Our Beliefs

I want to share a little more with you about the heart of what we believe in the Orthodox Church. The words and practices may sometimes feel unfamiliar, but the foundation is simple and straight from the Bible.

We believe in one God who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is called the Holy Trinity. God the Father created all things (Genesis 1:1). The Son, Jesus Christ, is the Word of God who became man for our salvation (John 1:1, 14). The Holy Spirit is the Comforter whom Jesus promised to send to guide us (John 14:26). These three are not three separate gods, but one God in three Persons, as we see when Jesus commands baptism “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).

We believe that Jesus Christ is both fully God and fully man. He is the eternal Son of God, yet He was born of the Virgin Mary and became truly human (Luke 1:35; Philippians 2:6–7). He died on the Cross for our salvation (1 Peter 2:24), rose from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:3–4), and ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9–11). This is at the center of our faith.

We believe the Church is the Body of Christ. When we are baptized, we are joined to Christ and made part of His Body, the Church (Romans 6:3–4; 1 Corinthians 12:27). The Church is not only a place to gather, but the living community where Christ Himself is present (Matthew 18:20). The Apostles and their successors were given the responsibility to guide the Church (Acts 20:28).

We believe in the sacraments (what you may know as ordinances). These are holy actions through which God gives His grace to us. Baptism makes us new in Christ (John 3:5). The Lord’s Supper, or Holy Communion, is more than a symbol—it is truly the Body and Blood of Christ, as Jesus said: “This is my body ... this is my blood” (Matthew 26:26–28; 1 Corinthians 10:16). In these gifts, Christ gives us His very life.

We believe in the authority of the Bible together with the living tradition of the Church. The Scriptures are inspired by God and guide us in all things (2 Timothy 3:16–17). At the same time, the Apostles taught not only by their letters but also by word of mouth, and the Church has preserved both faithfully (2 Thessalonians 2:15). This is why we hold to the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 3).

We believe in life after death and the hope of the resurrection. When we die, we go to be with the Lord (Philippians 1:23). At the end of time, Christ will return to judge the living and the dead (2 Timothy 4:1), and all the dead will be raised (John 5:28–29). For those who belong to Christ, this will be eternal life with Him (Revelation 21:3–4).

These are the heart of what it means to be Orthodox. Everything else—our worship, our prayers, our practices—flows from these truths. They are the same truths that Christians have believed since the time of the Apostles.

With love in Christ,
Fr. Charles

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