What is Orthodoxy?

Orthodoxy is giving the right glory and right worship to God. The faith is centered on the Holy Trinity, the authenticity of the holy scripture, holy traditions, sacraments, the communion of saints and the departed, and in the one holy, catholic, and apostolic church. Orthodoxy refers to experiencing a mature and serious relationship with God in daily life. Growing up in love with God and love with Man. Contemporary orthodoxy is where right belief intersects with right actions. We believe in the liturgy after the liturgy. Orthodoxy believes that the Christian Faith and the Church are inseparable. It is impossible to know Christ, to share in the life of the Holy Trinity, or to be considered a Christian, apart from the Church. It is in the Church that the Christian Faith is proclaimed and maintained. It is through the Church that an individual is nurtured in the Faith. Orthodox spirituality is mainly expressed through prayer, daily Christian living, and worship, which ultimately lead to union with the divine uncreated Light.

Orthodoxy believes that each person has an intrinsic value and importance in virtue of his or her unique relationship with God. Salvation is liberation from sin, death, and evil. Redemption is our repossession by God. In Orthodoxy, both salvation and redemption are within the context of theosis. Theosis describes the spiritual pilgrimage in which each person becomes ever more perfect, ever more holy, and ever more united with God. It is not a static relationship, nor does it take place only after death. 

The Worship of God – the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – is fundamental to the life and spirit of the Orthodox Church. Worship is not simply expressed in words. In addition to prayers, hymns, and scripture readings, there are a number of ceremonies, gestures, and processions. The Church makes rich use of non-verbal symbols to express God’s presence and our relationship with Him. Orthodoxy Worship involves the whole person; one’s intellect, feelings, and senses. The Eucharist is the most important worship experience of Orthodoxy. Eucharist means thanksgiving and is known in the Orthodox Church as the Divine Liturgy. The Sacraments, affirm God’s presence and action in the important events of our Christian lives. In addition to sacraments, the church has special Services and blessings and Daily Offices, which are the services of public prayer that occur throughout the day. Our daily life flows out from worship and has to be a life of love and compassion, caring for the needy, struggling against evil, and serving the poor.

Compiled by Manju Philip, Austin, TX

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