Frequently Asked Questions
Orthodoxy is ancient, but for many people it is unfamiliar.
People often ask: What exactly is the Orthodox Church?
The Orthodox Church proclaims the Gospel — so in that sense, it is evangelical — but it is not Protestant.
It is faithful to right belief — truly orthodox.
It is catholic — universal — but it is not Roman.
It is not a modern denomination among many.
It is the historic Church founded at Pentecost.
For two thousand years it has believed, taught, preserved, defended, and, when necessary, died for the faith handed down by the Apostles.
Below are brief answers to common questions. If you’re new, you may wish to begin with our Welcome page.
The Orthodox Church
What is the Orthodox Church?
The Orthodox Church is the historic Christian Church founded by Jesus Christ, filled with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, and entrusted with the faith of the Apostles.
It proclaims the Gospel — and has done so continuously for two thousand years. It preserves the worship, doctrine, and sacramental life of the early Church not as a museum piece, but as a living reality.
The Orthodox Church is not one denomination among many competing options. It is the ancient Church that existed long before modern denominational divisions. Through centuries of persecution, empire, migration, and mission, it has endured, proclaimed, and handed down the same apostolic faith.
If you would like a fuller overview of what we believe and why, see our page: What Is Orthodox Christianity?
Is Orthodoxy the same as Roman Catholicism?
The Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church share a common first millennium of Christian history. We confess the same Trinity, the same early Ecumenical Councils, and the same sacramental foundations.
However, the Churches separated in the 11th century over questions of authority and doctrine — particularly the role of the bishop of Rome and certain theological developments that followed.
From an Orthodox perspective, both Roman Catholicism and Protestantism developed within a Western theological framework after that separation. While they differ significantly from one another, they share assumptions about authority, salvation, and the structure of the Church that are distinct from the older, patristic understanding preserved in Orthodoxy.
Orthodoxy does not see itself as a branch of Western Christianity. It understands itself as the continuation of the apostolic Church in its original theological and liturgical life.
What makes Orthodoxy different from Protestant churches?
The Protestant Reformation began as an effort in Western Europe to return to the original sources of Christianity — especially the Scriptures — and to address developments in medieval Latin theology.
The Orthodox Church did not undergo a Reformation. By the time those debates arose, East and West had already been separated for centuries. As a result, Orthodoxy was not shaped by the theological movements that followed — including the Enlightenment and many of the categories that structure modern Western Christian discussion.
Because of this, Orthodoxy does not easily fit into familiar contrasts like “faith versus works,” “Scripture versus tradition,” or “belief versus sacraments.” In the Orthodox understanding, these are not competing realities. Faith is lived. Scripture is read within the worshiping Church. Doctrine and sacramental life belong together.
Orthodoxy sees itself not as a reform movement, but as the continuous life of the apostolic Church.
If you would like to explore how Scripture and worship function together in Orthodoxy, visit our Worship section.
Worship & Sacraments
What are the sacraments in the Orthodox Church?
In the Orthodox Church, we more often speak of the Holy Mysteries rather than “the sacraments.”
A mystery is not a puzzle to be solved. It is the revealed life of God made present and active in the Church.
In Western Christianity, it became common to speak of “seven sacraments.” Orthodoxy recognizes Baptism, Chrismation, the Eucharist, Confession, Marriage, Ordination, and Holy Unction as central and enduring mysteries of the Church. But we do not limit God’s sacramental life to a numbered list.
The consecration of a church, the monastic tonsure, the funeral service, the blessing of water — all of these are sacramental encounters with Christ.
In Orthodoxy, the question is not, “How many sacraments are there?”
The deeper question is: how is the whole of life being transfigured in Christ?
At the heart of this life stands the Eucharist — the Divine Liturgy — in which the Church becomes what she is: the Body of Christ. In the Eucharist, heaven and earth meet, and the Church is revealed as communion in Christ.
You can learn more about our worship and liturgical life in the Worship section.
Why is Orthodox worship so liturgical?
Orthodox worship reflects heavenly worship described in Scripture. It is structured, ancient, and communal. We believe worship forms the heart over time.
If you are new to Orthodox worship, our Divine Liturgy page explains what to expect.
May non-Orthodox Christians receive Communion?
Holy Communion is the sacrament of unity in faith and life. For this reason, the Eucharist is received by baptized and chrismated Orthodox Christians who have spiritually prepared themselves through prayer, fasting, and recent confession.
Receiving Communion in the Orthodox Church is not simply a personal act of devotion. It is a visible expression of full unity in faith, doctrine, and sacramental life. For that reason, we ask those who are not yet Orthodox to refrain from receiving the Eucharist.
However, you are not excluded from the life of the Church.
After receiving Communion, members of St. John the Merciful may offer you a small piece of blessed bread. This bread is not the Eucharist. It is bread that has been blessed and shared as a sign of hospitality and fellowship. We offer it in a spirit of welcome — and in hope for the day when we may share full communion with all who take up their cross and follow Christ in His Church.
If you have questions about receiving Communion or about becoming Orthodox, we would be glad to speak with you.
Scripture
Do Orthodox Christians believe in the Bible?
Yes. The Orthodox Church receives the Holy Scriptures as inspired by God and essential to the life of the Church.
At the same time, Orthodoxy understands that the Word of God is not a book, but a Person — Jesus Christ Himself, the eternal Logos made flesh. The Scriptures bear witness to Him. They are the written testimony to the living Word.
The Bible was preserved, proclaimed, and canonized within the life of the Church. It is read publicly in every service. In fact, the Divine Liturgy and the daily cycle of worship consist largely of biblical texts — Psalms, prophetic readings, Gospel proclamations, and apostolic letters. Many have observed that the Liturgy itself is, in a sense, a living paraphrase of Scripture, prayed and sung in the midst of the people.
In Orthodoxy, Scripture is not isolated from worship or reduced to private interpretation. It is heard, proclaimed, and lived within the community of the Church, guided by the saints and the apostolic faith.
If you would like to see how Scripture shapes our worship, visit our Divine Liturgy page.
How does Orthodoxy interpret Scripture?
Orthodoxy reads Scripture within the life of the Church — not as an isolated text, but as the living proclamation of the crucified and risen Christ. The Word of God is Christ Himself, and the Scriptures bear witness to Him. For that reason, the Bible is not approached as a detached historical artifact nor as a collection of proof texts, but as the inspired testimony received, proclaimed, and embodied within the worshiping community.
The Church reads the Scriptures closely and in context, as the Fathers did. A passage is not lifted out of the whole but heard within the Gospel’s larger movement. The Evangelists themselves wrote in light of Israel’s Scriptures, and the Church continues to read in that same light — seeing how the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms are fulfilled in Christ. At times the meaning of a text may appear obvious; yet the Fathers remind us that Scripture is also deep and layered, calling us beyond surface readings into spiritual understanding. The Scriptures are harmonious, purposeful, and often speak more than they first appear to say.
Most importantly, Scripture is read so that it may be embodied. The Gospels were not written merely to preserve information about Jesus, but so that we may know Him, believe in Him, and be conformed to Him. If the Word is not lived, it remains only sound. In Orthodoxy, Scripture is proclaimed in the Divine Liturgy, interpreted within the tradition of the saints, and actualized in the life of repentance, prayer, and sacramental communion. The goal is not simply understanding the text, but being transformed by the One to whom it points.
Is the Orthodox Bible different?
The Orthodox Church receives the same twenty-seven books of the New Testament as other historic Christian traditions.
In the Old Testament, however, the Orthodox Church follows the ancient Greek Septuagint — the version of the Scriptures widely used in the time of Christ and the Apostles. In fact, many Old Testament quotations found in the New Testament come from the Septuagint.
As a result, the Orthodox Old Testament includes several books that are sometimes called “Apocrypha” in Western traditions. In Orthodoxy, these books are not considered foreign additions, but part of the Church’s received scriptural inheritance.
The canon of Scripture did not descend as a pre-packaged list. It was recognized, preserved, and proclaimed within the worshiping life of the Church over time. For Orthodox Christians, the Bible is inseparable from the Church that received it, prayed it, and handed it down.
Orthodoxy in North America
Is Orthodoxy only for certain ethnic groups?
No. Orthodoxy is not an ethnic religion. It is the faith of the Apostles, offered to every nation and people.
In America today, you may hear of “Greek Orthodox,” “Russian Orthodox,” or “Serbian Orthodox.” These names usually reflect historical and cultural roots, not different beliefs. A helpful comparison is the Roman Catholic experience in the United States a century ago. There were Italian Catholic parishes, Irish Catholic parishes, Polish Catholic parishes — each shaped by immigrant communities. Over time, those distinctions became less central, and what remained was simply Roman Catholic.
Orthodoxy in America is still working through that same historical process. The twentieth century was especially difficult for many traditionally Orthodox lands, with severe persecution under communist and, in some places, Islamic regimes. That upheaval slowed the normal development of a unified Orthodox presence in this country.
But the faith itself is not tied to ethnicity. At St. John the Merciful, we welcome people from every background. The Gospel is not Greek or Russian. It is the good news of Jesus Christ for all.
What is the Orthodox Church in America (OCA)?
The Orthodox Church in America (OCA) is a self-governing (autocephalous) Orthodox Church serving the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Its roots in North America date back to 1794, when Orthodox missionaries from Russia arrived in Alaska and began preaching the Gospel among the native peoples. From there, the Church grew — first through missionary work and later through waves of immigration from Eastern and Southern Europe, the Middle East, and elsewhere.
In 1970, the OCA was granted autocephaly (self-governing status), allowing it to elect its own bishops and organize its life locally while remaining in full communion with the worldwide Orthodox Church. The OCA is not a separate denomination, but a fully Orthodox Church united in faith and sacramental life with Orthodox Christians throughout the world.
Today, the OCA includes dioceses, parishes, monasteries, and seminaries across North America. Its mission is to proclaim the Gospel, establish parishes, and cultivate the Orthodox faith in the language and culture of the people it serves.
St. John the Merciful is a parish of the OCA’s Diocese of the South.
Is your parish part of a larger church?
Yes. St. John the Merciful is a parish of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) and belongs to the Diocese of the South.
That means we are under the spiritual oversight of a bishop, united in faith and sacramental life with Orthodox Christians throughout the world, and accountable within the historic structure of the Church.
If you would like to learn more about our wider church family, you may visit:
- Orthodox Church in America — https://www.oca.org
- Diocese of the South — https://www.dosoca.org
Contemporary Questions
Is the Orthodox Church conservative or liberal?
The Orthodox Church does not define herself by modern political categories. Her teaching flows from the Gospel and from her understanding of the human person as created in the image and likeness of God, called to communion with Him.
For that reason, the Church’s moral vision is consistent and holistic. We affirm the dignity of every human life — from the child in the womb to the elderly, from the poor and homeless to the stranger and the orphan. Defending unborn life, supporting mothers in crisis, caring for widows and orphans, feeding the hungry, and serving the downtrodden are not political positions for us. They are expressions of fidelity to Christ.
The Church also maintains a traditional understanding of marriage and sexuality. Sexual union is blessed only within the lifelong, monogamous union of one man and one woman in holy marriage. Outside of that covenant, the Christian calling is chastity — not as repression, but as ascetical training. The Church teaches that our desires are not ultimate guides to truth; they are to be healed and reordered toward Christ. Chastity means learning to love in a way shaped by the Cross: through prayer, repentance, self-restraint, service, and sacrificial care for others.
The goal of the Christian life is not self-expression, but transformation — to become, by grace, what Christ is by nature.
How does Orthodoxy respond to questions about sexuality and identity?
The Orthodox Church teaches that every person is created in the image of God and must be treated with reverence and compassion. No one is reduced to a temptation, a struggle, or a category.
At the same time, the Church does not redefine marriage or bless sexual relationships outside the sacramental union of husband and wife. This includes same-sex relationships. The call to chastity applies to all Christians according to their state of life — married or unmarried.
Orthodoxy understands the Christian life as a lifelong path of repentance and healing. We are not saved by affirming ourselves as we are, but by being united to Christ and gradually conformed to His likeness. The Church walks patiently with each person in that journey, offering guidance, prayer, and the hope of sanctification.
If you would like to understand more about how the Church applies her moral teaching in parish life, we would be glad to speak with you personally.
Can someone explore Orthodoxy without committing immediately?
Yes. Visitors are welcome to attend services, ask questions, and learn at their own pace. No one is pressured to join.
If you are considering becoming Orthodox, you may find our How to Become Orthodox in Orlando page helpful.
Looking for More Detailed Answers?
For a broader collection of theological and pastoral responses, you may also consult the Orthodox Church in America’s official Questions & Answers resource:
Orthodox Church in America – Questions & Answers
If you do not see your question here, please contact us. We are always glad to continue the conversation.
