What is Orthodoxy?

What is the Eastern Orthodox Church?

People in the “Bible Belt” of the southern U.S. who hear of Orthodoxy are typically confused and led to guess it is some form of Judaism or essentially the same thing as Roman Catholicism. However, neither is truly the case.

The Orthodox Church is the “One Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church” as confessed in the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed or Symbol of Faith by all Christians. This “profession of faith” was received by the entire Church first in AD 325 at the Council of Nicaea (later known as the First Ecumenical Council) and later with some additions in AD 381 at the first Council of Constantinople (later known as the Second Ecumenical Council); thus the combined name of Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed.

The Orthodox Church traces its lineage – both in doctrine (2 Thess 2:15) and in linear succession from the Apostles through ordained bishops and presbyters/priests (1 Tim 5:22; 2 Tim 1:6) – back to the original 70 apostles of Christ (St Luke 10:1) in the first century AD. While other Christian groups, such as Roman Catholics, can claim a (mostly) linear succession from the Apostles to the current Patriarch of Rome (the “Pope”), only the Orthodox Church has maintained the faith without change, addition or subtraction, for the last two thousand years.

The Orthodox Church is organized according to varying jurisdictions and Patriarchates (“Sees“), which are divided according to geographic location (e.g. the Greek Orthodox Church, the Russian Orthodox Church, the Church of Jerusalem, etc.). The Patriarchal “headquarters” of our particular parish is located in the ancient city of Damascus on the street called “Straight,” (Acts 9:11) and was founded by Saint Peter in AD 34. In other words, the Orthodox Church of Antioch (of which I am a member) traces not only its doctrine and worship but also its lineage in bishops all the way back to the Apostle Peter himself. The current Patriarch of Antioch – Ignatius IV – is the 170th Patriarch of this See after the Apostle Peter.

Worldwide, there are anywhere from 300-400 million Orthodox Christians, making it the second largest Christian assembly after Roman Catholicism (~1.5 Billion). Since the Orthodox Church in the United States of America is essentially still a “mission,” begun by immigrants and the conversion of English-speaking peoples over the last few decades, many overlapping jurisdictions are represented here in America (due to the rise of atheism and communism in many traditionally Orthodox nations), but these oddities are currently being worked out through much prayer and preparation.

Many controversies have arisen, and many heresies have been suppressed (1 Cor 11:18-19), but the determinations of Councils and the ruminations of the Church and Her Theologians, fathers and monastics throughout the centuries have resulted in no novelty, innovation or variation, but only continued to affirm (in unique or distinct ways) the once-for-all delivered (literally “tradition-ed“) Faith of Jesus Christ (Jude 1:3). While many Christians experience a constant or even radical change in worship, belief and devotion based upon the whims of culture and societal passions throughout their lifetimes (or their newest “pastor” and his beliefs), the Orthodox Church alone has maintained the pure and whole faith, worship and piety of Jesus Christ and the Apostles.

The Orthodox Church had no “middle ages,” so-to-speak, and was largely unaffected by the Renaissance, Humanism, the Reformation and the Enlightenment which have all radically altered the faith of Western/Latin Christianity over the centuries. This has resulted in schism after schism as well as an innumerable amount of doctrinal innovations, heresies, sects and “denominations.”

There are no “denominations” in the Orthodox Church and the Theological constructs and ideas found within Her are not based upon various philosophical movements, such as nominalism, the Enlightenment or 19th century German Idealism. As “the pillar and ground of Truth,” (1 Tim 3:15) the Church holds fast to “that which has been believed everywhere, always and by all” (St Vincent of Lérins, Commonitorium), and that is a faith and piety which transcends time, culture and philosophical shifts.

The Holy Tradition of the Orthodox Church is embodied in Christ Himself and is the Tradition of the Holy Spirit, not the “traditions of men” that change as waves in the wind. This Holy Tradition encompasses the Holy Scriptures, the lives of the Saints, the Holy Icons, the Liturgy, Hymns and Prayers of the Orthodox Church as well as the Canons and Decrees of the Ecumenical Councils (of which there were, officially, seven).

The Orthodox Church is the true Body of Christ (Rom 12:5), and is a sacramental gathering of the faithful from all times and from all places (Heb 12:1), found to be most complete and most apparent in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist (or “Lord’s Supper” as you might know it). As a Mystical gathering of God’s people, the Church reflects the union and communion of the Holy Trinity here on earth and is never apart from Christ our God (St Matt 28:20) and the Guidance and Help of the Holy Spirit (St John 14:16, 26; 15:26). As a result, we know that the “gates of Hades” shall never prevail against the Church (St Matt 16:18) and that we can find our rest in Her, despite what may be happening in the chaotic world around us.

While Western/Latin Christianity has enjoyed a relatively prosperous and peaceful existence, the Orthodox Church has been confronted with (and endured) centuries of persecution from both Islam and atheism (Communism/Bolshevism). Most recently, the genocide of over 50 Million Orthodox Christians in the former Soviet Union, Armenia, Serbia, etc. has resulted in a new religious awakening and revival in Russia where the Russian Orthodox Church is now the driving cultural influence. The Orthodox Church has experienced first-hand this promise from Christ to prevail over the Evil One and to not be shaken by death or the powers of darkness (the “gates of Hades“). This has only made Her stronger and more resolute in Her protection and pronouncement of the Apostolic faith and the true Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Church is the “hospital” of the Great Physician, and it is through Her and the Grace of God (our experience of the “energies” of God) alone that we can be healed (or “saved”) from our sins and death. “Without the Church as our Mother, we cannot have God as our Father (St Cyprian).” The Church is true life and the locus of true humanity, and we are without hope in this world if we choose to live apart from Her; apart from the Body of Christ.

And even alongside all of this, the Church is simply our home and true family.

I pray that some of the words on this blog or some of the encounters you might personally have with the Orthodox Church help you to understand this reality, and that such a realization would also bring you home and into the loving arms of God the Father.

Preserve, O God, the Holy Orthodox Faith and all Orthodox Christians, now and ever and unto the ages of ages, Amen.