About Orthodoxy

The Orthodox Church is the original Church without any changes.  It holds the same faith that the Apostles lived.  That same faith is the one that the Apostles received from Christ Himself.  After Christ's resurrection, He spent forty days with His disciples "speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God" (Acts 1:3).  These things were not recorded in the Bible, but were handed down to us through the Tradition.  God tells us to "Hold fast what you have" (Revelation 3:11)

St. Paul charges his disciple St. Timothy saying "And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also" (2 Timothy 2:2).  And again he says "Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.  That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us." (2 Timothy 1:13-14).  This is why the Orthodox Church is a Traditional one, because it holds dear the Tradition that was handed down from Christ.

The Orthodox Church never changed its faith, but has changed the expression of faith in order to refute certain heresies.  For example, the Nicene Creed wasn't available to the first Christians.  This doesn't mean that they didn't believe it.  They lived it, but they just didn't have it written down in that form.  It wasn't until later on when heresies came up that the need to articulate the Christian Creed arose.

It is worthy to note as well that the term "Orthodox" is derived from two words:  "Ortho" = straight or correct, and "Dox" = to glorify.  Thus the term "Orthodox" means "The straight/correct way for glorifying God."

The Orthodox Church holds the original faith as handed down from Christ.  It is an Apostolic and Traditional Church.