SPIRITUAL LIFE IN THE ANCIENT EASTERN CHURCH

Many Americans are unaware of the true origins of the Christian Church and the nature of ancient Christian spirituality.  Since the time of the Protestant Reformation, Christianity in the western world has splintered into thousands of different sects with opposing teachings and practices, even though most Christians agree about the basic teachings of the Christian faith.  The original Church, however, remains unbroken and is known today as “Eastern Orthodox.” It preserves ancient spirituality and practice.

Ancient Christianity is an “eastern” religion.  It grew up in Palestine and the Middle East, North Africa, and the regions which today comprise the Balkans, Turkey (Anatolia and Armenia), Iraq and Iran (formerly Persia) and Georgia, before expanding into modern Europe and Russia. The primary language of the ancient Church was Greek, but the Orthodox churches used the local languages everywhere.  

Early Christians preserved many practices from Judaism, including fasting, the use of daily prayers, chanting, the use of incense, blessings, and even the character of the Lord’s Supper (called eucharistia, “blessing” or “thanksgiving,” translated from the Hebrew áøëä, brkh).  

Early Christian worship looked very much like Orthodox Christian worship today. Worshippers stood, the Psalms and Scriptures were chanted, and deacons, priests and bishops presided over the Eucharist. Priests wore vestments, following the tradition of the Hebrews who served in the Temple. The people practiced a discipline of personal repentance, meditation and fasting. A goal was to learn “constant prayer,” especially through the use of the “Jesus Prayer.”  

Some elements of Orthodox teaching and practice:  

v  Orthodoxy is a way of life, not a “religion”

v  In Orthodox understanding, God (the Holy Trinity) is mystery…

v  …but God became man and is personally known in Jesus Christ

v  God became man in order to restore humanity

To intimacy with God

To its full potential (to be divine)

To a state of glory (doxa), overcoming death

v  The mystery of salvation is “cosmic”

v  Salvation implies harmony with nature and the universe

v  The way of practicing salvation is faithfulness, humility and self-denial

v  Orthodox live in the “now” (with past, present and future altogether)

v  Orthodox strive to be “without passions”

v  Ultimately, Orthodoxy is the practice of divine love for all beings

Today, Orthodox Christianity stands as the central point of unity for all Christians and as a bridge for people of different spiritual backgrounds.