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About Us



Doctrine

Who we are?

Many people are unfamiliar with the Orthodox Church even though it was founded on the day of Pentecost and has some +250,000,000 members world wide. There are approximately 6,000,000 Orthodox Christians in North America. Sometimes we are called “Eastern Orthodox” an account of the fact that Orthodoxy was first established in the East (and because most orthodox Christians still live in the Middle East.) Often these Orthodox Churches are called by their territorial names:”Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, Antiochian Orthodox, Romanian Orthodox, Serbian Orthodox etc.”St. George’s belongs to a jurisdiction called the Antiochian Orthodox Church - one of the fourteen ‘autocephalous’ (self governing) Orthodox Churches around the world. It is historically tied to that Church in Antioch, were the followers of Jesus Christ were first called ‘Christians.’ (Acts 11:26)The word Orthodox means ‘right worship’ or ‘right praise’, taken from Christ’s words in the fourth chapter of St. John’s gospel concerning the ‘true worshipers’ who worship God in “Spirit and truth.” (John 4:23)The Orthodox Church is also called ‘catholic’, not only because it is universal, but also because it has preserved the integrity of the New Testament Faith since apostolic times.We believe that Orthodoxy is the fullest expression of the Christian faith. Schism: East & West Historically, the Church consisted of five ’sees’ or jurisdictions. These were Rome, Constantinople, Antioch, Alexandria and Jerusalem. All five sees were formally united in doctrine and faith until AD 1054 when the Church of Rome broke with apostolic tradition by excesses in its ecclesiastical policies.Such teachings as “Purgatory”, the “Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary” and “Papal Infallibility” are considered by the Orthodox as departure from the apostolic teaching, and remain as obstacles towards a full reconciliation between the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Church.

The Orthodox Church lives by Holy Tradition.

Many people think that Tradition is the simple repetition of age-old customs. But in the Orthodox Church, Holy Tradition is the transmission or passing on from one generation to another, the teachings and the practices first preached by the Holy Apostles almost two thousand years ago.
St. Paul himself writes “Therefore we command you, brethren, stand fast and hold to the tradition which you were taught, whether by word or by our letter…” (2 Thess. 2:15)


Our Holy Tradition includes:

The Holy Scriptures, with both New and Old Testaments.
The Liturgical and Sacramental life of the Church.
The doctrinal decisions and examples of the Seven Ecumenical Councils.
The teachings and examples of the Holy Fathers.
The witness and communion of the Saints.



Features of Orthodox Worship. The Holy Liturgy of the Orthodox Church is a means by which the faithful are transformed into the Body of Christ. The “Divine Liturgy” literally means the sacred work of God’s people. By participating in the Divine Liturgy the Orthodox Christian unites himself with the multitudes of angels and saints who ceaselessly adore God in His Kingdom.
We use Icons: Icons are the image of Christ, Angels, and the Saints which adorn the interior of the Church. They are a witness to the abiding presence of God and His Kingdom on earth. Icons are used in prayer and as a means of ‘visual instruction’ for the Orthodox Christian. Icons are placed in our homes as a sign that the family is a ’small-church.’
We use Incense: Incense is a special offering to God. It is also a symbol of true prayer - prayer which ascends to God from human hearts which have been purified by the grace of the Holy Spirit.

We use Music: It is part of Orthodox tradition that everything should be sung, (not ‘recited’) during worship. Further, Orthodox hymns are normally sung ‘acappella,’ without an organ or instrumental accompaniment.


An outline of the Divine Liturgy.


I] The Liturgy of the Word.
The first half of the Liturgy focuses on the “Word of God” which is revealed in the Holy Scriptures. Through the proclamation of God’s word, the faithful are illumined with divine knowledge. The first half of the Liturgy thus includes the singing of several Psalms - called ‘Antiphons,’ readings from the Epistles and Gospels, and the sermon preached by the priest or bishop.

II] The Liturgy of the Faithful.

The second half of the Liturgy focuses on the offering of the bread and the wine to be transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ. After singing the Cherubic Hymn and the Nicene Creed, the Anaphora prayers begin. Here the priest and his flock call upon the Holy Spirit to transform the Holy Gifts, and the congregation which has gathered into the Body of Christ. The Lord’s Prayer is sung as preparation for the Holy Communion. During Communion, the faithful receive the Holy Body and Blood of Christ on a spoon. After Communion, thanksgiving prayers are said, with a final blessing and dismissal.

History


 The Counsels of Christ

The 7 Ecumenical Councils


(Find out about the Church Seven Ecumenical Councils, an article by Stanley S. Harakas.)

Creed

The Nicene Creed (+325 A.D.)