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Introduction to the Orthodox Church
The
Orthodox Church was founded by our Lord Jesus Christ. It is the Body of
Christ
(cf. 1 Corinthians 12:12, 27).
It is the living manifestation of His presence in the history of the
mankind.
The
most-conspicuous characteristics of Orthodox Christianity are its
faithfulness to Apostolic tradition and its rich liturgical life. Orthodox
Christians believe that their Church has preserved the tradition and
continuity of the ancient Church in its fullness.
Apostolic Tradition
Apostolic
Tradition means the absolutely faithful “passing down” of what Jesus
Christ taught and the Apostles preached through the successors of the
Apostles who have kept these teachings without change, with neither
addition nor subtraction.
The
term “tradition” derives from the Latin traditio, the noun form of
the verb trado, which means “to hand over” or “to hand down.” The
identical Greek term is παράδοσις (parádosis) which means “to give
over” or “to hand down” by word of mouth or in writing. The concept behind
both words, παράδοσις and traditio, is absolutely
foundational in the Orthodox Faith.
Liturgical Life
Liturgical
life is the active practice of the Orthodox faith. It encompasses the
cycle of both private as well as community worship which supports
individual spiritual development. It is the rhythm of everyday activities
and routines, integrating the faith as a tangible part of daily life. It
shapes the character of an Orthodox Christian and deepens their intimate,
personal relationship with God.
Preserving the Faith of the Ancient Church
The
Orthodox Church is the mystical “Body of Christ,” the Head of which
is Christ Himself
(cf. Ephesians 1:22-23 and Colossians 1:18, 24 et seq.).
The
Orthodox Church, the Body of Christ, is unchanging and eternally
inalterable, since “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and
forever”
(Hebrews 13:8)).
The
Orthodox Church, the Church of Christ, has never ceased to exist and will
never cease to exist since He Himself proclaims that “I will build My
church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it”
(Matthew 16:18).
The
Orthodox Church is founded on the confession of faith in Jesus as
“...the Christ, the Son of the living God”
(Matthew 16:16))
– the confession He Himself
refers to as a “rock”
(cf. Matthew 16:18).
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