Welcome to the Tradition established by Christ Jesus and His Apostles, the Apostolic Orthodox Christian Church. We teach a loving and Christ affirming approach to human life. Our philosophy is that the Teaching of Christ is not constrained to a body of knowledge, but a way of life. We affirm family as the highest form of Christian spiritual life, and Truth as the highest for of Christian spiritual ideal. We respect and encourage each members' journey towards the Christian ideal of spiritual transformation: where there is less of self, there is indeed more of Christ, who is the divine life and essence of and within every man and woman.
This page addresses only the basics of our belief and tradition. First, the source of faith is listed below. Then, we have included a special quote about our belief about evil and sin. Finally, the Apostoles Creed is included in its twelve parts, each attributed to an apostle.
Please feel free to contact us with any questions or if you would like further information.
EMAIL or phone - (608)236-9622
God bless you and all of yours, and may He keep you in the abundance of happinesss, faith, hope and good health, now and forever. AMEN.
1. The Bible - Old Testament and New Testament (and the several accepted Old Testament Books considered apocryphal in the West)
2. First Three Ecumenical Councils (where the Canon of Scripture and credal formulas developed - including the Nicene Creed)
3. Writings of the Fathers and Saints (including the works of the Apostles and the Saints, the Didache, and others)
4. Qurbana/Liturgy (including Holy Eucharist and the other Holy Mysteries, called Sacraments in the West, and the celebration of the Church Festivals and observation of Fasts)
5. Icons and other Ancient Holy Symbols passed on through Holy Orthodoxy
"According to the western Christian thought, which originated in Augustine, the essence of man is his sinful nature. Man is originally sinner. Gregory [of Nyssa] cannot agree with this idea. If man is sinner by nature, how can he be blamed for doing sin? According to Gregory, the essence of man is nothing but the essence of God. Man is the visible image of the invisible God. The original and the image differ in that the original is self-existent and remains unchanging whereas the image depends upon the original, and moves from beginning to end. Man is absolutely free as God is free. However, man is in a state of growing-- growing up to the perfection of God. As man is in need of growth, he is immature. Immaturity often makes man misuse his freedom. This is what Gregory calls evil or sin. Whatever in our attitude and behavior that hinders the perpetual growth towards the perfection of God is evil."
From "Cosmic Man" by Paulos Mar Gregorios
Maker of heaven and earth [Mar John]
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord [Mar James]
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and borne of the Virgin Mary (Theotokos)[Mar Andrew]
Who suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified and buried [Mar Philip]
Who descended into hell and, on the third day, rose from the dead [Mar Thomas]
Who ascended into heaven and sits on the right hand of the Father [Mar Bartholomew]
Whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead [Mar Matthew]
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Universal Church [Mar James bar Alpheus]
The remission of sins [Mar Simon Zeolotes]
The resurrection of the dead [Mar Jude - brother of Mar James]
And life everlasting. Amen. [Mar Matthias]
