What is the orthodox church?

A brief overview of the One True Holy and Apostolic Church

The orthodox church

The Orthodox Church is not a denomination. The Orthodox Church is the oldest Church in Christendom. It is also one of the least known churches, even though there are more than 250 million Orthodox Christians in the world. Orthodox means “correct” (ortho) “worship” (dox) as from the Old Testemant and the New.

"church of the Martyr's"

In the past 100 years alone, an estimated 40 million Orthodox Christians have given their lives for their faith in Christ, primarily under communism. So faithful is the dedication and commitment of many Orthodox Christians to Christ and His Church that she, the Church, is often referred to as “the Church of the Martyrs.

Ancient & Orthodox

The Symbol or Confession of Faith known as the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed was established by the Bishops, by Apostolic Succession, in the Orthodox Church in 325AD and 381AD. Saint Athanasius of Alexandria, who was involved in the council, also had a formidable historical role, with others in the life of the Church, in deciding which Scriptures should belong in the Bible most Christians use today.

The Gospels & epistles come from the church

Apostolic succession maintains the integrity of the Gospels and Epistles of the Holy Scriptures through Holy Tradition in the Body of Christ through the Holy Spirit. The same church established by the Lord Jesus Christ and His Holy Apostles has never faded, never disappeared, never faltered. The Orthodox Church is home to the Apostles, Martyrs and Saints by the grace of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, One God. Amen.

Welcoming you

The Orthodox Church welcomes all persons who are sincerely seeking the one true and Living God, no matter who they are. The Orthodox Church affirms that all people have a brokeness and incomplete relationship with God. The Orthodox Church affirms that all people who sincerely seek can find healing and salvation by the grace of God through Christ and His Church which is His Body.

icons, mary & saints

The Orthodox Church only worships God who is One in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Icons

Orthodox do not worship idols or images. For millennia the Orthodox Church has used icons to illustrate the life of the Lord Jesus Christ, the life of the Church, the events in the Scriptures and the Gospels and the Saints who lived for the faith.

Icons are visual depictions of God’s Holy interactions with mankind in history and depictions of the people God has interacted with and through. There are innumerable saints and only some have been officially recognised by the Church to portray the holy life which we should draw inspiration from.

The Orthodox Church respects and venerates icons just as the scriptures are venerated. The icons portray and demonstrate graphically what is holy.

To venerate means to give great respect and reverence. In a world where few things are respected, the Orthodox Church maintains the recognition of the holiness of God and the holiness of people and things that God has touched with his presence.

The Saints

The Saints and faithful in Christ are not dead. The Church consists of the Body of Christ, the assembly of all God’s faithful from the beginning till the present day. The faithful and the Saints who have given their lives for the faith are alive in Christ, praying for all to be saved through Christ (Rev 8:4). The Orthodox Church recognises that the prayer of the righteous availeth much (James 5:16). Just as one would ask a friend or family member to pray from oneself, the early Church would also entreat the intercessionary prayers of the Saints who are alive and present with Christ. Even now, we ask that the Saints in the cloud of witnesses that surrounds us to pray for us, reminding us that we are part of the entire Body of Christ, past and present as one Body of Christ.

Blessed Virgin

“And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.” Luke 1:46-8

The Blessed Virgin Mary, the Theotokos or Bearer-of-God, just as all people, required salvation through Christ. The Theotokos, the “handmaiden” of the Lord is called blessed because of her willingness to bear and give flesh to the Lord Jesus Christ, whom Thomas calls his Lord and his God (John 20:28).

How a person views the Virgin Mary will be based on their understanding of who Jesus Christ truly is. The Orthodox Church has never worshipped the Blessed Virgin, but has always loved, revered and venerated her as the Theotokos, (God-Bearer). Orthodox often entreat the Theotokos, as with other Saints, to pray for them.

The great “cloud of witnesses” consisting of God’s family that surrounds the faithful that are ever present, ever praying to God for us (Hebrews 12:1) just as we pray for another.

Ancient & eternal christianity

The Orthodox Church has deep and lasting roots in Christian antiquity and is steeped in rich Biblical tradition. It has been the context of Christian living for millions of Christians for two thousand years.

"come and see"

One cannot understand the Orthodox Church merely by reading about it. Just as reading a biography about someone is no substitute for knowing the biography’s subject personally, Orthodox Christianity must be experienced firsthand to be understood. If you are in Perth, Western Australia, we welcome and invite you to come worship with us, to “come, taste and see” (Psalm 34:8).

"Unchanged"

Incredible as it seems, for over twenty centuries, the Church has continued in her undiminished and unaltered faith and practice. Today her apostolic doctrine, worship, and structure remain intact. The Orthodox Church maintains that the Church is the living Body of Jesus Christ.

"Apostolic faith"

The Orthodox Church has steadfastly maintained the Apostolic Faith. She has avoided both the excesses of papal rule and of congregational independence. She understands the clergy as servants of Christ and His people and not as a special privileged class. She preserved the Apostles’ doctrine of the return of Christ at the end of the age, of the last judgement and eternal life, and continues to encourage her people to grow in Christ through union with Him. In a word, Orthodox Christianity has maintained the Faith “once for all delivered to the saints.”

Feel welcome

Saturday liturgy (english)

8am-10am

Thursday scripture meeting

5:30pm-7pm

Contact

Fr Emmanuel

0419 961 313

Mail

enquiries@evangelismos.com.au

Address

59 Carr st, West Perth

Australia