The Orthodox Christian Community of Seward
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INTRODUCTION
We believe there is a body of doctrine and mystical experience common to all great religions of the world. Obviously, they cannot be claimed as the exclusive possession of any one particular religious system. Moving within the realm of Christianity and regarding itself as a distinctive Christian church, it nevertheless holds that the other great religions of the world are also divinely inspired and that all proceed from a common source, though different religions stress different aspects of the various teachings, and some aspects may even temporarily be ignored. These teachings, as facts in nature, rest on their own intrinsic merit. They form that true Orthodox Christian faith which is catholic because it is the statement of universal principles. Blessed Augustine said: "The identical thing that we now call the Christian religion existed among the ancients and has not been lacking from the beginnings of the human race until the coming of Christ in the flesh, from which moment on the true religion, which already existed, began to be called Christian." (Retract I. XIII,3). And the same principle was in reality involved in the well-known declaration of Vincent of Lerins: "That let us hold which everywhere, always and by all has been believed: for this is truly and rightly catholic".
WELCOME
Welcome to the tradition established by Christ Jesus and His Apostles, the Orthodox Church. This pamphlet is intended as a guide to our ministries and way of thinking for those spiritual seekers who are looking for a Church to belong to as spiritual home, and who are attracted to untainted ancient Christianity. In the Name of Jesus we teach a Christ centered approach: Living the Gospel truth as found in the Holy Scriptures (Bible) and lovingly following the tradition of the Apostles and of the Master Himself. Our creed, liturgies, Apostolic canons and teaching represent the oldest extant interpretation of our Lord Jesus Christ. We invite you to share with us on this journey towards salvation and the reconciliation of all people to their Creator. We are founded on the most ancient ideal of Christian life, and have inherited much from our Syrian, Byzantine and East Indian Orthodox forefathers. Because our approach to spirituality is a positive, uplifting attitude towards God and neighbor, the Church places the strongest emphasis on the development of the human consciousness through the refinement of ethical behavior. One's behavior toward other beings, whether towards fellow men or towards creation as a whole, is the outer indicator of one's inner spiritual development. The Gospel truth is not a body of knowledge, but a way of life. We affirm the human family as the highest form of Christian spiritual life, and truth as the highest form of Christian spiritual ideal. We respect and encourage each member's individual journey towards the 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. Our ministry and reason for existence here in the West is that much of Christianity, which has dominated Western civilization, is lacking of the rich Eastern forms that provide some of the in-depth spiritual and temporal needs for the faithful. Our purpose is to provide this with loving kindness, and with openness often unexpressed by the larger or institutionalized denominations. Every time a person connects with another one in a positive and enlightened way, whether by a smile, by a hug or by conversation, they raise the spark of divinity within themselves. Through our acts of divine love in charity and prayer we minister not only to our fellow men but through worship we manifest God in our midst. We also minister to all of God's creation through our belief in healing and reconciliation.
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