We worship God in Trinity, glorifying equally the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Son of God, begotten before all ages, and that He is of one essence with the Father. We believe that Christ incarnate is truly man, like us in all respects except sin. We worship the Holy Spirit as Lord and Life-giver who proceeds from the Father.

We believe that Christ the Saviour came to save not only from but also for. He came to save us from sin for participation in the life of God. This exalted vision of the Christian life was expressed by St Peter when he wrote that we are invited “to become partakers of the Divine Nature” (II Peter 1.4). It was also affirmed by the Fathers of the Church like St Basil, who described man as “the creature who has received a command to become god.” The whole emphasis of the Orthodox way of life is on “putting on Christ” and receiving the Holy Spirit through prayer and the holy mysteries (sacraments) so that we may begin to live a new life in union with Christ and in communion with the Holy Spirit.

The goal of the Orthodox spiritual life is theosis, or “deification,” the complete transfiguration of the human being in the uncreated glory and grace of God. The path to theosis is not an individual struggle, however, but the work of the whole Church. We join our spiritual labours of prayer, fasting and asceticism to those of the other members of the body of Christ, and are surrounded by the intercession and witness of the saints, the holy ones of God who have finished their course before us. First among these is our holy mother, the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary.

We believe also in diakonia, loving service to one’s neighbour, for what is faith without deeds? The Christ we meet in worship is the same Christ we meet in the person of our neighbour, so an intrinsic part of our spiritual struggle to be united to Christ is almsgiving and social concern.

Praise, thanksgiving and service in love form the triangle of worship and life in the Orthodox tradition. These actions are united in grateful response to the Holy Trinity — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. As vibrant marks of Orthodoxy, they equip us for the work of bringing Christ’s Gospel of healing, reconciliation and true life to a world of need.