"...the Orthodox Church is the true Church of God on earth and maintains the fullness of Christ's truth in continuity with the Church of the apostles. This awesome claim does not necessarily mean that Orthodox Christians have achieved perfection: for we have many personal shortcomings. Nor does it necessarily mean that the other Christian Churches do not serve God's purposes positively: for it is not up to us to judge others but to live and proclaim the fullness of the truth. But it does mean that if a person carefully examines the history of Christianity he or she will soon discover that the Orthodox Church alone is in complete sacramental, doctrinal and canonical continuity with the ancient undivided Church as it authoritatively expressed itself through the great Ecumenical Councils."
(Fr. Theodore Stylianopoulos, "Christ in Our Midst", Dept. of Religious Education, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, Brookline, MA) What is the Orthodox Church? The Orthodox Christian Church Is the oldest Church in historical existence, although It is unfamilar to many Americans. The second largest Christian body, world wide, with 600 million members. One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic, having an unbroken tradition of belief from Jesus Christ and the Apostles to today. Often referred to by any number of "ethnic" titles such as Greek, Russian, Serbian, Syrian, Romanian, Ukrainian. The word Orthodox literally means "true worship" or "true belief" This name was used to describe nearly all of Christianity in the first ten centuries of Church history. We are Orthodox because we ascribe to the Orthodox teachings established by the Apostles and their successors, which were defined 'in the Seven Ecumenical Councils, and by those early Christian writers known as the Church Fathers. Our basic statement of faith is the Nicene Creed, recited at every liturgy, and the Bible, which plays a prominent role in our beliefs and piety. As the continuation of the Apostolic Church, the Orthodox Church is both liturgical and sacramental. Like the New Testament Church, we continue, "steadfastly in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship, In the breaking of bread, and in prayers" (Acts 2:42). Our worship is shaped by both the Old and New Testaments, and is deliberately patterned upon what the Bible says is the worship of heaven. For a Helpful Introduction to the Orthodox Christian Faith, please click here. (from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese)
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