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The Orthodox Faith

One of the most obvious facts is that the Christian Church, specifically Orthodox Christianity, has been here a long time. To come to understand the Orthodox Christian Faith ultimately requires the immersion into the Orthodox Church as a Christian disciple and member of the Body of Christ. Understanding the fullness of the teachings of Christ is a life's work, built upon the exercise of our own will to "work out  . . .  salvation with fear and trembling." (Phil 2:12)

This page has been set up to let you explore the context for that life, and come to know how the Church is the repository of God's plan for the salvation of mankind.  Some of the articles below will give you a glimpse into historic Christianity, others will help explain the the framework upon which the life of the Church is built. It is important to remember, however, that the Christian faith is a living faith – you don’t get it from a Book, even a book as glorious as the Bible!

You get it from living persons.

You get it from the Body of Christ.

You get it from the Church, the one thing that Christ left behind to teach His doctrine.

This is the Faith of the Apostles. This is the Faith of the Fathers.

This is the Faith of the Orthodox.

This is the Faith that has established the universe.

from The Synodikon of Orthodoxy

• Church History
  • A History of the Orthodox Church
  • Orthodoxy in America
  • Orthodoxy in the World
  • Feasts of the Church
    • The Feast of Feasts – Pascha
    • The Twelve Great Feasts
    • Various Other Feasts
  • Orthodox Dogma and Doctrine
    • Holy Tradition
    • The Beatitudes
    • The Christian Ethic
    • The Mother of God
    • The Symbol of Faith
    • The Ten Commandments
  • Orthodox Icons
    • Holy Icons
    • Icon Not-Made-By-Hands
    • Icons of the Mother of God
  • Orthodox Monasticism
    • The Monastic Grades
    • The Monastic Tonsure
  • Orthodox Prayer
    • Communing with God in Prayer
    • The Church’s Prayer for the Dead
  • Orthodox Scripture
    • The Holy Bible
    • The New Testament
    • The Old Testament
    • The Old Testament Apocrypha
    • Used in Church
    • Where to Find
  • Orthodox Symbolism
    • The Cross
    • The Other Symbols
  • Orthodox Worship
    • Fasting
    • Fasting Rules
    • Fasting Seasons and Days
    • Glossary of Liturgical Terms
    • Great Lent and Pascha
    • Liturgical Books
    • Liturgical Gestures
    • Liturgical Music
    • Services of the Daily Cycle
    • The Divine Liturgy
    • The Five Cycles
  • Sacraments of the Church
    • Church Mysteries
    • Holy Baptism
    • Holy Chrismation
    • Holy Communion
    • Holy Matrimony
    • Holy Orders
    • Holy Repentance
    • Holy Unction
  • The Church Building and Its Servers
    • The Altar and Its Furnishings
    • The Bells
    • The Candles and Their Symbolism
    • The Church Building
    • The Clergy
    • The Iconostasis
    • The Sacristy and Vestry