The Trinity: We confess the Holy Trinity as the fundamental mystery of our faith. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit exist eternally in perfect unity, distinct in personhood yet inseparable in essence. This Triune Godhead is the source of all creation, the wellspring of salvation, and the center of our worship. Our understanding of God as Trinity informs our prayers, liturgical worship, and daily lives, reminding us of the boundless might of God.
The Bible: The Holy Scriptures, known as the Bible, are the inspired and authoritative written Word of God. Comprising both the Old and New Testaments, the Bible serves as the cornerstone of our faith, offering guidance, wisdom, and revelation to the Church. We hold that the Scriptures were composed by human authors under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, conveying God’s divine plan for creation, redemption, and the establishment of the One Holy and Apostolic Church.
In fact, it was the Saints of this One Holy and Apostolic Church that wrote the very Bible that Christians read today.
The Bible is the source of which the Holy Apostles and Saints have documented the further traditions of the church. We read the whole Bible with nothing removed, which provides us with the teachings of Jesus Christ, the guidance of the Holy Apostles, the wisdom of the Old Testament prophets, and the enduring truths that continue to shape our lives and inform our faith. The lives of the Saints and Apostles point to the truth of Holy Scripture.
Salvation: We believe salvation is a dynamic process of transformation, and this process by which a person is salvifically transformed is called theosis. By the Lord’s undeserved grace, we are invited into a journey of faith, repentance, and participation in the sacramental life of the Church.
Confession: A central pillar of our faith, confession is the turning of our hearts towards God, seeking His mercy and forgiveness. It is through this process of confession that we strive to become more Christ-like, allowing the Lord’s perfection to form us, ultimately leading to theosis.
Communion and The Eucharist: The Holy Eucharist, or what is referred to elsewhere as Communion, is the main focal point of Orthodox worship and the paramount mystery of our faith. Where a Protestant church service might focus on preaching and teaching, Orthodoxy focuses on the presence of Christ in the Eucharist (Communion Bread and Wine). We spend most of our time in preparation for the Eucharist, or in celebration after the Eucharist. In this sacrament, we partake of the true Body and Blood of Christ, received by faith and through the workings of the Holy Spirit. It is the truest act of communion with the living Christ, who is truly present with us and nourishes us spiritually.
Liturgy and Music: Our worship service is like a “tapestry” with threads of ancient practices, hymns, and prayers handed down through centuries of Christian tradition. This worship looks different than you might have experienced at a Protestant or Roman Catholic church. Though not necessarily forbidden, we do not use instruments, though some congregations in the Antiochian Western Rite Vicariate use the pipe organ. The faithful participate in the service through their prayers and hymns, while the priest and various clergymen conduct the liturgy (think of this like an ancient “script” that we follow very meticulously). Through the liturgy, we are drawn into a deeper understanding of the mysteries of our faith, and our hearts are opened to receive the grace God abundantly offers to His people.
Mary The Mother of God: The Blessed Virgin Mary, known as “Theotokos” or the “Mother of God,” holds a unique and revered place in Orthodox Christian devotion. Chosen by the Lord to bear the Son of God, she is regarded as the supreme example of faith, humility, and obedience. She is not divine, not a member of the Godhead, and is not seen as any kind of angelic being; rather, she is an example of a human-being in the closest kind of relationship with the Lord. Mary serves as a friend in powerful prayer, advocating for us before her Son, who is our one and only Saviour. While we honor Mary as the Mother of God, we also recognize her as a preeminent member of the communion of saints, whose lives and witness continue to inspire and guide us on our journey of faith.
Icons: These works of “art” hold a special place in our spirituality, serving as windows to the divine. Icons are not mere artwork, but rather, they are windows into the heavenly reality, allowing us to glimpse the beauty and holiness of God’s Kingdom. Through veneration of icons, we honor and seek the intercession of the saints, recognizing their participation in the life of the Church and their continued witness to the Gospel.
Human Sexuality: We affirm the traditional Orthodox teaching on human sexuality, viewing it as a sacred gift from God. Marriage is understood as a union between one man and one woman, a lifelong covenant characterized by mutual love, support, and the cultivation of holiness. Outside of marriage, we uphold the virtue of total chastity/celibacy, recognizing the importance of purity in heart, mind, and body. Men and women are born as their specific gender, without the possibility of change.
The Priesthood: The priesthood is a sacred calling within the Church, bestowed through the Apostolic succession. Unlike most pastors today, each Orthodox priest has a direct lineage to the Apostles. Ordained priests serve as spiritual fathers, entrusted with the responsibility of shepherding the flock and providing guidance in matters of faith and life. Their role is to nurture the spiritual growth of the community, leading by example. This includes an example in marriage, as many Orthodox priests are married. Through their ministry, priests connect the parishioners with the living tradition of the Church, offering pastoral care and administering the sacraments for the edification and sanctification of the local church.
Protestantism & the Roman Catholic Church: We hold Protestants and Roman Catholics with all due respect. Most of our congregation came from the Protestant or Roman Catholic traditions, so we recognize that God is at work in those places, but the fullness of the Apostolic tradition is preserved in the Orthodox Church. We recognize the historic continuity of our faith, safeguarded through the ages. While we share many common beliefs and values with other traditions, we hold necessary distinctives that show Orthodox Christianity as the summit of Christian worship. Our hope and prayer is for the homecoming of all Christians to Holy Orthodoxy, guided by the love of God.
The Western Rite: As a parish of the Antiochian Western Rite Vicariate, we cherish our identity as a bridge between the ancient Orthodox faith and our Western culture. This unique expression allows us to worship using the liturgical traditions of the Western Church while remaining in full communion with the canonical Orthodox Church. Through this approach, we bring the timeless truths of Orthodoxy to all, providing a spiritual home where the treasures of Western faith can find their fulfillment in the Orthodox Church.
The Creed: As Orthodox Christians, our faith is founded in thousands of years of Christian theological tradition. As such, we hold the Nicene Creed as our central statement of faith:
“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 worlds, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, Begotten, not made; of one essence with the Father, by Whom all things were made; Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and was made man; And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried. And on the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures. And ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of the Father. And He shall come again with glory to judge the quick and the dead, Whose kingdom shall have no end. And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, and Giver of Life, Who proceedeth from the Father, who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, Who spake by the Prophets; And I believe in One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the Life of the world to come.”
Amen.
Christ the Saviour Orthodox Church 