The Orthodox Church. “No one can have God for his Father who has not the Church for his Mother,” wrote St. Cyprian of Carthage. The Orthodox Church, founded by Jesus Christ and His Apostles, the Body of Christ or Bride of Christ, began at Pentecost with the descent of the Holy Spirit around 30 A.D., was prefigured in Old Testament times and is the biblical Israel today, continuous in episcopal succession and in doctrines and governance. Upholding the Ecumenical Church Councils, the Orthodox Church is the “one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church” proclaimed in the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed. The Russian Orthodox Church today has the largest number of adherents of the local Orthodox Churches, which include the Greek Orthodox, Serbian Orthodox, and many others. “Russian Orthodox” refers to a specific local historical tradition and hierarchical governance, not necessarily ethnicity (as “Roman Catholic” historically in the West did not mean adherents were necessarily Roman). Russian Orthodoxy traces back directly through Kievan-Rus’ to Byzantium to the Holy Land. Our Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia emerged from the post-Revolutionary diaspora of many faithful Russian Christians, is headquartered in America, and is under the Patriarchate of Moscow, which was founded with the blessing of ancient apostolic patriarchates.
Basic Pilgrim Gear. The best way to learn about Orthodoxy is to attend services and to start praying. The Orthodox Study Bible and the Jordanville Prayer Book (both widely available, at our parish and from online bookstores) are two basic books to start your own library and prayer life. Consult with our Priest Paul about starting an Orthodox prayer life for which a prayer rope, called a chotki or komboschini or lestovka, is also helpful.
Basic Readings/Viewings. The first six readings below are especially helpful for inquirers and catechumens. Additional resources follow below them. Please be in touch about attending services, our Orthodoxy Online class, and our in-person Bible Study as well. Visits to monasteries are helpful, such as Holy Protection Women’s Monastery in White Haven and the Russian Orthodox Monasteries in Jordanville, NY (Holy Trinity) and in West Virginia (Holy Cross).
by Priest-Martyr Daniel Sysoev, is an excellent guide to the Orthodox faith and goes into detail about an Orthodox understanding of scripture. It is available in hardback from Orthodox bookstores and Amazon.
* Orthodox Dogmatic Theology *
A classic in-depth textbook on Orthodox theology, long used at ROCOR’s Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville, NY, by former Holy Trinity Professor Fr. Michael Pomazansky, this is now available as an e-book or paperback in English, translated by the well-known ROCOR American convert and writer Fr. Seraphim Rose.
* The Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church *
by Vladimir Lossky, A good addition to Fr. Michael Pomazansky’s work, in relation to the Orthodox teaching of theosis.
edited by Bishop Alexander Mileant, gives a brief history of the Church and lists some points of Orthodox doctrine, teaching, and art.
* The Longer Catechism of the Orthodox Church *
by ROC Metropolitan St. Philaret of Moscow, essentially describes all the important doctrines of the Church. This is what our Mission currently uses in our Catechism class taught by our Rector.
*Ten Things I Love About You: The Orthodox Church as the Fullness of Christianity*
A short list of what makes Orthodoxy different and true, by St. John’s Priest Paul.
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*Resources for Orthodox Christian Bible Study* A collection of resources compiled by St. John’s Priest Paul.
Journey to Orthodoxy Compiled by Priest John Peck, a collection of stories from real people who converted to Orthodoxy from a variety of backgrounds.
The Way Into the Kingdom of Heaven by Russian Metropolitan St. Innocent of Alaska, describes the goal and practices of Orthodox Christian life, our relation to the Creator, and the aim of the Orthodox Church.
The Orthodox Wiki A Wikipedia of Orthodoxy.
Video 1 | Video 2 | Video 3 for a visual introduction to the Orthodox Church, please see these three short videos.