Our Holy Orthodox Faith
We worship the Holy Trinity, glorifying the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit equally. We believe that Jesus Christ is true God, the Son of the Father, begotten before all ages. Though He is one essence with the Father, Jesus Christ was Incarnate for us and became a true man, exactly like us in every way except that He is without sin. We also glorify the Holy Spirit as the Lord and Giver of Life, Who alone proceeds from the Father.
We honor and venerate the holy Virgin Mary, the Theotokos (Birth-giver of God) along with the Angels and Saints and ask for their intercession on our behalf.
Our Savior has given His Church sacred Mysteries (Sacraments) for our salvation:
Holy Baptism and Chrism give entry into the holy Church. Through triple immersion our sins are washed away and the image of God, which was lost through the disobedience of Adam, is restored. In Chrism we are anointed with the gifts of the Spirit and become full partakers of Christ.
Through the Holy Eucharist (Communion) we receive the true Body and Blood of our Savior, Jesus Christ, in the form of bread and wine, for the forgiveness of sins and the healing of body and soul for eternal life.
The mystery of Confession is essential for the life of all Christians. Through repentance before our father Confessor (who stands in the stead of Christ), our Savior forgives us the sins committed after Baptism and restores us in the Church.
Ordination, Marriage, and Holy Unction complete the essential Mysteries of the Orthodox faith. Through the laying-on of hands, a bishop transmits Divine Grace to the person being ordained. He is, thus, linked to the holy Apostles through the continuous flow of Divine Grace given at Pentecost. Divine Grace sanctifies a man and a woman in matrimony for the salvation of their souls and the procreation of children. Holy Unction heals the infirmities of both body and soul (James 5:14).
This holy Faith has come down to us from Jesus Christ and His holy Apostles. It is our "common salvation," as St Jude said, "the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 1:3).