The previous column in this space included the first part of a small brochure intended for visitors to an Orthodox parish. It gave a very simple overview of Orthodox Church history. The second part of the brochure, featured here, consists of a brief (and equally superficial) introduction to some key elements of Orthodox doctrine. Parishes that find it useful will want to modify it to meet their own specific needs.
WHAT IS THE ORTHODOX CHURCH ? (II)
FOUNDATIONS OF ORTHODOX FAITH
Orthodox Christians accept the Bible as the Word of God and the ground of their faith and practice. The Bible, however, took shape within Holy Tradition: the oral and written “memory” of Israel and the early Church. To Jesus and the apostles, Holy Scripture consisted of what we call the Old Testament: the Law, the Prophets and the Wisdom writings of the ancient Jewish people. The New Testament writings came to be recognized as “canonical” (authoritative and normative) over several centuries. They, like the Old Testament books, were composed on the basis of Tradition.
Orthodox faith is expressed most succinctly by the Nicene Creed, composed by theologians who met at the first two (of seven) great Ecumenical Councils held in 325 and 381. Slightly different from the later Apostle’s Creed, the Nicene confession is essentially “trinitarian.” It declares God to be the Father and Creator of all things. It stresses the true “incarnation” of the eternal Son of God, who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, died and rose from the dead, ascended to heaven, and will come again to judge both the living and the dead. It confesses the Holy Spirit to be equal in nature and honor with the Father and the Son, to “proceed” eternally from the Father, and to be the inspirational power behind God’s self-revelation. The Creed concludes with affirmations of faith in the One, Holy, Catholic (universal), and Apostolic Church, in a single baptism for the forgiveness of sins, and in the resurrection of believers to eternal life.
The major focus of Orthodox worship is adoration of God and communion with Him. The Church’s faith is expressed in its liturgical prayer. Individual services derive from ancient Jewish services, taken over by early Christians and reshaped in the light of Christ and His resurrection. The “liturgical day” begins in the evening (see Genesis 1, “an evening and a morning, the first day”!) with celebration of Vespers. This is followed by Compline and the midnight office of Nocturn. Around daybreak, Matins is served, and this is followed by the First, Third, Sixth and Ninth Hours. On feast days, monastic communities, cathedrals and most parish churches celebrate the Divine Liturgy or eucharist service, as all Orthodox communities do on Sunday mornings.
The Divine Liturgy may be considered to be the very heart of Orthodox life and faith. It unites us with other Orthodox believers throughout the world in a common celebration of the gift of Life offered to us by Christ’s death and resurrection, by which the powers of sin and death are overcome. The Liturgy also unites us with the whole of the “communion of saints”—the departed martyrs, holy fathers and mothers of past ages—who join with us and the heavenly host in glorifying God and receiving from Him the Bread of Life.
Although Orthodox Christians often speak of “seven sacraments” (eucharist, baptism, chrismation, confession, marriage, ordination, unction), this is a Westernized approach to the matter. In fact, all of life is given to us in order that it might become “sacramental.” Through prayer, participation in the liturgical services, ascetic struggle against our passions or sinful inclinations, and by gestures of loving self-sacrifice, we enter ever more deeply into communion with the God of love.
The beauty and richness of Orthodox liturgical services serve to draw the faithful into a living experience of the triune God, to unite them in faith and love with one another and with the saints of all ages, and to bless their lives with a profound sense of God’s merciful, compassionate presence in their midst. Although Holy Communion can only be offered to Orthodox Christians who are prepared to receive it, we invite you most cordially to join with us in our services of worship, to celebrate and glorify our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
What is Orthodox Christianity? In Jesus’ own words, we invite you to “Come and see!”