What is the Orthodox Christian Church?
What do we believe? Learn more about our Orthodox faith, doctrine, teachings, and practices.
Icon of Christ the Teacher
Discover Orthodox Christianity: An introduction to Orthodoxy from the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese http://ww1.antiochian.org/discover
- Introducing Orthodoxyhttp://ww1.antiochian.org/discover/introduction
- What is the Church? http://ww1.antiochian.org/discover/church
- Who is God? http://ww1.antiochian.org/discover/go
- Feast Days and Fasts of the Christian Year: http://ww1.antiochian.org/discover/feasts
- Liturgy and Worship http://ww1.antiochian.org/discover/worship
- The Sacraments http://ww1.antiochian.org/discover/sacraments
- The Scriptures http://ww1.antiochian.org/discover/scripture
- Entering God’s Kingdom http://ww1.antiochian.org/discover/spirituality
- People of Faith http://ww1.antiochian.org/discover/faithful
First Visit to an Orthodox Church: Twelve Things I Wish I’d Known by Frederica Mathewes-Greenhttp://ww1.antiochian.org/content/first-visit-orthodox-church-twelve-things-i-wish-id-known
The Orthodox Faith: From the late Orthodox teacher Father Thomas Hopko, this is a comprehensive series of articles on all aspects of Orthodoxy, also published as a four-volume set. https://oca.org/orthodoxy/the-orthodox-faith
- Volume 1: Doctrine and Scripture https://oca.org/orthodoxy/the-orthodox-faith/doctrine-scripture
- Volume 2: Worship https://oca.org/orthodoxy/the-orthodox-faith/worship
- Volume 3: Church History https://oca.org/orthodoxy/the-orthodox-faith/church-history
- Volume 4: https://oca.org/orthodoxy/the-orthodox-faith/spirituality
Questions and Answers about Orthodoxyhttps://oca.org/questions
The Orthodox Church, other Christian churches, and other religions: Listen to a series of talks by Fr. Andrew Damick, “Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy.” http://www.ancientfaith.com/podcasts/orthodoxyheterodoxy
Journey to Orthodoxy: Personal testimonies and stories from those who have found their home in the Orthodox Church. http://journeytoorthodoxy.com/
A helpful guide to church etiquettehttp://ww1.antiochian.org/sites/default/files/ChurchEtiquetteBooklet.pdf
Orthodox Christian Prayer and Daily Devotion
It is essential that each day we talk to God through prayer, and listen to God by reading the Holy Scriptures. Below are some helpful online resources for cultivating a prayer life.
Icon of St. Ephraim of Syria in prayer before an icon of Jesus Christ
Daily Orthodox prayers from the popular “Little Red Prayer Book” http://ww1.antiochian.org/orthodox-prayers
Daily Bible readings http://antiochian.org/epistleliturgicday/
Lives of the Saints https://oca.org/saints/lives
Ancient Faith Radio: Streaming Orthodox music, hundreds of podcasts, blogs, an online bookstore, and other resources on the Orthodox faith. http://www.ancientfaith.com/
The Daily Devotional Guide by Fr. Patrick Reardon http://www.fsj.org/new/devotional-guide.php
Orthodox Teachings on Contemporary Moral and Social Issues
From the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America:
- Response to Racist Violence http://www.assemblyofbishops.org/news/2017/response-to-racist-violence-charlottesville-va
- Response to Obergefell vs. Hodges http://www.assemblyofbishops.org/news/2015/response-of-assembly-of-bishops-to-obergefell-v.-hodges
- On the 40th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade http://www.assemblyofbishops.org/news/2013/jan-22-roe-vs-wade-anniversary
- The Importance of Sunday http://www.assemblyofbishops.org/news/2012/importance-of-sunday
- Marriage and the Moral Crisis in our Nation http://www.assemblyofbishops.org/news/2012/marriage-and-moral-crisis
- Religious Liberty http://www.assemblyofbishops.org/news/2012/protest-against-hhs
From the Orthodox Church in America:
- Synodal Affirmations on Marriage, Family, Sexuality, and the Sanctity of Life https://oca.org/holy-synod/statements/holy-synod/synodal-affirmations-on-marriage-family-sexuality-and-the-sanctity-of-life