Resources to Learn More about the Orthodox Christian Faith

The person of Christ is the very basis of our faith. We can never tire of learning more about Him. He is the cause of our wonder. As Christians we often hear his names and titles. Some are more familiar to us, others less so: Lord, Son of God, Son of Man, Temple, Light, Shepherd, King, and so on. In this course we will look in more detail at some of these titles. Read more »

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An ever-growing number of persons from various backgrounds are becoming interested in the Orthodox Church. Read more »

The Church has her origin with Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, not with a human teacher, or group, nor a code of conduct or religious philosophy. Read more »

The Orthodox Church proclaims the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In the Greek language, the word for Gospel is Evangelion which means literally "the good news." Read more »

One of the best-known prayers of the Orthodox Church speaks of the spirit of God being "present in all places and filling all things." This profound affirmation is basic to Orthodoxy's understanding of God and His relationship to the world. Read more »

The visitor to an Orthodox Church is usually impressed by the unique features and the external differences between this place of worship and those of the various traditions of Western Christianity. Read more »

Belief in Jesus Christ as our Lord, God and Savior with His Father and the Holy Spirit. Read more »

"We knew not whether we were in heaven or on earth, for surely there is no such splendor or beauty anywhere on earth. We cannot describe it to you; we only know that God dwells there among men and that their Service surpasses the worship of all other places..." Read more »

O Come, let us Worship and bow down before our King and God. O Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ, our King and God. O Come, let us worship and bow down to Christ Himself, our King and God. Read more »

God is the source of faith in the Orthodox Church. Orthodoxy believes that God has revealed Himself to us, most especially in the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom we know as the Son of God. This Revelation of God, His love, and His purpose, is constantly made manifest and contemporary in the life of the Church by the power of the Holy Spirit. Read more »

The life of the Orthodox Church perpetuates and fulfills the ministry of Jesus Christ. The close association between Christ and His Church is reflected in the images from the Scriptures which declare that Christ is the Head and the Church is His Body, and that Christ is the Bridegroom and the Church is His bride. Read more »

The cycle of Orthodox worship is done to bring meaning and fulfillment and purpose to the life of each Christian. The sacramental mysteries mark significant passages in a person’s life. The other cycles are meant to fill-out the daily life in between these major life events and bring the person into conscious contact and communion with the living God. Read more »

God creates every human being in His image and likeness for everlasting life. There are no mistakes and no accidents. As the saying goes, "God makes no junk." Everyone, or, in Biblical language, the "many" are called. But not all are chosen. Read more »

Prayer is a specific activity that must be a part of a person’s life. It is, as the catechism says, "a lifting of the mind and heart to God." It is a talking with God, and a listening to Him. It is communion with God in the most direct, experiential way. Read more »

Worship is derived from the Greek word “latreia” which also implies “adoration.” What do we adore? Worship involves prayer but it is much more than prayer. It is coming into the presence of God and being changed by him. This can happen only if we humble ourselves and direct our focus on listening, learning, and loving. Read more »

This video series from the Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries is a closer look at the Sunday Epistle and Gospel readings. Join Steve and Christian as they explore the readings and offer challenging questions to help you find Christ at work in your life. Read more »

With everything we do, everything we say, and even everything we think, we can make an effort to find the good things, the beautiful things, that God has put in everyone, and everything. Be the bee and live Orthodoxy. Read more »

The primary aim of fasting is to make us conscious of our dependence upon God. The purpose of its difficulty and hardship is to lead us into a sense of inward brokeness and contrition. On the other hand, abstinence/fasting leads us to a sense of lightness, wakefulness, freedom and joy. Even though it might be debilitating at first, afterwards we find that it enables us to sleep less, to think more clearly, and to work more decisively. Read more »

Most of us realize that prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are the three basic Christian and lenten necessities, but we often realize as well that we cannot keep the strictest lenten regulations of the Church which are, in fact, monastic rules. We know that we will not make a maximum effort and so we sometimes feel frustrated, lost, and without guidance. Read more »

At the center of the life of the Church is the Holy Eucharist, which is the principal celebration of our faith and the means through which we participate in the very life of the Holy Trinity. Read more »

Byzantine Music is the liturgical music of our Holy Greek Orthodox Church. “Byzantine” refers to its association with the once great empire. It is, more precisely, Psaltic Art, Ecclesiastical Chant, Eastern Music or Psalmody. Read more »