Christians of the Eastern Churches call themselves Orthodox. This description comes to us from the 5th century and has two meanings which are closely related. The preferred definition is “true praise” — to bless, praise, and glorify God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as the fundamental purpose of the Church. All Her activities and Her doctrinal formulations, are directed toward this goal.
When one enters the Orthodox church, it is like stepping into a whole new world of color and light. The art and design of the church not only create a distinctive atmosphere of worship, but also reflects and embodies many of the fundamental insights of Orthodoxy.
The Orthodox Church proclaims the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In the Greek language, the word for Gospel is Evangelion which means literally "the good news." The good news of Orthodox Christianity is a proclamation of God's unbounded and sacrificial love for mankind, as well as the revelation of the true destiny of the human person.
Worship is an experience which involves the entire church. When Orthodox Christians come together for worship, they do so as members of a church which transcends the boundaries of society, of time, and of space. Although Orthodox Christians gather at a particular moment and at a particular place, their actions reach beyond the parish into the Kingdom of God. They worship in the company of the living and the departed faithful.
In the Orthodox Church, the Eucharist is also known as the Divine Liturgy. The word liturgy means people's work. When an Orthodox attends the Divine Liturgy, he or she does not come as an isolated person, rather he or she comes as a member of the Community of Faith who participates in the very purpose of the Church (the worship of the Holy Trinity).
There are seven sacraments in the Orthodox church: The Eucharist, Baptism, Chrismation, Confession, Marriage, Ordination, and Holy Unction. These are special experiences in the life of Orthodox Christians when the perception of God's presence and actions is heightened and celebrated.
The Orthodox Church has a number of special services and blessings which are associated with the needs, events, and tasks of human life. In celebrating these various Services and Blessings, the Church is constantly bearing witness to the presence and action of God in our lives.
Throughout the ages the Orthodox Church has maintained a continuity of faith and love with the apostolic community: founded by Christ and sustained by the Holy Spirit. Orthodoxy believes that She has preserved and taught the historic Christian Faith, free from error and distortion, from the time of the Apostles. She also believes that there is nothing in the body of Her teachings which is contrary to truth, or which inhibits real union with God.