“You
are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be
hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a
lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your
light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and
glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).
“In
order for us as Orthodox Christians to follow the words of Christ
recorded by Matthew the Evangelist, we must be properly educated about
the Truth of God and His Church, which is the Kingdom of Heaven
realized on earth...this small Question and Answer-formatted guidebook
was developed to help inform the faithful – and those interested in
learning about Orthodoxy – about our Christian faith, which alone
leads man to salvation in Christ.
“Read
this guidebook; contemplate the information provided in it; apply the
lessons on a daily basis; become an active Orthodox Christian who
prays, fasts, is a cheerful giver, merciful, goes to confession and
church services, and lives a sacramental life.
“By
learning more about what a tremendous blessing it is to be an Orthodox
Christian, we can give light ... and shine before men in today’s
society and glorify the Triune God. We hope that this guidebook –
together with our Orthodox Catechism: Basic Teachings of the Orthodox
Faith book – enhances your relationship with the saints of our Church,
the Most Holy Theotokos and, above all, Christ, the only Redeemer and
Savior of the world.”
From the Introductory comments by Metropolitan Sotirios of Toronto
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