Nothing witnesses to the world

as much as the saints of the

Eastern Orthodox.

If you have ever wondered

about early Christianity,

learn it from these

saints

The Antiochian Orthodox Church

Saints Peter and Paul established the Church in Antioch.  St. Peter served as the first Bishop (patriarch) of Antioch over all the bishops of the civil Diocese of the East.  The headquarters of the Patriarchate, which has jurisdiction over all dioceses within its ancient geographic boundaries (Syria, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq, and the Arabic Peninsula) as well as others in the Americas, Australia, and Western Europe, are located in Damascus on "the street called Straight" (Acts 9:11).

The Antiochian Orthodox Church is the same as Russian Orthodox, Greek Orthodox, Serbian Orthodox, Albanian Orthodox Church, and together they are referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church.  They are all in communion with each other. The only thing the names mean are the ethnic origins of that place in which the Church has been. 

Antiochian Orthodox in America generally have all English-speaking services.  While the Greek Orthodox retains some of the Greek language in the service, most of it will be in English, as well.  It depends upon the individual parish, though.  Before attending any Orthodox Church Divine Liturgy service, it should be noted that the visitor would be wise in contacting the parish priest first, and this will settle any questions about the service, and help the visitor become accustomed to what is expected of them when they enter the Sanctuary for the first time.  There will be someone to greet you, and to make you comfortable for the first time.  If a person has been anticipating this for the first time, it is surprising how much "at home" it makes a visitor feel once there.  If a friend should invite you to a Divine Liturgy service, that is well, too, and the friend should be able to guide a first-time visitor for their first Divine Liturgy service.

The Early Church

Christianity spread rapidly throughout the Roman Empire in part because Greek was the lingua franca, and partly because its philosophy of truth was something new and different than the old Roman and Greek social religions. Paul and the Apostles traveled extensively throughout the Empire, including Asia Minor, establishing Churches in major communities, with the first Churches appearing in Jerusalem and the Holy Land, then in Antioch and its surrounding regions, Rome, Alexandria, Athens, Thessalonica, and Byzantium, which, centuries later would become far more prominent as the New Rome. Christianity was met with some resistance as its adherents would not comply with the state (even at the threat of death) in offering sacrifice to the pagan gods. The blood of numerous and often famous martyrs became the mortar binding the structure of the Church together. Despite persecution, or perhaps, because of it, the Church spread and flourished. It was finally released from bondage by the Emperor Constantine the Great in 324 AD.

The Holy Theotokos

     By the 4th century Christianity had spread far and wide with hundreds of bishops in numerous countries. A number of influential schools of thought had arisen, particularly the Alexandrian and Antiochian philosophical approaches. One smaller group, the Arians, had managed to gain some influence which was causing some theological conflicts within the Church. The wise Emperor Constantine realized the need for a great ecumenical synod to be held in order to better define the Church's position. He made it possible for this council to meet not only by providing a location, but by offering to pay for the transportation of all the existing bishops of the Church.

Svetitskhoveli Cathedral one of the oldest Eastern Orthodox churches in Georgia.

Ecumenical Councils

Several doctrinal disputes from the 4th century onwards led to the calling of Ecumenical councils.

The canons set forth by nine ecumenical councils are considered by Eastern Orthodox Christianity to be the most significant and binding.

The First Ecumenical Council was convoked by the Roman Emperor Constantine at Nicaea in 325 A.D. and presided over by the Patriarch Alexander of Alexandria, with over 300 bishops condemning the view of Arius that the Son is a created being inferior to the Father.

The Second Ecumenical Council was held at Constantinople in 381 A.D., presided over by the Patriarchs of Alexandria and Antioch, with 150 bishops, defining the nature of the Holy Spirit against those asserting His inequality with the other persons of the Trinity.

The Third Ecumenical Council is that of Ephesus in 431 A.D., presided over by the Patriarch of Alexandria, with 250 bishops, which affirmed that Mary is truly "Birthgiver" or "Mother" of God (Theotokos), contrary to the teachings of Nestorius.

The Fourth Ecumenical Council is that of Chalcedon in 451 A.D., Patriarch of Constantinople presiding, 500 bishops, affirmed that Jesus is truly God and truly man, without mixture of the two natures, contrary to Monophysite teaching.

The Fifth Ecumenical Council is the second of Constantinople in 553 A.D., interpreting the decrees of Chalcedon and further explaining the relationship of the two natures of Jesus; it also condemned the teachings of Origen on the pre-existence of the soul, etc.

The Sixth Ecumenical Council is the third of Constantinople in 681 A.D.; it declared that Christ has two wills of his two natures, human and divine, contrary to the teachings of the Monothelites.

The Seventh Ecumenical Council was called under the Empress Regent Irene in 787 A.D., known as the second of Nicaea. It supports the veneration of icons while forbidding their worship. It is often referred to as "The Triumph of Orthodoxy."

The Eight Ecumenical Council also known as The Fourth Council of Constantinople was called in 879 A.D. It restored St. Photius to his See in Constantinople and condemned any alteration of the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed of 381 A.D. The council was accepted as ecumenical by all five patriarchs, including Pope John VIII of Rome.

The Ninth Ecumenical Council also known as The Fifth Council of Constantinople was actually a series of councils held between 1341 A.D. and 1351 A.D. It affirmed the hesychastic theology of St. Gregory Palamas and condemned the philosopher Barlaam.

In addition to these councils there have been a number of significant councils meant to further define the Orthodox position. They are the Synods of Constantinople, 1484, 1583, 1755, 1819, and 1872, the Synod of Iasi (Jassy), 1642, and the Pan-Orthodox Synod of Jerusalem, 1672.

Apostolic Succession

There are a few Churches today which claim apostolic succession.  These are the Roman Catholic Church, the Oriental Orthodox Church, and the Eastern Orthodox Church.  These Churches collectively were once the One Holy and Apostolic Church, but were divided by divisions of doctrine.  Of these Churches, the Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Orthodox are nearly the same, and hope continues these two will once again become one.  The doctrine that divides them is the Monophysite doctrine, but talks are under way at this time to reconcile the differences, which may be only a matter of definition.  The Catholic Church split away from the Eastern Orthodox Church in 1054 A. D. because of the Papal infallibility belief, and also the filioque (the Holy Spirit proceeding from the Son) added to the Nicene Creed, among a few other things.  The Eastern Orthodox do not recognize the Pope as supreme, but only as "first among equals."

The Eastern Orthodox Church has been steadfast to the original beliefs and doctrines put forth by the early Church beginning with the Apostles.  Any deviation from these beliefs is considered heresy.

Many of these saint's stories come from Orthodox Church in America.