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What Orthodox Believe
This section tells you what Orthodox believe in terms of the PROFESSION OF FAITH authorised for use in the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch. This Profession of Faith forms the basis of instruction for those seeking BAPTISM or CHRISMATION into the Holy Orthodox Church. Before you read the Profession of Faith you may care to understand the process whereby someone becomes Orthodox. Interest is expressed in Holy Orthodoxy and contact is made with the priest serving an Orthodox Community. The "Explorer" starts attending Orthodox worship as frequently as possible. The priest helps the Explorer discover God's will for his/her spiritual journey as the Holy Spirit leads. If it seems right that the Explorer should proceed towards reception into the Orthodox Church, then s/he will be formally received as a "Catechumen" and a further process agreed. The Explorer, now a Catechumen, will follow an appropriate course of instruction in Orthodox Faith and Life which will include Spiritual Formation. When the Catechumen is ready to be baptised or chrismated s/he will be prepared. After baptism / chrismation there will be a short review in which the newly received Orthodox Christian will be able to find out more about Orthodox sacramental life. The Profession of Faith consisting of the Nicene Creed ..."I believe in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible: And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only-Begotten Son of God; Begotten of the Father before all ages, Light of Light, very God of very God: begotten, not made; being of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made: Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven: And was incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and was made man: And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate: He suffered and was buried: And the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures: And ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of the Father: And he shall come again, with glory, to judge both the living and the dead: Whose kingdom shall have no end. And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life, Who proceeds from the Father; Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; Who spoke by the Prophets: And I believe in One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church: I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins: And I look for the resurrection from the dead: And the life of the world to come. Amen. with elucidations from the Holy Fathers and the 7 Ecumenical Councils ... I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible; For He is without beginning, unbegotten and without cause, but is himself the natural cause and beginning of the Son and of the Spirit. And I believe in his Only-Begotten Son, without mutation and without time begotten of Him, being of one essence with Him by whom all things were made. And I believe in the Holy Spirit, who proceeds from the (same) Father, and with Him is glorified as coeternal, being of one essence with Him and equal in glory, and enthroned together with Him, the Author of creation. I believe that one of the same super-substantial and life-giving Trinity, the Only-Begotten Word, came down from heaven, for us men, and for our salvation, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary, and was made man; that is to say, was made perfect man, yet remaining God, and in no wise changing his divine essence by his participation in the flesh, neither being transmuted into anything else; but without mutation, assuming man's nature, he therein endured suffering and death, being free in His divine nature from every suffering. And on the third day he rose again (from the dead) ... ; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of (His God) the Father. And I believe those traditions and narrations concerning the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church which we have received from God and the men of God. I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins. I look for the Resurrection from the dead, and the life of the world to come. Furthermore I confess the one Person, the Word made flesh; and I believe and proclaim that Christ is one and the same in two natures after his incarnation, preserving those things which were in them and from them. Therefore, also, I adore two wills, in that each retains its own special will and its own action. I reverence, relatively, but not in the way of worship the images divine and reverence-worthy of Christ Himself, and of the all-undefiled Mother of God, and of all the Saints, addressing to their originals the honour shown to them. I reject as ill-advised those who think otherwise. And I literally and truly confess our Sovereign Lady, Mary the Birth-Giver of God, as having borne in the flesh one of the Trinity even Christ our God. And may the same be my helper, protector and defender all the days of my life. I accept and confess the Apostolic and Ecclesiastical Canons, established by the Seven Holy Ecumenical and Provincial Councils, and the traditions of the Holy Orthodox-Catholic Apostolic Church, its rules and ordinances; and likewise I will, accept and understand Holy Scripture in accordance with the interpretation which the Holy Orthodox-Catholic Church, our Mother, hath held and doth hold. I believe and confess that there are seven sacraments of the New Testament, namely:- Baptism, Chrismation, the Eucharist, Confession, the Priesthood, Marriage and Anointing with Oil, instituted by the Lord Christ and His Church, to the end that through their operation and reception, we may receive blessings from on high. I believe and confess that in the Divine Liturgy, under the mystical forms of bread and wine, the faithful partake of the true Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, unto the remission of their sins, and unto life eternal. I believe and confess that it is proper to reverence and invoke the Saints who reign on high with Christ, according to the interpretation of the Holy Orthodox-Catholic Church; and that their prayers and intercessions avail with the beneficent God unto our salvation: Likewise that it is well-pleasing in the sight of God that we should do homage to their relics, glorified through incorruption, as the precious memorials of their virtues. I acknowledge that the images of our Saviour Christ, and of the Ever-Virgin Mother of God, and of the other Saints are worthy to be possessed and honoured; not unto idolatry, but that, through contemplation thereof we may be incited unto piety, and unto emulation of the deeds of the holy persons represented by those images. I confess that the prayers of the faithful, which are offered up to God for the salvation of those who have departed this life in the faith, are favourably received, through the mercy of God. I believe and confess that power has been given by our Saviour Christ unto the Holy Orthodox-Catholic Church to bind and to loose: and whatsoever, by virtue of that power, is bound or loosed on earth will be bound or loosed in heaven. I believe and confess that the Foundation, Head and Great High Priest and Chief Shepherd of the Holy Orthodox-Catholic Church is our Lord Jesus Christ: and that Bishops, Pastors and Teachers are appointed by Him to rule the Church, and that the Guide and Pilot of this Church is the Holy Spirit. I confess that this Church is the Bride of Christ, and that therein is true salvation. I understand that rite follows place not person. Orthodox Christians will conform to the Rite and practices of the parish they are attending. I promise true obedience, unto my life's end, to the Metropolitan / Bishop of this Archdiocese / Diocese and his lawful successors in office as the true Pastors of the Orthodox Church, and to the Priests appointed by them." For more information on Orthodox Faith and Life visit the Manchester Community's web site:- http://www.orthodox.clara.net/belief.htm also this site ...
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