The Orthodox Church: The Orthodox Church is the most ancient of the Christian churches.Through unbroken tradition and sacred memory, she is linked with the apostolic church of the founding period. Her doctrinal formulations and her liturgical mind were shaped in the eastern part of the Roman Empire (Byzantium) during the most creative period of the Fathers of the Church. Particularly after their loyalty to their faith. They are hierarchical, national, self-governing churches, each headed by a patriarch, a metropalitan or archbishop, all recognizing the same articles of faith.

Seen in the setting of American life, the Orthodox Church by contrast is the youngest amoung the historical churches. Her history in America started at the end of the eighteen century, when a mission of the Russian Church reached Alaska and started missionary work amoung the natives on Kodiak Island. The churches represented here today have developed from the national churches of immigrant groups. The members come from different cultural backrounds and diverse geographical areas and historical experiences. In addition we have a growing number of recent converts, born and educated in this country.

All the Orthodox churches are one in faith and sacraments,whatever their geographical origin. This unites them despite their ethnic diversity. In their doctrinal teaching the Trinity, the Incarnation, the resurrection and ascension of Christ, the veneration of the Virgin and the saints,and the second coming of Christ are predominant in their theological thinking, as well as in their prayers and their worship.

 What the Orthodox believe in, and what is central in their life, is fully revealed in the texts of their liturgies. These are primarily the liturgies of St. John Chrysostom and St. Basil the Great, which had their roots in the fourth century. In the liturgical texts we find the best expression of Orthodox theology, for in the Orthodox Church theology is never separated from liturgical spirituality. It is grounded in the living experience of God and Christ, and in the church as the body of the Risen Lord and the Temple of the Holy Spirit. The Church is primarily a worshipping community, in which the truths of theology are proclaimed in hymns and prayers.

The language of Orthodox worship is biblical.We not only find innumerable quotations from the Old and New Testaments in the services, but above all the worship is permeated by the biblical vision of God, Christ and Spirit who transform and create new things out of old.

For the Orthodox Christian, the aim of Christian life is personal union with God and His Spirit. This union is possible, for God Himself opened the way that human beings may come to him. Before they loved Him, He loved them; before they turned to Him, He came to them.This union with God is based on the incarnation: the Son of God became man and dwelt amoung us (Jn. 1:14). In the Incarnate Son of God, Christ, perfect humanity and perfect divinity are united forever.

A distinctive feature of an Orthodox church is it's icons, hanging on the walls, ,placed on stands, and most spectacularly built into the icon screen before the altar. These are not merely religious pictures, but are traditionally created according to strict canonical rules for theological purposes. They bear witness to the union with God of those holy men and women who had glorified God and Christ in their bodies and souls, in their whole life. The believers do not worship the icons themselves but venerate them as witnesses to the Incarnation.

The Orthodox Church in an American setting is a new experience for the members of this church. For the first time we find members of most of the Orthodox churches in a single country, sharing a common language. Although they were united in faith and worship, before coming to America they had lived in isolation from each other.The contacts among these churches has brought them closer together , and will enrich them more and more in the future.The use of English language in addition to their own Slavic, Greek, and  Arabic in the church services will inevitably contribute to and strengthen their unity. Their priest and laymen who are being educated in Orthodox theological seminaries in this country recognize their commom faith and aspirations and are more prone to work together for the benefit of all the churches. As Orthodox presses have developed, their teachings are not only preserved but also interpreted in numerous publications. Thirty years ago it was difficult to find a sufficient amount of material in English dealing with the Orthodox church and it's life; now old and new books are being published and laymen are urged to read and study them.

All this indicates that the Orthodox churches have an opportunity and responsilibility in this new situation. Now they can reveal the treasures which they have preserved through the centuries, cooperating with other Christian churches, and end the isolation which historical circumstances imposed upon them. They also have the responsility to interpret and apply the Gospel of Christ and faith of the Church in this new world without reducing or compromising its content and meaning. Only as such will they be of benefit to themselves and to the lager American society.

Dr. Veselin Kesich, St Vladimir's Seminary