyful celebration of God's triumphs in history, particularly the Resurrection of Christ (Pascha), which breaks periods of strict fasting.
Just as the Church has periods of fasting and abstaining from certain foods (meat and dairy), the Church also prescribes periods of feasting to rejoice in God's mercy and love for creation. These feasting periods occur in relation to major feasts of the liturgical year: Pascha (Easter), Nativity of Christ (Christmas), and Pentecost.
Feasting transforms physical celebration into a spiritual experience, highlighting that creation itself is blessed and redeemed through the saving works of Jesus Christ, the most tangible reminder of God's unending love for us.
Almsgiving and charitable works are the tangible expression of love and mercy, considered an indispensable part of a living faith and spiritual growth.
Orthodox Christians do not believe these are ways to "buy" salvation, but a vital part of living a Christian life and bringing the presence of Jesus Christ into the world.
While we are not saved through works, the work of the Church is both necessary and salvific as means to encounter Christ in the poor and decreasing self-centered behaviors and habits.
Salvation in the Orthodox Christian understanding is understood as theosis (deification), a lifelong process of becoming united with God and reflecting His divine nature.
Salvation is not a one-time legal declaration of forgiveness, but an opening of one's self to receive God's grace and mercy, so that having been baptized and renewed by the gift of the Holy Spirit, we may walk in the newness of life that orients us towards God.
We are saved only through God's grace. In response, we live in faith, desiring to reject sin and remain focused on acquiring the Holy Spirit through prayer, good works, the reading of Scripture and being active Orthodox Christians.
Divine worship is reserved exclusively for God, and it is purpose of our human existence.
Offering glory and praise to the Holy Trinity in gratitude for the love, mercy, and grace received is our the ultimate purpose of human life, directed exclusively to the Holy Trinity to offer glory, honor, and thanksgiving. It involves the total human being—body, mind, and senses—using icons, incense, music, and prostrations.
Worship in the Orthodox Church is purposefully oriented towards God drawing upon the words of Scripture, ancient prayers, and hymns to express what we believe. The liturgical cycles of the year are framed by the feasts and fasts which order the rhythm of our daily lives.
Orthodox worship is often described as timeless, as it doesn't adapt to shifting cultural trends.
The Divine Liturgy is the primary worship service in the Orthodox Church, centered on the worship of God and offering of the bloodless sacrifice of Bread and Wine which mystically becomes the Eucharist: the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.
Orthodox Christians believe that the Liturgy is where heaven and earth intersect, allowing the faithful to participate in the timeless worship of God in the Heavenly Kingdom, surrounded mystically by the angels and saints.
The Liturgy is structured and grounded in Scripture with over 500 verses from the Old and New Testament woven into the hymns, prayers, and petitions of the service. The Liturgy is not seen as a symbolic representation, but instead a direct and communal encounter with the divine through Jesus Christ our Savior.
The life of the Church is fundamentally sacramental, viewing physical matter (water, oil, bread, wine) as the means for conveying invisible divine grace.
Beyond the seven major mysteries (Baptism, Chrismation, Marriage, Confession, Ordination, Unction, and the Eucharist), the entire cosmos is meant to be sanctified through the life and experience of the Orthodox Church.
Orthodox Christians believe that creation and all of our lives are renewed and called to be holy through the Incarnation and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The sacred is not limited to physical experiences or elements. Orthodox Christians also experience life through prayer, fasting, charitable works, and participating in the liturgical life of the Church.
Forgiveness and repentance are also seen as sacramental acts, restoring us to communion with God and those around us. The use of icons and other sacred objects in our daily lives can be described as sacramental, in that they orient our understanding and acts towards God.
The Orthodox see the Church and the Christian Faith as inseparable. We cannot fully know Christ or share in the encounter of the Holy Trinity or even consider ourselves Christian apart from the Orthodox Church.
Scripture is an integral part of the life of Orthodox Christians, however it is not the only part or even defined as the most important. This is because Scripture came to us through the experience of Holy Tradition, the oral and written experiences of the Church from the Apostolic times until now.
Without Holy Tradition, Scripture would not exist. It is through Holy Tradition that we have the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, the Ecumenical Councils, the teachings of the Church Fathers, the Divine Liturgy, icons, and all of the elements and experiences of the Church.
Holy Tradition remains the same, as it is grounded in the teachings of Jesus Christ, yet the expressions are dynamic and alive, reflecting the presence of the Holy Spirit, filling all things and bringing the newness of divine life.
Through Holy Tradition, the Orthodox Church preserved the fullness of the doctrines and teachings from the time of the Apostles while also enabling the Church to be all things to all people, not to satisfy personal opinions, but to bring healing and salvation for our souls.
Icons play a prominent role in the life of Orthodox Christians as they affirm our understanding and teaching that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, who became incarnate by being born of the Virgin Mary.
Because of this, we are able to depict him, the Virgin Mary, and the saints in icons.
The use of icons is similiar to having family portraits or photos in our homes or on our phone. Icons depict our spiritual family, those whom we believe are alive in Christ, who serve as rolemodels and inspiration in our daily lives as we struggle to live in today's world.
Orthodox Christians venerate or show respect to icons because of whom they depict. Icons are not worshipped or seen as equal to God. The honor given before the icon is expressed for God and his saints.
Death is viewed as a temporary separation of the soul from the body, a physical result of the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.
Orthodox Christians also profess that Jesus Christ defeated sin and the power of the devil by His resurrection, restoring our path to communion with God the Father.
Death is a sad reality, and therefore treated with deep reverence. The Church continuously prays for the mercy and rest of all departed souls.
Orthodox Christians therefore look forward to the final resurrection of the dead and the renewal of all creation in the eternal Kingdom of God. The current life is available for us to prepare for the Last Judgment which we will all face, either a foretaste of heaven or hell, experienced as either the warmth or the burning fire of God's unconditional love.
Young people of all ages are seen and accepted as full members of the Body of Christ from infancy, receiving Baptism and Chrismation at or near the 40th days, and immediately followed by receiving Holy Communion.
Children are invited and encouraged to be active participants in the liturgical and sacramental life of the Church rather than being segregated.
This is done through participation in the Divine Liturgy, receiving of the sacraments, praying and fasting at home with their families, the reading of scripture, and living godly lives wherever they go.
As with adults, educational programs are available to help them grow in the knowledge and understanding of God.
An Orthodox Christian would answer this question by saying, “I have been saved (by Christ's death), I am being saved (through ongoing repentance), and I hope to be saved (at the final judgment).”
Salvation is a dynamic relationship of love, lived daily through our sincere efforts to follow Christ's teachings in our daily lives and not seen as a static guarantee or a past legal transaction at a particular point or moment in our lives.
It is only through God's grace that we are made worthy of salvation. As human beings, we are called to be holy (and perfect) as our Heavenly Father is perfect.
Our faith in God inspires us to aspire to that holiness, living in a godly manner.
The Orthodox Church holds to the teachings of Jesus Christ as recorded in Scripture and preached throughout the world by the Apostles and saints.
Throughout history, the Church has faced beliefs that ran contrary to these teachings. In each instance, the Church addressed these matters through the lens of Sacred Tradition and Scripture, with an understanding of economia or compassion for the human condition.
The Orthodox Church does not approach social hot topics with a legal or rigid mindset. While many modern 'hot button topics' run counter to the teachings of the Orthodox faith, the Church returns to the teachings of Jesus Christ, maintaining that marriage is between a man and a woman, and that human life is sacred from conception, and we are called to serve and minister to the stranger and neighbor alike with the same mercy and compassion which God offers to us.
Orthodoxy does not easily fit into modern Western political categories. The Church is seen as an encounter with the Kingdom of Heaven and therefore not bound by human or earthly ideologies.
Instead, the traditions and teachings of the Church aim to preserve and live out the teachings of Jesus Christ with authentic and God-centered words and deeds.
The ancient Christian faith is unchanging in its adherence to the Word of God: Jesus Christ and his teachings. While deeply conservative regarding dogma and morality, the Church's emphasis on communal care and social responsibility for neighbor can sometimes align with viewpoints seen as socially liberal.
The beauty of the Church is that it transcends the limitations of earthly politics and directs our focus on encountering the divine and proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ through our words, acts of Christian love, and compassion to people of all backgrounds and walks of life.
