Western Orthodox Christian Church

 

The Western Orthodox Christian Church?

The Church was established by Our Lord Jesus Christ and transmitted down through the ages by the Holy Apostles. 

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The Western Orthodox Christian Church embraces the doctrinal confession of beliefs as outlined in the Nicene Creed. We adhere to the seven Sacraments as instituted by Our Lord Jesus Christ and transmitted down through the ages, beginning with the Holy Apostles.  Our Church maintains the traditional understanding that the Church is conciliar and not monarchical. We are conciliar that we do not recognize the universal jurisdiction of any one bishop. Our bishops are the sole legislators of their respective jurisdictions and work in unity with the bishops that belong to our canonical Synod of Bishops or with whom we share inter-communion. Divinely revealed doctrine cannot be changed by any bishop nor Synod of Bishops. We adhere to the Orthodox Faith and canons. 

 

Are you Catholic or Orthodox?

Yes. We are both. We are originally and truly ‘Catholic’ according to the historic meaning of the word. The word ‘catholic’ originates from the Greek word Katholicos meaning universal. ‘Catholic’ is a generic term that embraces many particular Churches. Any Church remaining integral to the Church as founded by Christ belongs to the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. We are Orthodox in that we profess the Faith of the same Church established by Christ inclusive of the first seven Ecumenical Councils.

 

We adhere to Orthodox Catholic Faith in matters of belief and express it according to a western heritage and culture, including our Holy Mass of St. Gregory. Therefore we are Western Orthodox Christians. 

 

Are your priests celibate or married?

Our priests may choose to be married and must have the support of their wife. Other priests choose to be celibate and promise to be celibate at the time of their Ordination to the diaconate. If  they are a Religious vowed to chastity, they are automatically celibate. Our bishops may be married or unmarried since Holy Tradition and Holy Scripture (Divine Revelation) support this. The majority of the first bishops (the Holy Apostles) were chosen by Christ our God and married. This is Divine Revelation. St. John the Beloved was not married. St. Paul the Apostle, not an original Apostle, chose to remain unmarried for the sake of the Kingdom. Married bishops is supported by Divine Revelation.

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What Holy Mass do you use for worship?

Our Church maintains usage of the historical liturgy of the West, namely the Liturgy of St. Gregory, celebrated in the vernacular (English, Spanish, etc.) or the Western liturgical language of Latin. 

 

What is your relationship with other particular Churches of Apostolic Succession?

The Western Orthodox Christian Church (the true Western expression of Orthodox Rome), adheres to the Orthodox Faith of the ages. We maintain that which we have received from both East and West. Our Church is united historically with all other ancient, Apostolic Churches that maintain that which was established by Christ and passed on to the Holy Apostles. The Holy Apostles transmitted the Holy Orthodox  Catholic Faith down through the ages by the laying on of hands. Those men who became recipients of this ancient gesture where consecrated bishops. Bishops continue to pass on what they have received through what is called Apostolic or Historical Succession.

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What is the relationship with other Orthodox Church Churches?

We are a Western expression of the Orthodox Church of Rome and are autocephalous. We share the Holy Orthodox Faith. 

 

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