The Orthodox Christian Faith
The Orthodox Church is the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church founded by Jesus Christ and sustained by the Holy Spirit from the Day of Pentecost to the present day. For over two thousand years, the Orthodox Church has preserved the fullness of the Christian faith unchanged—the same doctrine, the same worship, the same spiritual life handed down from the Apostles through an unbroken succession of bishops to our own time.
St. Michael Antiochian Orthodox Church is part of this ancient Church, belonging to the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America—the same Antioch where the followers of Christ were first called Christians (Acts 11:26).
The Nicene Creed
At every Divine Liturgy, Orthodox Christians confess the faith together by reciting the Nicene Creed. Formulated by the First and Second Ecumenical Councils (325 and 381 AD), this creed expresses the essential beliefs that unite all Orthodox Christians throughout the world.
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 Son of God, the Only-begotten, begotten of the Father before all ages; Light of Light, true God of true God; begotten, not made; of one essence with the Father, by Whom all things were made; Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead; Whose kingdom shall have no end.
And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of life, Who proceeds from the Father; Who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified; Who spoke by the prophets.
In one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
What Orthodox Christians Believe
The Holy Trinity
We worship one God in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—co-eternal, co-equal, and undivided. The Father is the eternal source; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father; the Holy Spirit eternally proceeds from the Father. This mystery is not a problem to be solved but a reality to be worshiped.
Holy Scripture & Holy Tradition
The Orthodox Church receives the Holy Scriptures as the inspired Word of God, interpreted within the living Tradition of the Church. Holy Tradition is not separate from Scripture but is the context in which Scripture was written, canonized, and has always been understood. Together, they form one unified source of divine revelation guarded by the Church.
Jesus Christ, God and Man
Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God who became man for our salvation. He is fully God and fully man—two natures united in one Person without confusion, change, division, or separation. Through His life, death, resurrection, and ascension, He has conquered sin and death and opened the way to eternal life.
The Theotokos
We honor the Virgin Mary as Theotokos—the "Birth-giver of God"—because she bore in her womb the incarnate Son of God. She is the most blessed among all humanity, the model of faithfulness, and the supreme example of what it means to say "yes" to God. We ask for her prayers as we would ask any beloved member of our family to pray for us.
The Saints & Holy Icons
The saints are not distant heroes but living members of the Church who have finished their earthly race and now stand before God. We venerate them as examples of holy living and ask for their prayers. Holy icons—sacred images of Christ, the Theotokos, and the saints—are windows into heaven that remind us of the reality of the Incarnation and the communion of saints.
The Holy Mysteries
The Orthodox Church celebrates seven Holy Mysteries (sacraments): Baptism, Chrismation, the Eucharist, Confession, Holy Unction, Marriage, and Ordination. These are not mere symbols but true encounters with God's grace that transform us. At the center is the Eucharist—the Body and Blood of Christ—which is the source and summit of the Church's life.
Salvation & Theosis
Salvation is not merely a legal declaration but a process of healing and transformation. Through the grace of God and our cooperation with that grace, we are called to theosis—union with God, becoming by grace what Christ is by nature. As St. Athanasius wrote, "God became man so that man might become god." This journey of transformation continues throughout our lives and into eternity.
The Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese
St. Michael Orthodox Church is a parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, under the spiritual leadership of His Eminence Metropolitan Saba (Isper). The Archdiocese traces its lineage directly to the ancient Apostolic See of Antioch, where St. Peter himself served as the first bishop.
Come and See
Orthodoxy is not merely a set of beliefs to be studied but a way of life to be lived. We invite you to experience the Orthodox faith firsthand. Join us for Divine Liturgy on Sunday mornings, ask questions, light a candle, and discover the ancient faith that continues to transform lives today.
As Christ said to His first disciples: "Come and see" (John 1:39).