Teachings of Orthodoxy

Questions and Answers about the Teachings of Orthodoxy

Am I too sinful to convert?

At present, my wife and I are seriously considering conversion to Orthodox Christianity.  I, however, am concerned that my many past sins would prevent me from being accepted into the Church.  I…

Grace and Salvation

I was reading your answers about faith and life. I have been raised to believe that grace is all that is necessary for salvation… no works. But having read the verse from James that you quoted…

Chrysostom and the Wise Stewardship of Our Money

Recently I came across some quotes from St. John Chrysostom concerning wealth which I find disturbing. First, he writes, “our money is the Lord’s, however we may have gathered it.” Second, God…

Life in this world

If this is so, how do you understand life in this world right now? What is it that men should do?

The Trinity

You have mentioned Christ, the Holy Spirit and God the Father. Can you say something more about the Trinity?

Christ, the Son of God

You will have to be more specific than. You called Christ the Son of God. This is a common phrase. What do you actually mean by it?

Sabbath

I was wondering why—and I assume this came before the Catholic/Greek split—the church changed the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday.

I never realized it until a Jewish friend mentioned that…

Sign of the Cross Direction

Is there an explanation for why Eastern Christians make the sign of the cross from the right should to the left, while Western Christians make the sign of the cross from the left shoulder to the right.

Mary / Prayer / Death

What are your beliefs about the Virgin Mary—most particularly do you pray to her?

Why do you pray for the departed? The Bible clearly says it is appointed unto man once to die and after that…

St. Augustine & Original Sin

Can you comment on this: “Blessed Augustine is respected in the Orthodox Church as a teacher, because of his wonderful defense of the Church’s teachings against the various heresies of his time,…

Faith and Works

A Protestant told me that just believing in Jesus is enough to get one into heaven. This isn’t what I was taught, or is my memory incorrect? Please clarify this. These born-again Christians can be…

Kingdom of God

You talk about the Kingdom of God continually. What is this Kingdom of God?

Original Sin

I would like to know what is the orthodox canon regarding the “original sin.” The following confuse me:

Father Michael Azkoul states that God punished man only once for the original sin by…

St. Augustine & Original Sin

Is it true, as I have been told, that the Orthodox Church does not celebrate Augustine of Hippo as a Saint and has no doctrine of original sin.

Surely human sufficience is at the root of secularism.