The Orthodox belief of God is based upon how He has revealed Himself to His people through the Holy Scriptures and Sacred Tradition. Orthodox theology never speculates in its beliefs (e.g.., the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, the person of Jesus Christ, the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of Jesus Christ, sacramental theology, etc.), but is very comfortable in saying, when things are inexplicable or impossible to comprehend by the human mind, that it is a "mystery." What we do know of God-that is, what He has revealed to us-is that He is: eternal, holy, perfect, all-loving, present everywhere, the Creator, the Source and Giver of life, the Source of virtues, a Trinity, just and therefore Judge, etc.,

The Orthodox speak of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit: three divine persons sharing the same essence and a perpetual movement of love which makes the Holy Trinity act harmoniously as one. The Orthodox have always maintained a theological balance between the oneness of God and the threeness of God. For example, in the Old Testament we read "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one." (Deuteronomy 6:4); and, in the New Testament we read "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit..." (Matthew 28:19).

• Origin of the Orthodox Church
• The Orthodox Church in the First Centuries after Christ
• The Spread of Orthodox Christianity
• The Great Schism: Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism
• Continuity vs Reformation
• Orthodoxy in America
• The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America

The Orthodox Faith

• God
• Jesus Christ
• The Holy Spirit
• The Virgin Mary
• The Bible
• Holy Tradition
• The Sacraments
• Icons
• The Clergy and the Laity

Return to the first page