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About Orthodoxy

What do Orthodox Christians believe?

As Orthodox Christians have been saying for over fifteen centuries...
I believe in one God,
The Father Almighty,
Maker of Heaven and earth,
and of all things visible and invisible;

And in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the Son of God,
the Only-begotten,
Begotten of the Father before all ages,
Light of Light,
True God of True God,
Begotten, not made;
of one essence with the Father,
by Whom all things were made:
Who for us men and for our salvation
He came down from Heaven,
and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit
and the Virgin Mary,
and became man;
and was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate
and suffered and was buried;
And the third day He rose again
according to the Scriptures;
And ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father;
He shall come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
Whose kingdom will have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life,
Who proceeds from the Father,
Who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified.
Who spoke by the Prophets.

And I believe in One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.
I acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
I look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come.
Amen.

What does "Orthodox" mean?

The word Orthodox means "right teaching" or "right worship". It's derived from two Greek words: orthos, "right," and doxa, "teaching" or "worship." The term "Orthodox" came to be applied to the Church as false teaching and division multiplied in early Christian times threatening the identity and purity of the Faith. The Orthodox Church carefully guards the truth against all lies and error in order to protect its flock and to glorify Christ. The Orthodox Church is the "My Church" Christ talked about.

How can I learn more about Orthodoxy?

Taste and see. Come and worship with us in the Divine Liturgy. Don't just come once, as Orthodox worship is deep and rich, rooted in Holy Scripture and twenty centuries of Holy Tradition--it's a lot to absorb in just one visit. Come worship with us for a month. Join us for Fellowship Hour after the liturgy and ask our members about their journey to Orthodoxy. Many (if not most) of us at St. Paul's are converts. If you are interested in but unfamiliar with Orthodoxy, this is a good parish in which to get your feet wet.

Where else can I look for information?

Web Sites:

• "First Visit to an Orthodox Church--Twelve Things I Wish I'd Known" essay by Frederica Mathewes-Green
• Questions and Answers about Orthodoxy
• Orthodox Christian Church Locator

Books:

• Becoming Orthodox by Peter Gilquist
• The Orthodox Church by Timothy Ware
• At the Corner of East and Now : A Modern Life in Ancient Christian Orthodoxy by Frederica Mathewes-Green