THE NICENE CREED The Creed makes a clear statement defining the Orthodox Christian Faith. It is considered the Constitution of the Church and is composed of twelve articles. Controversies in beliefs and doctrines caused the convening of the first Ecumenical Council held in the city of Nicea in 325 AD at which time the Creed was written. The Creed was the faith of the undivided Christian Church before the 11th century split (1054 AD – The Great Schism.) This symbol of faith is recited during the Divine Liturgy using the same words in which it was originally formulated with no deletions or additions. TEACHING The teachings and practices of the Orthodox Church are found in the Holy Bible (Sacred Scriptures), Old and New Testaments, and in the Sacred Tradition as an essential complement to Holy Scripture. The Apostles wrote the various books of the New Testament from different aspects. Consequently it is impossible that the Holy Scriptures would contain all the teachings of our Lord and His Apostles. These teachings were transmitted orally in the beginning, and Sacred Tradition, therefore, is older than the New Testament writings. There is no Sacrament, Liturgy, or service in the Orthodox Church which does not include spiritual readings from both the Old and New Testaments. THE BIBLE (HOLY SCRIPTURES) This is the written word of God, recording His revelation. It is to be studied, read and revered. The Church’s traditions, liturgy and worship are derived from the interpretation and explanation of the truth contained in the Bible. The Orthodox Church recognizes 49 books in the Old Testament and 27 books in the New Testament. HOLY TRADITION The spiritual treasures that have been inherited from the ancestral Holy Fathers constitute Holy Tradition. These traditions which are older than the Scriptures are in absolute accord with them. They serve to better our unserstanding and interpretation of the Word of God. Holy Tradition includes: -Short definitions and formulations of the Orthodox Creed, -The doctrine of the Seven Sacraments and the rituals for performing them, -The canons of the Apostles, -The canons of the Seven Ecumenical Councils, -The canons and regulations of the provincial synods or councils, -Disciplinary rules of Basil the Great and other saints, -Divine Liturgies and other church services, -The writings of the early church Fathers, -The lives of Christian saints and martyrs, -Signs, symbols and religious accessories used to express our faith. Holy Tradition and Holy Scriptures are inseparable. Through Holy Tradition, a better understanding of the Holy Scriptures is obtained. Through the Scriptures a more complete understanding and appreciation of Holy Tradition is made possible. The guardian of the Holy Tradition is the hierarchy of the Church in concert with canonical synods and councils. HOLY TRINITY The Eastern Orthodox Church believes in the dogma of the Holy Trinity, that God is One but that there are three persons in God, each distinguished by personal characteristics. All three Persons of the Trinity are of one Divine Substance, are One God, and are co-eternal with each other. God the Father is characterized in that He is the Cause and the Origin. God the Son is characterized as Begotten of the Father. God the Holy Spirit is characterized as proceeding from the Father. It is truly a mystery how three are one and one is three. The understanding of the mystery of the Holy Trinity is impossible to finite human minds. However, a visible resemblance to the Trinity is found in the sun. First of all, the sun is a complete globe and is the cause and origin of light, which we can see, and heat, which we can feel.