Why I Love the Orthodox Church
1. The Orthodox Church is the New Testament Church, for as Saint Ireneaus says "Our elders (in Greek Presbyter) are the disciples of the Apostles".
2. "Come discover God as the early church knew and worshiped Him - as the Orthodox Church knows and worships Him"
3. The "Church is the Pillar of Truth", according to the Saint Paul's epistle to Timothy.
4. God calls us not to an abstract knowledge, but to communion with Himself in the worship of the Holy Trinity.
5. Do we all worship the same God?
God is the Lord and has appeared unto us and revealed Himself to us and how we are to worship Him. Psalm 118:27
God is revealed in scripture as the Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Monotheistic religions share a common vocabulary but have given a different identity to who God is. It is not possible when the attributes associated by different faiths does not comply with the teaching of the Prophets, Apostles, and the Church.
6. By-This-Sign-Shalt-Thou-Conquer. In the Old Testament, the Cross of Christ was raised in the desert as an ensign for the people being tormented by the serpents. As it is written:
"And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live." Numbers 21:8 7.
“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18
7. What is the deal with “holy tradition”?
It is common today for different denominations to claim the church is founded only on scripture -Sola-Scriptura; and they reject Tradition. But of a truth, these denominations are based on man-made traditions.
"Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?
He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with [their] lips, but their heart is far from me.
Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching [for] doctrines the commandments of men.
For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, [as] the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do." Mark 7:5-9
The traditions of these denominations have rejected the authentic Christian Gospel, creating a religion different from that of the early church.
8. There are some that hold the Lord left the church after Pentecost, only to return with the Protestant Reformation.
9. Many denominations today have deformed the authentic Christian Gospel, creating a religion that differs greatly from that of the original church.
10. The Orthodox Church is the Historic church of the Apostles and their Disciples- Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Saint Clement of Rome, and Saint Polycarp of Smyrna. They directly knew the Apostles themselves and shepherded their flock.
11. More than one person has come to the Orthodox Faith as a result of their attempt to disprove it.
12. The Orthodox Church is the Faith of our Fathers.
13. Why do we fast?
It is scriptural in both the Old and New Testaments. Here are 10 examples from scripture:
Moses fasts 40 days on Sinai: Exodus 34:28 — Moses abstains from food and water for forty days while receiving the Law, a fast tied to divine encounter and intercession.
David fasts for his dying child: 2 Samuel 12:16–23 — David lies on the ground and refuses food, fasting in repentance and prayer for his child.
Esther calls a three‑day communal fast: Esther 4:16 — Esther commands all the Jews in Susa to fast with her for three days before she approaches the king, seeking divine protection.
The Day of Atonement: Leviticus 16:29–31 — Israel must “afflict themselves,” traditionally understood as fasting, as part of repentance and purification.
Ezra fasts for safe passage: Ezra 8:23 — Ezra and the people fast and pray for God’s protection on their journey, and God hears their entreaty.
Jesus fasts 40 days in the wilderness: Matthew 4:1–2 — Jesus fasts before beginning His public ministry, combining fasting with prayer and spiritual preparation.
Anna the prophetess fasts regularly in worship: Luke 2:37 — Anna “worshiped night and day, fasting and praying,” showing fasting as part of continual devotion.
The disciples fast before sending missionaries: Acts 13:2–3 — The church in Antioch fasts and prays before commissioning Barnabas and Saul.
Paul fasts after his Damascus encounter: Acts 9:9 — After seeing Christ, Paul fasts for three days as part of his repentance and spiritual awakening.
Elders appointed with prayer and fasting: Acts 14:23 — Paul and Barnabas appoint elders in every church with prayer and fasting, showing fasting as part of solemn ecclesial decisions.
14. What does the Church teach on Fasting
"And so, you should know not the letter only, but also the mysteries of the Kingdom. For not to eat bread and not to drink water or anything else is not yet fasting, for the demons neither eat or drink anything at all. And yet they are evil and hateful to God. But fasting for us is, as the Church chants, "the estrangement from evil, restraint of tongue, refraining from anger, separation from lust, slanders, lies and false oaths. Abstinence from these things is a true and acceptable fast"
A spiritual letter from the Elder Anatoly of Optina to a nun.
15. The Orthodox Church does not presume to judge the eternal destiny of any one. Those who live and die outside of the church are commended to the mercy and love of God.
16. The invitation of the Orthodox Church is the invitation of the Gospel itself. In the Saints, we have the perfect example for how to live a life in Christ and according to His Gospel. For Christ calls us all to be Holy, as He is holy.