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The Orthodox Church derives her teaching from two sources: Holy Scripture and Sacred Tradition. These two sources, according to Orthodox conviction, are of equal value and they complete and compliment each other. We regard Sacred Tradition as an essential complement of Holy Scripture because the Apostles wrote the various books which constitute the New Testament from different sources; consequently, it is impossible that the Holy Scripture should contain all the teachings of our Lord and His Apostles, which in the beginning were transmitted orally. Therefore, Sacred Tradition is older than the New Testament.
WE BELIEVE THAT GOD IS ONE in substance and Triune (three) in persons. We worship One God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity, neither confusing the persons nor dividing the substance (or essence). Creation is the work in time of the Holy Trinity. The world is not self-created, neither has it existed from eternity, but it is the product of the wisdom, the power, and the will of the One God in Trinity. God the Father is the prime cause of creation and God the Son and the Holy Spirit took part in creation, God the Son perfecting creation and God the Holy Spirit vivifying (enlivening) creation.
WE BELIEVE THAT OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST is truly God. He is Jesus, that is, the Savior and Christ, the Lord's Anointed, a Son not created of another substance, as is the case with us, but a son begotten of the very substance of the Father before all time, and thus consubstantial with the Father. He is also truly man, like us in every respect, except sin. The denial either of His divinity or of His humanity constitutes a denial on His incarnation and of our salvation.
THE HOLY SPIRIT proceeds from the Father. The faith of the Church about the procession of the Holy Spirit was confirmed by the Second Ecumenical Council, which added to the Creed the following clause: "And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of life, who proceeds from the Father."
THE CHURCH is the holy institution founded by our Lord Jesus Christ for the salvation of men, bearing his holy sanction and authority, and composed of men having one and the same faith, and partaking of the same sacraments. It is divided into clergy and laity. The clergy trace their descent by the uninterrupted succession from the Apostles and through them from our Lord Jesus Christ. The Church is ONE because our Lord Jesus Christ founded not many, but only one church; HOLY because her aim, the sanctification and salvation of her members through the sacraments, is holy; CATHOLIC because she is above local limitations; and APOSTLIC because she was "built upon the foundation of the Apostles, Jesus Christ Himself being the cornerstone" (Eph. 2:20). The Head of the Church is our Lord, Jesus Christ.
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