As members of the universal Orthodox Christian Church, members of Holy Trinity Orthodox Church professes the following beliefs about:
The Holy Trinity
There are three persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit – in one God. While separate
and distinct personally, each
- shares fully and equally in the divine nature and will;
- is equally infinite, perfect, all-powerful, all knowing, ever-existing, and eternally the same; and
- is united to the other persons of the Trinity in perfect Love.
The Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, which has been professed by Orthodox Christians since the fourth century, summarizes the Church’s teaching on the Holy Trinity.
Holy Scripture
Holy Scripture is the inspired word of God and the written record of His revelation.
- The Old Testament relates the manner in which God prepared the world for the coming of His Son, Jesus Christ.
- The New Testament completes and fulfills God’s revelation by proclaiming Jesus Christ as Lord, God, and Savior.
Holy Scripture is the foremost product of Holy Tradition
That which is passed on or given over within the Church, from the time of Christ and the apostles to the present, is known as Holy Tradition, which
- is the ongoing life of God’s People;
- embraces that which is essential to God’s revelation and necessary for our salvation; and
- is the living link by which Orthodox Christians of all ages are united together in a common faith, life, and experience.
Other elements of Holy Tradition include prayer and liturgical worship, the accepted creeds and acts of the early Church councils, the writings of the Holy Fathers, the lives of the saints, and the Church’s artistic and musical expressions.
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The Church
In the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, Orthodox Christians also profess their understanding of the Church as
- One – because it is one body with one head, Jesus Christ. The Church cannot be divided
or separated because Christ cannot be divided or separated. Holy – because the Holy Spirit
dwells in God’s People inasmuch as they respond to His call to salvation and eternal life.
- Catholic – because it is whole, complete, lacking in nothing, and universal.
- Apostolic – because it continues in the apostles’ teaching, mission, ministry, and experience.
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Salvation
Salvation is the process by which we enter into eternal life with God through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. For Orthodox Christians, salvation
- ends our separation from God, enabling us to begin a new life lived in accordance with His will;
- is ultimately attained through faith – and by putting our faith into action by recognizing God’s presence in others, even “the least of the brothers”;
- is to be proclaimed to all by God’s People through evangelization, mission, and witness.
The Orthodox Church is people – God’s People – who
- gather together in His Name;
- share a common faith and hope rooted in the love of God;
- affirm the truth and fullness – the orthodoxy – of their faith, belief and experience; and
- proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ to all.
The Orthodox Church
- began on Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles;
- subsequently spread to every corner of the world; and
- was planted in North America by missionaries who arrived in Kodiak, Alaska, in 1794. Today, there are from 2 to 3 million Orthodox Christians in more than 2,500 parishes across North America.
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Worship
Private prayer is essential for spiritual growth. It is inseparably linked to the Church’s Liturgical worship, which is the public proclamation of God as Lord and the common action, or liturgy, of God’s People.
The Divine Liturgy is the central worship experience for Orthodox Christians, during which we proclaim God’s word as revealed in Scripture and respond in thanksgiving through the reception of Holy Communion, the Body and Blood of Christ.
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Sacraments
The liturgical actions which
bring God’s presence into our lives as we
- become members of His Church through Baptism and Chrismation.
- proclaim, through Communion (the Eucharist), Christ’s death, resurrection, and Second Coming.
- are forgiven by and reconciled with God and those around us through Penance (Confession).
- share His love through Marriage.
- dedicate our lives and our work to Him through Ordination.
- receive His healing grace through Holy Unction.
Within the Orthodox Church, there are many other items which are referred to as being sacramental including prayer, icons, architecture, liturgical music, and other things which brings God's presence into our lives.
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Perhaps you have already done some reading about
Orthodoxy, or perhaps are already an Orthodox Christian
wanting to learn more about our Faith, or maybe this is
your first time encountering Orthodox Christianity.
Here is a list of books we recommend:
The Orthodox Faith Series
by V. Rev. Thomas Hopko
An online version of this four volume set covers various
topics including Doctrine, Worship, Bible and
Church
History,
and Spirituality
The Orthodox Church
by Bishop Kallistos (Ware)
Introducing the Orthodox Church: Its Faith and Life
by Rev. Anthony M. Coniaris
Orthodox Church: Its Past and Its Role in the World
Today
by V. Rev. John Meyendorff
The Faith: Understanding Orthodox Christianity:
An
Orthodox Catechism
by Clark Carlton
The Orthodox Study Bible
Includes a study guide and introductory information as
part of the appendix.
Thirsting For God in a Land of Shallow Wells
by Matthew Gallatin
The Faith We Hold
by Archbishop Paul of Finland
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