The teachings and the practices of the Orthodox
Church are to be found in the Scriptures and Sacred
Apostolic Tradition, which have been handed down
to the Church of Christ in the Revelation of God.
These sacred Sources are essential not only for
correct teaching and worship, but also, especially,
as Sources of the fulfilment of God’s promises
and covenants in the Person, Christ! The Father,
out of love and compassion, sent Christ to save
mankind to remain forever in the Church, which He
founded. It is imperative for all Christians to
understand the content of these sacred Sources in
order to strengthen their faith in God and to accept
Jesus Christ as the only Redeemer by Whom and in
Whom, man's personal salvation is wrought. The fundamental
truth of the Orthodox Church is the faith revealed
in the True God: the Holy Trinity of the Father,
the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The doctrine of the
Holy Trinity is in reality the declaration of the
Christian faith. The
Eucharist is at the heart of the Orthodox experience
and worship and is celebrated in the service of
the Divine Liturgy. The most characteristic aspect
of Orthodox Christianity is its worship. Though
rich in tradition of doctrine, morality, canon
law, social concern, personal faith, and monasticism,
to name only a few of its objects, the core of
Orthodox Christian life is to be found in its
worship. Worship is central to the life of the
Church because it is the place where the most
important relationship for human life occurs:
the relationship with God. Worship includes the
chief means by which God has revealed Himself
to humanity through Scripture and the living Tradition
of the Faith. No worship service in the Orthodox
Church is without the use of the Bible. Furthermore,
worship brings all of life into the life of the
Kingdom of God.
The
Orthodox Church orders its worship so that time
is sanctified, as are all aspects of human life.
For example, when Orthodox Christians buy a new
home or open a new business, it is customary for
the priest to bless it with sanctified water.
Worship also makes alive and present for the believer
all of the mighty acts of salvation history. Most
feasts are presented in worship services as occurring
now, "today." The chief example of this
is Holy Week, which serves to help the faithful
relive the events of Christ's death and resurrection.
The seven sacraments affirm God’s presence
and action in the important events of the Orthodox
Christian’s life. Baptism introduces the
believer into the life of the Kingdom. Holy anointing
or Christening grants the gift of the Holy Spirit
for growth in the image and likeness of God. The
Eucharist realizes the Kingdom of God which is
celebrated everywhere, and unites the communicant
with the very body and blood of the Lord. The
sacrament of Penance serves to grant and assure
the penitent Christian of God's forgiveness. Marriage
unites a man and a woman, incorporating the natural
union into the life of the Kingdom, "in the
Lord." Ordination sets aside a small number
of believers for special service to the altar.
Unction mediates healing and forgiving grace to
believers. It is around these worship experiences
that the Orthodox Christian revolves his or her
Christian life. Hence worship cannot be other
than central to the life of the Church. The Nicene-Constantinopolitan
Creed summarizes the doctrinal truths to which
the faithful adhere, and is recited at each Divine
Liturgy and other services.
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