“Stand at the crossroads and look… ask for the ancient paths.” – Jeremiah 6:16
So, you’ve discovered Orthodox Christianity. Maybe it was through a quiet chapel filled with incense and icons. Or a chant that stirred your soul. Or the depth of a saint’s words that pierced your heart like an arrow. However you found it, welcome — you are not alone. Thousands are rediscovering the ancient Church they never knew existed.
A Faith That Is Ancient — and Alive
Orthodox Christianity is the original Christian tradition — not a denomination, but the Church founded by Christ and His Apostles, preserved faithfully for 2,000 years. As St. Irenaeus (2nd century) wrote, “Where the Church is, there is the Spirit of God; and where the Spirit of God is, there is the Church and all grace.”
The Orthodox Church is the same Church that gathered at the first seven Ecumenical Councils, gave us the New Testament canon, and preserved the fullness of the Apostolic faith through saints, martyrs, monks, and mothers of the Church. And yet it is not a museum — it is a living Body, a spiritual hospital, where Christ still heals and sanctifies souls today.
It's Not Just What We Believe — But How We Live
Orthodoxy is not merely a set of doctrines, but a way of life. It is a path of worship, prayer, asceticism, and love. The Church invites us to live as icons of Christ — not abstractly, but in the nitty-gritty of daily life: fasting, forgiving, confessing, praying, and repenting.
The heart of Orthodox life is the Divine Liturgy, the heavenly banquet where bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ. Here, we don’t merely remember Christ — we partake of Him. As St. Basil the Great writes, “Through the Holy Spirit we receive the restoration to paradise, ascension to the kingdom of heaven, return to the adoption as sons.”
The First Steps
If you're new, here are a few simple ways to begin:
- Visit a parish — Attend a Divine Liturgy. You don’t need to understand everything. Just be present and let the prayers speak to your soul.
- Introduce yourself — Speak to the priest. Share where you're coming from. Don’t be afraid to ask questions — we all began somewhere.
- Begin to pray — Start small. A simple morning and evening prayer. Learn the Jesus Prayer: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
- Read with the Church — Begin with the Gospels. Then read the lives of the saints. Ask your priest for book recommendations. The Philokalia may come later — take your time!
A Journey of Transfiguration
Orthodox Christianity doesn’t offer quick fixes or easy answers. It offers Christ. And through Him, it offers transformation — not of opinion, but of the heart. “God became man,” said St. Athanasius, “that man might become god.” This is the Orthodox vision of salvation: to be united with Christ and become, by grace, what He is by nature.
So take the first step. Come and see. The journey is long, but the path is holy. And the destination is joy.